Sapphire™
A turntable must address and resolve all of the issues that affect ultimate performance, if it is to achieve the goal of bringing you closest to the musical experience. The basic goal of achieving maximum information retrieval in turntable performance is one of controlling microscopic vibrations - a task that requires the utmost in engineering precision and comprehensive design.
The design objectives of Dynamic Stability (the control of forces present in a dynamic system), Environmental Isolation (the control of forces from "outside" the turntables world), Easy Set-up (guaranteed results in all situations), Control Over Vinyl Resonance and Variations, (which would otherwise undermine the performance of even the best turntables) and Control Over Power Line Impurities (which are present in all installations and result in sonic anomalies if not controlled), are all addressed in the design of the SOTA line of precision turntables.
"...the SOTA Sapphire is a mature design that traces its DNA straight from the Golden Age of audiophile analog. Unfussy in set up and unperturbed by the listening environment, it promises to make marvelous music for decades to come." Bruce Kinch, Listener Hi-Fi & Music Review, September/October 2002
"The SOTAs are the only suspended turntables that are absolutely, unconditionally stable over time, a statement I make from personal experience." - Paul Seydor, The Absolute Sound (TAS)
Both the SERIES V SAPPHIRE™ and the SERIES V JEWEL™share almost all the same design objectives. The main difference lies in the suspension. The SAPPHIRE™ features the traditional four-point spring suspension. The JEWEL™ features the four-point elastic suspension. This viscro elastic suspension is similar to our top-of-the-line MILLENNIA™ model. A new SERIES V SAPPHIRE™ would also include our I-Clamp record clamp. The I-Clamping device is available as an optional accessory for not only the JEWEL™, but many other model turntables. The SAPPHIRE™ and JEWEL'S™ shared design objectives include: |
|
|
FLOATING SEISMIC PLATFORM™ SUSPENSION WITH 22LB. BALANCED SUB-CHASSIS HUNG FROM FOUR-POINT SPRING SUSPENSION SYSTEM (SAPPHIRE) FOUR-POINT ELASTIC (JEWEL)
|
|
INTERNALLY DAMPENED, MULTI-LAYERED 14LB. PLATTER, INVERTED BEARING DESIGN WITH SAPPHIRE THRUST PLATE AND CHROME STEEL BEARING |
|
ACRYLIC SUPER MAT™ |
|
"BOLT-THROUGH", MULTI-LAYER ARMBOARD BLOCK MOUNTING |
|
ULTRA-REGULATED, HIGH-SPEED POWER SUPPLY FOR MOTOR SYSTEM |
|
HIGH-EFFICIENCY A/C MOTOR WITH DOUBLE-REGULATED, SYNTHESIZED SINE-WAVE DRIVE AND BALANCED PULLEY |
|
ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL AND SPEED CHANGE |
|
INTERCHANGEABLE TONEARM CAPABILITY WITH WOOD ARMBOARD |
|
OPTIONAL TENSION-HINGED CLEAR DUST COVER |
|
OPTIONAL STANDARD FINISHES |
|
TWO YEAR PARTS AND LABOR WARRANTY |
|
TECHNICAL DATA & SPECIFICATIONS |
|
RUMBLE |
|
Less than -60db unweighted (10cm/sec @ 1000Hz) |
WOW & FLUTTER |
|
Less than .04% RMS |
SUSPENSION |
|
Tuned four-point sub-chassis, stretched-spring 2.55 Hz frequency (SAPPHIRE™); elastic (JEWEL™) |
PLATTER |
|
Individually balanced 14 lb one-piece cast platter with internal damping, lead
flywheel ring. |
SHAFT |
|
Hardened steel, hand matched to sintered bronze sleeves |
MOTOR |
|
High-efficiency A/C motor with double-regulated, synthesized sine-wave drive and balanced pulley. |
BEARING |
|
Thrust pad; polished sapphire disc; thrust point: hardened chrome steel ball |
TRANSMISSION |
|
Belt driven |
SPEEDS |
|
33-1/3 and 45 RPM, electronically switchable with fine tuning |
WEIGHT |
|
44 lb (20 kg) turntable |
DIMENSIONS |
|
7-1/2" H (to top of dust cover), 20-1/4" W, 16-1/2" D |
|