Sota Millennia Vacuum?

Sota products offer superb value,and are built to last a lifetime...Literally!

I have owned almost all of the product line(over 25 years),and currently have the "fabulous" Cosmos IV!

The Millenia should be a superb table,and the vacuum "IS" a great feature,regardless of those ststing it is not necessary.....At this level---IT IS!!!

"TODAY'S" SOTA products are far better than any made in the past,and have an amazing level of fit and finish,not to mention rediculously good sonic attributes.....Almost to the point of making any more expensive contenders irrelevant,though there are quite a few good designs out there.

You'll love the Millenia!

Good luck

James,I know from your past posts about your problems....I'm sorry of course,because you are a fellow hobbyist.

I believe you must have had a lemon,and I have had lemons in audio over the years.Just recently,a similar type of product(not a SOTA),from a very highly regarded manufacturer.I was very peeved,and lost about six months of listening pleasure.I hope to be back in listening business in the next week,but my fingers are crossed!I remain guarded.

I've owned about five different SOTA tables over twenty five years,and SO has a close friend.They have been fabulous products,and my brand new Cosmos is amazingly well constructed.THAT is an understatement actually,believe it or not!

Kirk was the original Sota's technician,and bought the company about 12 years ago,from what I know.The previous owner did "nothing" to market the tables when CD came about,and Kirk,and his wife Donna took ownership.The original table was designed by David Fletcher...a real scientist,btw.....He still consults on all upgrades!

From my "numerous" experiences with KIRK,he is "incredibly caring" about his customer base!He has gone SO FAR overboard in making me happy.I am a fanatic,and not many guys would go to the lengths Kirk has to cater to a customer,as he has with me.

This is a small company,and previously(you may not know this)SOTA had a "huge number of tables in the field".Since Kirk is such a hands on guy,he does the majority of the work,so he is basically "burning the candle at both ends".

I have ALWAYS been called back,in a timely fashion,and eventually realized that I needed to consider Kirk's time(which is spent in the shop,working on products)as a busy business owner,so he deserves some "slack" as he ALWAYS calls customers back.

My friend has his Cosmos in for the series IV update right now,and we kind of kid him a bout the exactitude of a specific return date,because other "realistic variables" can always come about which can cause delays.This has been my experience with numerous manufacturers in this hobby.

I've had a huge wait for an amp,two years ago,and other related products just recently!...It IS major a pain in the butt,but that seems to be the nature of the hobby,since so many manufacturers are really small concerns.

From my own experience,a little patience has paid of BIG time,and though I can understand your concern,and definite frustration,I have no doubt you could have been satisfied if you gave Sota some additional time to solve your problem.

They ALWAYS HAVE WITH ME,and the friends I know who use the products.

They are "real people" who have their own lives to live,along with satisfying a HUGE customer base(huge for a good reason,btw).It can't be easy,and at times some things can occassionally slip between the cracks.....Unfortunately this seems to have happened to you.....yet....

Btw,there was "family loss this past year",and sadly I believe "this" affected your circumstances( we've spoken before...you and I,and I know the time frame of your dilemma).....I know this because I and friends had been having some work done on Sota products too.

We all love our hobby,and hard earned cash,but there are real people on the other side of the equation....sometimes it pays to "hang in there".I did and was rewarded with a "magnificent" brand new COSMOS,which is absolutely first rate!

The only reason for my lengthly post is I know how "over the top" concerned Kirk really is about customer satisfaction,as I have first hand experience here.....

The guy is a "great person",and deserves the benefit of the doubt!

Sorry for your problem,and I hope you are currently happy.

Smoffatt,It may be hard to get owner feedback on the Millenia,because of the popularity of the Cosmos,and the lack of main stream press on the table.Audiophiles are a fickle bunch,and some need to see a review in his/her latest mag issue.

I have seen,played with,and heard the Millenia at a trade show.This was the first time I had met Kirk a few years ago.It was a very fine table,if you want to go with a seperate motor type design,which is popular.

I did read a really good review of it,in a foreign on line mag(forgot which one).There,the reviewer went "ga-ga" over it,and praised it immensely!

He statedthat it was more transparent than the majority of "Euro Designs" he was familiar with.This caught my eye because he was referring to some heavy hitter/heavy tables(which are all the rage now)!

The review went on to mention the table(the Millenia)was more revealing than the other tables he was familiar with,some costing big money.

What can I say?My impression is that "like almost anything else" hard to come by "locally",many folks prefer something a bit more "rare"...

Look at the foreign auto market.Ford,Chevy are all the rage overseas,and we love their stuff.....Definitely DUMB,imo!!

My approach is to get as much info as I can(reading,asking the mfgr questions etc)and exerting some common sense.

Does the product offer what I am looking for?Is the design/execution plausible?...

Then,things seem alot clearer to me,but that's just me!

Btw,awhle back Kirk told me he knew a guy who modded his own Millenia and is now able to mount "two" arms on it....

"THAT" is something I would like to be able to do,but cannot presently!!

Good luck.