SOTA vacuum or no?

Definitely!Especially if you have a higher resolution set-up.
Good luck

It is actually the superior way a vacuum seal allows an LP to maintain "total constant/consistent pressure" at all points of the platter,that makes this the best way to clamp a disc!
This way,there can be no minute seperation of lp with platter surface,which can/will be audible with the finest cartridges/phonostages/systems.Logical and audible,but the non vacuum tables can still be quite good,so think it through for your choice.

Best

As Larry said,the Basis IS a superb table.Not too cheap though,and worth the dough,if one has it.Yet,I'd bet the "newest" Cosmos IV is on the same playing field,meaning both tables will give one LP bliss!
As to the "ring clamp" issue.My friend uses one,and he had a "split second" disaster(actually almost on two seperate occassions)where he destroyed his Titan-i cartridge from a missed cue of his tone-arm.
Once again,like Larry stated..."an accident waiting to happen"!

Best

Stingreen,that is exactly how my pal uses the ring clamp.Yet,unfortunately he droppd the stylus a bit to close to the gap,and "kerplop" went the cantilever!
It does sound very good however,and anything can happen in vinyl replay anyway.
Best

Yo Downunder,some "older" folks don't have as steady hands as some other folks.I have seen the problem,with ring clamp " between groove and clamp-valley of death" cantilever damage!
This does not mean the Ring clamp is to be "absolutely" avoided,but be VERY careful!!It takes a half second to be very unhappy!
Btw,those with the hands of a vascular surgeon,can disregard this -:)
Best

Downunder,actually I have "no unsteady hand issues" myself,and would be confident with an outer ring(except for the "knock" it got from the folks at Grand Prix Audio,regarding "exactitude" in "fit" as it pertains to wear on bushings,during play...but that's thier spin...not mine).Hmm!
Yet,my friend is no "idiot" or "dumb ass",but is a little long in the toothe(God bless him),so must be really careful with the "ring clamp of death, to Canti" -:)
Hey,in truth if it works,it works!(just joking,actually)

Understand,as of here and now,I'd be happy with "any" functioning set-up!.....an issue I hope to have solved in the next few weeks,or God forbid...,months(I've decided to make my pre/phono problem into a major upgrade)!
Still atively collecting LP's though...NO Wolfmother discs yet -:)

Now you know why I'm a bit ancy!...You guys from Rod Laver country are still a great posters anyway!

Kudos to Larry!!

As to vacuum seal of warps.I find some warps need a flattener,based on how warped the disc is.I've made a DIY flattener for thirteen bucks,but it does not "do" every Lp perfectly.I'm still experimenting.

As to pressure level,my Sota Cosmos has an automatic sensor which adjusts the vacuum seal to minimum level,once the seal has been made.It seems like a very good idea,but if a warp is bad you are not going to flatten it out.
What I do then,is pinch the air hose to fool the pump into thinking it has made a seal.The pump automatically goes to minimum vacuum level,and the Lp does not go dead flat.I seldom need this.
As to noise issues....I have had SOTA vacuum tables for over twenty years,with "absolutely" NO noise issues!...EVER!!

I do NOT use an intermat on my platter,because it takes away inner detail,and dynamics....BUT...I am very careful about keeping the platter surface very clean!

I bought a cheap make-up brush(the kind women use to put on stuff,on face)and brush off platter surface(AND SEAM BETWEEN PLATTER AND RUBBER LIP)after each listening session.I keep the platter/table covered with a cloth,when not in use.....CLEAN,CLEAN,CLEAN!..."Wolfmother" would sound great -:)
Best

Well,while on the vacuum subject,when I mentioned no noise issues,I was referring to no noisey LP's,though my pump runs dead quiet too!I'm talking CD player quiet.

I do have non vacuum using friends,and cannot go to the level that Raul has,in stating the difference is an "order of magnitude better".But I like a vacuum seal,if given the choice.

It IS technically "better",but I have to be a realist as well!I've heard superb set-ups with no vacuum feature,but it is one consideration,out of many.

Yes,I think SOTA makes a superb vacuum table(original thread subject),at really fair pricing,and they work for a LONG time,trouble free.The company is "now" making the best products they have ever put together.Really close tolerances,and gorgeous to the eye,especially the no longer standard issue Black Gloss Fountainhead plinth and vacuum pump housing,that I have.....Also,when Sota products are reviewed(particularly the "newest" Cosmos,which is in series IV already)it amazes me how incomplete the review usually is!!
This usually indicates the amount of time a reviewer has spent with LP replay,in their lives(or just how little space is allowed for in depth reviews these days),and it "means something"!...If you are new to LP spinning,you certainly will not cover all the bases,on a superlative table,if you review it.

I personally want to know about much of the design,and how it got there.Why certain material choices were made.Why a suspension,or not.Why a specific motor unit,or why a nested platter,or arm/pillar mount etc,etc!

Good Example: The review in HiFi Plus(which was the opposite of Stereophile,in how the reviewer liked the product)of the Grand Prix Monaco was a GREAT piece of descriptive writing/information!!I should know,because I read it(alot)during a day of jury duty,just sitting around!

This was a "thorough review",and because it was SO good,I "got it"(the point,not the table),and came to appreciate the product,for what it is(a great table)!!

It even got me so inclined as to seek out the "white paper" on the table,which was quite educational,and extremely revealing as to why "some" well thought of designs,"kinda stink",if one accepts the design criteria of the Monaco.

SO,when I view the "latest" work coming from the old/established/often overlooked SOTA,I have to laugh,as "these guys" have NOT been asleep at the wheel!!

They STILL make the use of Bob Fletcher's abilities,and he was a "real" scientist/designer.The new(actually ownership for over a decade)mfgr is a skilled machinest,to the highest degree!!Hand made,to the max!!
The latest stuff is in line with many virtues(though employeed differently)mentioned in the Monaco White paper(which I enjoyed reading)....Different philosophy,but just as valid in design execution,and performance!

Yet, one of the finest set-ups I have ever heard(just basic inner clamp over the spindle)was using the Big Basis Debut,to be completely honest!!...No vacuum,but OH,BOY did those big Infinity speakers come to life(using my own LP's).And I had heard the Infinity speakers many times before.

Just my two cents.