Recommendations for Sota Star

I have had good luck with an SME 309 on my Sota Star and Cosmos. I will soon be trying an Audiomods arm, but I can't provide info on that yet. As for a cartridge, the Ortofon 2m Black is excellent for a MM. I use a Dynavector 17d2 for a MC, but I'm not sure I would call the sound relaxed. A Koetsu might be better for you, or a Lyra Delos. If you go used, try a Sumiko Talisman or Benz Glider. Both seemed to sound sweet to me.

have a Sumiko Talisman S which I used extensively on my Oracle Delphi II until the cantilever broke. I had it repaired by Soundsmith with their ruby cantilever. It sounds just as good now, or maybe better. I find it to be just a very enjoyable cartridge with no real deficiencies. Some of the other cartridges I own might be a little more dynamic, but that may just be a matter of the Talisman being so smooth and accurate that it seems to lose something on direct comparison. However, the real test to me is how it sounds over extended playing time, whether it causes fatigue over time, which to me signifies a rise in the treble area. I find the Talisman to be an exceptional tracker, even with the Soundsmith repair. By the way, a Soundsmith cantilever on any high end cartridge is a very cost effective way of getting into the high end. You can often pick up high end cartridges with broken cantilevers very cheaply on ebay.

The Benz Glider is a very nice cartridge too. That is what is on my Oracle Delphi IV now, but I have spent enough time listening to it to make a valid comparison with the Talisman.

I am now using the Dyna 17D2 on my new Sota Cosmos and it sounds spectacular. I previously was running a Monster Alpha 2000 on my Sota Star which I liked very much also. But your email has got me thinking I will put the Talisman on the Cosmos when my Audiomods arm arrives this week.

The SME 309 is an excellent arm for all Sotas. However, I am now going to try the Audiomods arm. One advantage to the SME 309 is the removeable headshell which allows the easy change of cartridges. That was important to me. My SME/Oracle 345 is the same way.

I just got the Audiomods tonearm today and will be mounting it on my Cosmos with the Talisman S. Should have a better idea on how it sounds in the next few days.