Among audiophiles, the Sota Sapphire is known as one of the best. Quiet, reliable, and sonically excellent turntables became Sota’s Made-in-the-USA trademark. Drawing its name from the sapphire disc used in the turntable's bearing, the Sapphire uses a sprung suspension, meaning tonearm and platter are suspended on springs internally, which eliminates the effects of room vibration. The belt on this one is fresh, and holds its speed like a swiss watch. The motor is tried and true, but speeds can be directly fine-tuned using the controls on top. This example features a Sumiko Premiere FT-3 tonearm with a Talisman Virtuoso cartridge. The dust cover has a bit of crazing on the front corners, but otherwise this table is in remarkable condition. Includes tranport hardware and power supply.
- Production
- 1980's
- Condition
- 9/10
- Serial No.
- 15792-OB
- Orig. MSRP
- $995
- Restoration
- Full 30-point service check
- Installed new suspension springs
- Cleaned controls, switches, and chassis
- Specs
Type manual 2-speed belt drive turntable with vaiable speed control and strobe
Plinth African rosewood
Platter single-piece, 11 lb.
Subassembly Heavyweight (22 lb) subassembly for maximum isolation
Bearing proprietary inverted bearing with sapphire disc
Wow and Flutter 0.2% WRMS
Rumble -84.5dB
Clamp Sota reflex style, included
Cartridge Sumiko Talisman Virtuoso
Tonearm Sumiko Premiere FT-3
Tonearm Overall length 305mm
Tonearm Effective length 239mm
Tonearm Overhang 17.3mm
Tonearm Offset angle 23 degrees
Tonearm Mounting distance 221.7mm
Tonearm Maximum backswing 64mm
Cartridge weight range standard up to 8g, extra weight 8-14g
Dimensions 20.5"W x 7.5"H x 16.25"D
Weight 44 lbs.
- Liner Notes
When Sota first came on the scene in the early 1980s, it was the only high-end turntable manufactured in the United States. Its first turntable was the Sapphire, which is still in production today in its MMkIV iteration. Built of solid wood, the original sapphire was an impressively inert design. Utilizing a belt drive design with Pabst motor, it was quite similar to the tables of the period. Implementing a sprung suspension that hung from its mass loaded design, and deviating somewhat from a classic sprung design, it had an affinity to the similarly spring-loaded Oracle Delphi. Testament to the table's solidity was its imperviousness to external vibrations and resonances, the table was known to absorb taps on its solid wood body without any audible effects. Available as an option was a vacuum pump, which evacuated all air between the platter and the record to reduce the effects of warped and uneven records. Today, Sota is still revered as one of the oldest and most respected hi-end turntable manufacturers in the United States.
- Stock No.
- 8003287646429
Among audiophiles, the Sota Sapphire is known as one of the best. Quiet, reliable, and sonically excellent turntables became Sota’s Made-in-the-USA trademark. Drawing its name from the sapphire disc used in the turntable's bearing, the Sapphire uses a sprung suspension, meaning tonearm and platter are suspended on springs internally, which eliminates the effects of room vibration. The belt on this one is fresh, and holds its speed like a swiss watch. The motor is tried and true, but speeds can be directly fine-tuned using the controls on top. This example features a Sumiko Premiere FT-3 tonearm with a Talisman Virtuoso cartridge. The dust cover has a bit of crazing on the front corners, but otherwise this table is in remarkable condition. Includes tranport hardware and power supply.
Production
1980's
Condition
9/10
Serial No.
15792-OB
Orig. MSRP
$995
Restoration
- Full 30-point service check
- Installed new suspension springs
- Cleaned controls, switches, and chassis
Specs
Type manual 2-speed belt drive turntable with vaiable speed control and strobe
Plinth African rosewood
Platter single-piece, 11 lb.
Subassembly Heavyweight (22 lb) subassembly for maximum isolation
Bearing proprietary inverted bearing with sapphire disc
Wow and Flutter 0.2% WRMS
Rumble -84.5dB
Clamp Sota reflex style, included
Cartridge Sumiko Talisman Virtuoso
Tonearm Sumiko Premiere FT-3
Tonearm Overall length 305mm
Tonearm Effective length 239mm
Tonearm Overhang 17.3mm
Tonearm Offset angle 23 degrees
Tonearm Mounting distance 221.7mm
Tonearm Maximum backswing 64mm
Cartridge weight range standard up to 8g, extra weight 8-14g
Dimensions 20.5"W x 7.5"H x 16.25"D
Weight 44 lbs.
Liner Notes
When Sota first came on the scene in the early 1980s, it was the only high-end turntable manufactured in the United States. Its first turntable was the Sapphire, which is still in production today in its MMkIV iteration. Built of solid wood, the original sapphire was an impressively inert design. Utilizing a belt drive design with Pabst motor, it was quite similar to the tables of the period. Implementing a sprung suspension that hung from its mass loaded design, and deviating somewhat from a classic sprung design, it had an affinity to the similarly spring-loaded Oracle Delphi. Testament to the table's solidity was its imperviousness to external vibrations and resonances, the table was known to absorb taps on its solid wood body without any audible effects. Available as an option was a vacuum pump, which evacuated all air between the platter and the record to reduce the effects of warped and uneven records. Today, Sota is still revered as one of the oldest and most respected hi-end turntable manufacturers in the United States.
Stock No.
8003287646429
