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Thoughts About Turntable Upgrades

I hope everyone is having a good Saturday. I'm sitting here listening to CDs because at the moment my digital playback is simply better than my turntable. The Audio Mirror Tubadour DAC that I purchased a few months ago is simply outstanding when paired with my old Cary 308. This leads to my questions/musings about turntable upgrades. 

I got back into vinyl a few years ago and purchased the Rega P3 with a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 preamp as a starter kit. I upgraded the cart to a Denon 301 II, which was big improvement for me. Looking forward, I'm leaning heavily towards a Sota Sapphire. I want a US made table only because I'm interested in having a US based system. The Sota seems like a good fit because I value sound that is more laid-back and I'm looking for a table that will emphasize warmth, soundstage, presence, solidity. That's the best I can offer in verbally describing my goal. I'm frankly looking for something that will top the Tubadour experience! The Rega is good, but after a few albums my ears are a bit exhausted.

Here are my questions:

Do y'all have any thoughts on my leaning towards Sota? Any other recommendations? Is there any reason to start with a new preamp rather than a new turntable? If so, what are your recommendations? 

I'm interested in your responses to these questions, but also any other suggestions as well. Let me have it! 

 

rblondeau

Showing 2 responses by edcyn

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

Yeah, I snuck my wife's Linn Sondek/Basic into my system when she left town for a while to attend school, but in the main I've just had a Sota Sapphire since I left the Direct Drive World sometime in the previous century. Yeah, the Linn gave me more mid-bass punch and more "they're in my room" authority, but the Sota has always been better in taking me to "the room where the piece of music was recorded." The sound can be truly immersing!

My Sota has gone through its share of upgrades, and I had to send the thing back to the factory when its ability to maintain constant speed mysteriously went MIA. Sota dutifully repaired the thing with only a shipping charge despite the fact they suspected I'd somehow dropped the machine at one time or another.  All told, though, I really love the thing. It doesn't hurt that 45 rpm is only a push of a button away.  ...Ya outta' see my pile of old 45 singles..

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

After spending untold amounts of time in the attempt to make judgments as to what order to place my three sources in terms of fidelity -- CD/SACD, Phono & Streaming, I've simply lost the jones to carve my order of preference in stone. I possess some truly excellent sounding CDs and SACDs. I've got plenty of lovely sounding vinyl. I can glean killer quality tone via Qobuz. The 21st Century is a good place to feed your HiFi yen.

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