What is the best tonearm for a SOTA Nova turntable?

Having your Nova refurbished for $3k plus a tonearm for around $2500(just throwing a number at it) would be a steal. A new Nova with the same tonearm would be $7.5k.  To meet or beat your "renewed" turntable you would have to spend $7k to $$9k. The Origin Live Silver tonearm I put on my Sapphire two years ago was $900. If I ever updated my tonearm the Kuzma 4point9 would be at the top of my list, but I am very happy where I am now.

There is no "Best" choice. SME V and many Rega variations are Great Choice for under $35k......

Audionut51

There are many very good tonearms to be had for way less than your quoted cost of the VPI. Possibly even a used Triplanar or Reed. Certainly a used Dynavector, FR, Victor, or Technics, for examples.

Holmz, it’s actually voltage based amplification from cartridge to speakers, if you exclude the aforementioned low internal resistance, LOMC cartridges. Although even that’s an oversimplification.

At least one site says;

The magnets + coils assembly constitutes a miniature current generator

I finally got the Kiseki mounted and set up. It sounds pretty nice. I listened to "Cantata Domino" and Jazz at the Pawn shop, both Proprius recordings. I'll listen some more this afternoon, but my comparison to digital streaming is still that with digital, voices and instruments come out of a darkness that analog can't match. Of course the dynamic range of digital is much better. Soundstage and imaging is better with digital as well. But perhaps, analog sounds a bit more real.

I doubt that a new table  or arm, or phono stage is going to fix these deficiencies unless I spend a whole lot of money. 

Holmz, you could change the predicate of that sentence you quoted to …”constitutes a miniature voltage generator “, and the sentence would be equally correct or incorrect. It’s the impedance at the interface that determines whether you’re in current mode or voltage mode, and apart from the special case of a LOMC cartridge with very low internal resistance driving a current mode phono input with an even lower input impedance, downstream devices drive a high input impedance, in voltage mode.

I doubt that a new table or arm, or phono stage is going to fix these deficiencies unless I spend a whole lot of money.

@gyneguy225 I have not heard “Cantata Domino” but I have the other one on both LP and later I got the CD.
I would be listening to those at shops with TTs.
Which is what I did back in the day when I was shopping for gear… going from shop to shop with some LPs in hand.

i suspect that you are correct with the whole lot of money part, so it may be better to not pursue it. Digital can sound great.

Holmz, you could change the predicate of that sentence you quoted to …”constitutes a miniature voltage generator “, and the sentence would be equally correct or incorrect. It’s the impedance at the interface that determines whether you’re in current mode or voltage mode,

@lewm

Yeah - but technically it is a current device. I does not become a voltage device until we apply Ohm’s law and force the current across an impedance.

… and apart from the special case of a LOMC cartridge with very low internal resistance driving a current mode phono input with an even lower input impedance, downstream devices drive a high input impedance, in voltage mode.

I agree… but down at the speaker that is also a current device.

I get how they are voltage controlled, but I always pondered the fact that a dynamic microphone and cart are current devices on the incoming side, and a speaker is a current device on the outgoing side.

I am only saying that it makes me do a chin-scratch.

I decided to try a PS Audio Stellar phono preamp and decide whether Michael Fremer was right with his glowing review. I can't lose. PSA gave me a $3000 trade in on my Allnic 1201 phono preamp, with $700 applied to the purchase and the rest in my account at PSA. I have 30 days from delivery to decide which sounds better. If the PSA preamp doesn't measure up it goes back. Nothing compares to an in home audition. I consider that a great deal.

Typical speaker is 4 to 16 ohms. Any SS amplifier will have an output impedance <<1 ohm. That’s voltage drive, mainly. Tube amps are inherently voltage producers. That’s why they can have problems with four ohm speakers and particularly with speakers that present an impedance below 4 ohms at mid range frequencies or base frequencies..

I listened to my new PSA Stellar phono, playing my used Kiseki purple heart cartridge last night. It's a keeper and confirmed my suspicion that the Allnic 1201 phono preamp was my problem. The Kiseki cartridge is a real winner and it's obvious why it's sold out and unobtainable on the market new at present. It's smoother on the highs and surface noise is almost unnoticeable. It betters my old Lyra Kleos by a lot. I was pretty much blown away, and will probably stick with my old ET2 arm and Sota Nova table. The Stellar phono plays way above its price point, and I don't regret not spending more on an ARC product. The savings will probably  go into an upgrade on the Sota table. 

@gyneguy225 

Thats a great outcome

On the SOTA you shouldn't need to do a complete upgrade.

The Nova already has the AC motor with double regulated frequency synthesised power supply - this was a massive improvement on the older DC motor.

I prefer the original bearing ( inverted bearing with sapphire thrust pad ) if its in good condition. When the Sota is transported you must use the transit screws to lift the platter off the sapphire thrust pad - most damage is cased by transporting without the transit screws. Secondly make sure the bearing does not run dry.

If the original bearing is good - you could do the springs yourself.

You could get a basic service - new springs, clean and lube the bearing, check all the vacuum system - hoses, gaskets etc - the air pumps should probably get the internal rubber bellows replaced due to age.

Just bring the Nova up to as new condition - its still a great TT.

@Dover thanks for the sota advice. I dread diassembling the turntable. I've done it before when I had my sota star sapphire upgraded to the Nova. I changed out the springs myself back in the 90's, but this time I'll let Sota do it right. I might get the floating platter upgrade at the same time. It will be expensive. So, that's down the road a bit. I just purchased the Kiseki cartridge and Stellar preamp, and my conscience won't let me spend more at present.

re Audio Research Ref3, anyone using with LOMC, like 0.3 output? 

re Audio Research Ref3, anyone using with LOMC, like 0.3 output?

I used Ref 3SE with a couple of 0.3mV Koetsu, it sounded amazing. I still preferred a good SUT w/ low gain mode, but its high gain mode alone was competitive for sure.

Below 0.3mV w/ high gain mode, I noticed noise floor creeping up. It also picked up noise from a plasma TV in the next room over (no such problem when using SUT). So below 0.3mV, or near a plasma TV, I’d definitely switch to a SUT for sure.

I listen loud, and I'm metering at my listening levels - I'm sure other folks will want to respond with "it's graveyard quiet with a 0.07mV Ortofon in my system". It's still the best overall stage I've ever heard, but its high gain mode is not quite the quietest I've heard.