SOTA turntables

These remain to this day my favorites.... I still have and use a Star Saphire Series III and an original Cosmos. I have had non-Star Sapphires and the Nova as well in various incarnations. The brainchild of Robert Becker and David Fletcher- two Berkeley physicists who lit the world on fire with american technology, craftsmanship and magic.

The current owners Kirk and Donna Bonadet who have taken it over today are strictly business people who have lost all the warmth that this brand created. There is a website dedicated to analog (the Vinyl Engine) that I will share  a link with later that they demanded that the downloads of their owner's manuals be deleted. Their almighty $10. per copy needed to be preserved.! I remember looking for a pressboard vinyl wrapped replacement cabinet for a vacuum pump, they had a used one laying around that they wanted $80 for! Needed a motor for an older Saphire, he might have found one if he could trek back to the trailer in the back yard through the deep snow for $400! God forbid you should need the vacuum seal replaced on the platter, they will insist on completely rebuilding/upgrading it!

  
Best bet- if you have a Sota that needs some work, buy another used Sota for parts.

Shipping the Sapphire versions is particularly tricky- make sure you buy from someone that knows how to pack them! I have had at least a couple of them show up damaged! I would always keep my fingers crossed when opening the box........

 The vacuum versions of these represent a new level of quiet/sonics.