Sota Sapphire with or without vacuum?

I had a Sapphire w/o vacuum years ago circa 1989, one of the first. It was an extrordinary TT.

In the mid-90's I heard a Vacuum model, and I couldn't believe my ears. It cost so much more and was NOT even close. I think it lost its resolution and detail, and sounded dull, not warm, but dull. I would stick with non-vacuum.