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Too many good ones, what to do? SOTA, Music Hall or Rega

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DenverJW

New Member
Hi,

Newbie to Turntables and trying to decide what to buy. Should I get a used original SOTA Comet recently serviced with a Ortofon Red or a Used Music Hall MMF5 with a stock Goldring or a New Rega P1?

I will be buying the affordable Schiit Phono or something similar for now, I plan to upgrade in the future. Pro-Ject Pre Box Pre Amp to Mcintosh MC225 Tube amp to Zu Audio Omen's. And I listen to Blues, Rock, Reggae, Indie Rock, and singer songwriters. Willy Nelson and Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett etc....Any help is greatly appreciated, I know very little, but willing to learn. Thanks, John
 
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Yeah, SOTA. Look for a phono stage that can handle moving coils so if you want to go that direction later you can do it.
 
justjed2 said:
The only thing the Rega Planar 1 has is a warranty. The SOTA is better all around.
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The Rega has a warranty and about 26 fewer years of use. Nothing lasts forever, but at least SOTA is still in business, and if that old Comet ends up needing parts or service, SOTA might still be able to offer them. I like SOTA products, but I also like Rega, and I like brand new equipment with a warranty and its full service life ahead of it even better.
 
Per OP the Sota has been recently serviced and with its superior build quality it will minimize the age difference with the Rega. No risk no gain.
 
I see nothing impressive about a SOTA Comet. The only thing I see that stands out is if you buy a new Comet they will give you a 100% trade in value.

It is often that companies who made a few great products and then when some bean counters buy a company up and use the name to sell cheaper items for upscale prices. The Comet from what I see, is nothing like the upper end products that SOTA's banding got famous from. And as far as the cart, the Ortophon Red, no thanks.

Better off buying a much older SOTA, as all the older models are still supported by SOTA and IMO are comprised of the traits that make a SOTA the product that gave it the reputation that that it has.
 
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Comet may not be TOTL for Sota but for a newbie the OP is starting out way ahead of most people and he isn't paying a TOTL price. Agree the Red isn't the greatest cartridge but if the OP has an accident he won't be out big $. Should get most of his money back on resale of the Comet when he upgrades no major depreciation like on a new table.
 
4-2-7 said:
The SOTA Comet is used, nothing was stated if it was 1 year old or 10, SOTA wasn't even making a Comet 26 years ago.
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The OP said it was an original Comet, and there is a very favorable Stereophile review online dated 1993 that seems to indicate that it was a new model for SOTA at that time. That doesn't mean the particular item the OP is thinking of picking up was originally purchased that long ago, but it could have been. If it were me, I'd call SOTA first to see if parts and service are, indeed, still available. If so, the Comet might turn out to be a good buy. My recommendation is still for the Planar 1 because I've heard it and like its performance and because I have a strong bias toward buying new rather than used components.
 
I wouldn’t want a Planar 1 - it’s Rega’s bottom of the line. I used a Planar 3 for over 30 years though and it was reliable enough, and OK sounding. Just OK sounding; not bad but never great. I know nothing of the Music Hall.

The Comet looks like a decent table and I -think- it would make for a nicer table than a bottom-end Rega. Besides, it looks like Comet (new ones anyway) come with a good Rega arm. I think it would boil down to - what’s the price of the Comet. Of the three tables mentioned, a Comet is probably what I’d pick - but only if all were inexpensive and about the same price - and I couldn’t spend any more than that.

BUT - I have to agree with Ken, in that you’d be better served by getting a nicer model SOTA, rather than any of the other tables considered.

The nicer, suspension SOTAs can be picked up (used) for not too much more than the price of a new Planar 1 ($475-ish), and I think they would be worth saving for. If you’re willing to shop - and wait - you can find a good-used Sapphire with decent arm for around $600-$700. That would be a table you’d want to keep, and one that offers potentially much better sound than the Comet, the Rega, or, I think, the Music Hall.
 
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