SOTA vs VPI (or stick with my Rega?)

More congratulations!  You will be very pleased with the table and I'm very confident you will notice an immediate improvement.  Do take your time setting up the arm and cartridge combo; the table will really reward extra attention there.

Also consider a SOTA Reflex clamp if you don't already have a good one.  They're very well made, adjustable and easy to use.  Pricey new, but keep your eyes peeled for second-hand ones at places like Audio Classics and Ebay.

Happy spinning!

Congrats and enjoy! Listening to Dex on my SOTA right now.

So, finally got the SOTA professionally set up and playing records at home. While the Dynavector 20x2L probably needs some time to break-in, my initial thoughts are:
- incredibly spacious sound. Infinitely more sound stage than the Rega. With great recordings, this new dimensionality of sound is pretty awesome, not gonna lie.

- bass is much much tighter. The SOTA’s low end might not be as punchy as the Rega, but it is much more accurate. This may also be helped along by the jump up in cartridge and the record clamp--two new variables.

- clarity of recordings is much more apparent. You can hear much more detail--great recordings/pressings sound even better, bad recording/pressings sound somewhat lacking. I think the Rega was more forgiving in this regard, but also was missing a great deal of detail/clarity. In this regard, the Rega may be considered more "fun" as everything sounded pretty much even.

- a distinctly vinyl sound, which I like, and is one of the main reasons why I collect vinyl. There is a warmth and immediacy to the music that makes listening both engaging and rewarding.

- lastly, the SOTA is beefy. It weighs a ton, and seems built to last. While I was not equipped to set it up by myself, I appreciate that it feels sturdy enough that a novice like me won’t inadvertently break something.

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions and feedback on this forum. Was a very useful guide and resource!

Interesting, PRAT never mentioned in your description. As an SOTA owner I concur.

Well, one man’s PRAT is another man’s ... PRAT 

What I mean is that the type of PRAT that the Rega has is different than the type of PRAT from a VPI, IMO. I think of Rega’s sonic signature as being tied to a more traditional British sound, such as from LS5 speakers listening to the BBC all day long in the 50s or 60s.

For me, the Rega kind of PRAT may be more noticeable than the VPI b/c that is more related to Rega’s signature sound. More emphasis on PRAT,  and long listening sessions without fatigue. VPI seems to have more emphasis on a fuller or more balanced sound from top to bottom than the VPI. So I think the VPI definitely has PRAT, but it is less conspicuous than the Rega. 

Ive heard Rega’s of course, but I chose a SCOUTMASTER II, with a 10.5 arm and Ortofon Black MM. A local Rega dealer of 20 years referred to the VPI TTs as having a “soft” sound.  I disagree, but I think that illustrates our preferences and differences. I like VPI PRAT, he likes Rega Prat. As such, one man’s PRAT is ... another man’s PRAT ...