What type of turntable should I use?

Your Sapphire should continue to serve you well in your setup. Read what reviewers still think of SOTA in the Jul 03 and current Absolute Sound issue. I have just swapped a Sony 333 SACD for a Sapphire/FR setup and I am psyched. I remember how beautiful that setup sounded in 81 through Levison/B&W 801's.

But there are a lot of beautiful new decks both suspended and non-suspended, so have fun.

I would be interested in your take if you upgrade.

Regards, Steelhead

a suspended table if set up correctly will always yield better performance because it is absorbing incoming as well as outgoing vibrations, however small they may be

enjoy your table unless you are prepared to go way up stream

Interesting question, I have a similar situation and would also be interested in the experience of others. Being a VPI fan I have been intrigued by the fact that the low-end (Scout) and mid-line (Aries) tables from VPI no longer use a "suspension". The top of the line TNT HRX does, but at that price it should! If you beleive VPI a well built solid table is better than a less than ideally executed suspended table. I've been thinking about trying a Scout in place of my HW-19, but I'm not sure if the local dealer will do it and if it would be a valid comparison unless I swapped cartridges (that would test my aural memory!).

Keep your SOTA--unless you want to upgrade to a modded 1200!

I think the scout is simply a price point to sell VPI! The Aries while a good table, without the VPI arm is simply another Rega III on steroids. The Aries system is a well balanced package that delivers most of the TNT sound missing the last shades that make the Aries somewhat expensive but in the price point of its competitors. Not many competitve tt systems or mix and match systems can deliver quiet like the Aries and if it is balanced and dead level it will sparkle and shine like few others.

That's correct Sayas. It was worth the time and effort to make sure my Aries is on firm foundation and dead level. The synergy with my JMW 10.5 is truly hard to beat for the price and competes with more expensive designs and models, even Harrys own TNT. I heard the Aries with a Graham 2.0 and although a fine combo, didn't justify the price compared to my 10.5, Now I have to talk my friend out of the Graham and going with the Aries extended with 12.5 at a good deal. The 12.6 is also nice. My next move will definately be the SDS. Anyone hear the Aries 2 with new Acrylic and beveled plater/ HR bearing?? Wonder if $1100. is worth the upgrade over the older TNT plater/ bearing. I rather like the looks of the old as the new looks"cheaper"

Just to throw this out.Talked with Wally of Tools fame and he said he thought the 12.5 was superior to 12.6.Didn't get details as I was asking Q's all over the board.And no surprise he thought his anti-skate would outperform VPI's (big surprise).
Chazzbo

if your turntable was designed with a suspension, you should keep it working that way. the suspension is designed to absorb the sinusoidal waves emanating from your speakers. the spurious vibrations created by trucks, footsteps or a dropped object are not sinusoidal waveforms. they would look more like a square wave (spurious vibrations) and can cause feedback through your speakers. so i believe it was sota's design objective to suppress the sound waves coming out of your speakers. i hope this answers your question. if it were my turntable, i would never defeat the suspension of the sota.

Dogcanskate,
I don't think Nrchy was contemplating defeating the suspension on his Sota. I agree with you that this would be a brave and, if irreversible, potentially foolish thing to do.

I think he was/is contemplating changing to a non-suspended design. As a Teres owner I'm happy with that, even on a sprung floor, but I haven't heard similarly high end suspended tables so I can't offer meaningful comparisons.

Theoretical advantages of a non-suspended design? Well, the less the table can move laterally in reaction to stylus motions, the more dynamic the signal will be. Of course a really well executed suspension might offer isolation from acoustic energy that you described, which should lead to a lower noise floor and cleaner groove tracing. In either case, quality of design, materials and execution probably matters at least as much as the theoretical differences.

doug, i totally agree with your post.my tt happens to be an lp-12. i could easily live with a tt that has no suspension if it's tuneful to my ears at least. both camps have wonderful offerings.