vintage turntables?

Another thing I would like to add to my SOTA experience is the mk4 upgrade. A $900 cost with no clear results or clear definition of what that upgrade entailed. Only here say on this site. The receipt I got was a simple line item:

Cosmos Series IV Upgrade

Bam, $900 gone, and I couldn't hear any audible change. I've been told (on this site) that the mk4 upgrade consists of a motor mount change/upgrade. Wow, for $900, there must have been quite a bit of engineering that went into that motor mount.

Once again, A Fool And His Money.

Now that I've done some modifications on the Technics, I can definitely understand how critical it is to keep vibrations away from the turntable. As far as the stock Technics is concerned, it is very noisy due to the transformer that is used (and mounted) in the turntable. Adding the KAB external power supply changes the Technics to an entirely different table all together.

Consider this, that KAB power supply is a $250 upgrade. I think more engineering effort goes into designing a power supply than a motor mount. The SOTA mk4 upgrade is a $900 upgrade. Once again, I have to ask exactly where did that money go to justify that amount? Makes no sense, unless you concede that you are in the 'high end turntable' market and have a lot of money to spend.

I think there most certainly are expensive turntables out there that do justify their cost (I have yet to actually hear one) but consider the history of records. This is an area that is not new and has seen many decades of improvements and change. There is nothing revolutionary since the 70s for turntable technology. Only new materials, and manufacturing techniques.

Where do these new 'high end turntables' justify their prices? I guess you could think of the 'high end turntable' market as an art, that would explain why you should leave your objectivity and cost consciousness at the door.

How does the sota blanket all the high end 'tables? Since you had this experience with a particular sota 'table, now all high end 'tables are overpriced and bad values.

Not at all, that was my bad, I don't mean to blanket the market like that. I am certain there are tables out there that are well suited and justified their asking prices. I still have my own personal short list. But I have to qualify that my dream turntables are by no means anywhere near prices above 5 digits.

I am just taken by how much good sound you can actually get at these small prices in comparison. I then can only reflect back upon my own experience.

"Consider this, that KAB power supply is a $250 upgrade. I think more engineering effort goes into designing a power supply than a motor mount." As a small scale manufacturer I can tell you $900. doesnt go too far so that may not be a good comparison. However your point is taken, the KAB modded technics gives enormous value. In Sotas case getting that last little bit of performance in anything consumes an exponential expenditure of resource compared to return look at performance cars for example. We find that last little bit of refinement can be 50% or more of the final cost and some customers cant justify that. But if you want to take anything to the extent of its potential that last bit is gonna be expensive.

as it seems you guys are saying, it just seems to me that its more cost-effective to go with something vintage, and also, they have sort of a different vibe to them (might be just me) but its much like a guitar. if your buying an old, well used guitar (or turntable) it seems like it has its own stories, its lived a life already. it has a "soul" so to speak. and i like that about buying the older stuff.