Affordable 12"-ish tonearm options?

[JohnVF]

So I really like my big Sony TTS-3000 turntable EXCEPT for the PUA-286 tonearm that's on it. Its not a bad arm, but it shows its age. The headshell end is a bit loose, and to get proper VTA you have to use its specfiic Sony headshells...of which I have two....but they're just not great. And just overall the adjustments on it are a bit...imprecise? I have to say, despite that, it's a good sounding deck. I just want something better, as the rest of the table (which is an excellent belt drive driven by a comparatively huge motor) is held back by the tonearm.

So...

Anybody with experience in longer arms have one they like that's under $2k they'd recommend? Schick? Jelco TK-(x)L? The later Sony PUA-1600? The Sony arm's effective length is 11.3 inches, but I think the table can fit something a bit longer (there were two TTS-3000 plinths and this is the longer one). PS I don't really care for SME arms of the era.

Not an emergency... just in the plans for the year.

 

[Wntrmute2]

I like the sound of my Schick 12 inch arm with his graphite headshell.
I installed a Sorane 12.7 arm that is very nicely finished and sounds wonderful on a Gem Dandy TT.

 

[JohnVF]

I like the sound of my Schick 12 inch arm with his graphite headshell.
I installed a Sorane 12.7 arm that is very nicely finished and sounds wonderful on a Gem Dandy TT.

I forgot about Sorane... nice, simple, arm that would look good on the table. I'll have to check if one will fit on the plinth as its over an inch longer. This would be used with my Cello Chorale LOMC.

 

[Wntrmute2]

The fit 'n finish on that arm was well above what I expected. For instance there were 2 very finely threaded grub screws at 90° angles to each other on the tonearm pillar. Most arms use just one with a coarser pitch.

 

[JohnVF]

The fit 'n finish on that arm was well above what I expected. For instance there were 2 very finely threaded grub screws at 90° angles to each other on the tonearm pillar. Most arms use just one with a coarser pitch.

That's really good to hear, and yes, the one-screw thing has been a problem with a lot of arms, leading to really having to pay much more attention than I want when adjusting VTA....'else I get the lean. Thanks for the heads up on this arm. And being a George Merrill... seems I can get it through him. He's been a big help on my modified AR and always responds personally, and fast, to questions.

 

[mhardy6647]

I have the longer A-T arm on my Sony. Not twelve inches, but enough inches.
It suits my low-compliance purposes well.
I don't think they're expensive(?).
I dont think they're uncommon either.
No VTA on the fly, though.

 

[JohnVF]

I have the longer A-T arm on my Sony. Not twelve inches, but enough inches.
It suits my low-compliance purposes well.
I don't think they're expensive(?).
I dont think they're uncommon either.
No VTA on the fly, though.

Is it like this one? There's several A-T tonearms though not necessarily a lot of long ones.

Higher mass is fine. This table will be the opposite of my high-compliance/low-mass-arm setup. The Cello cart seems to want a heavy arm.

 

[mhardy6647]

That looks like it.






playin' with the 'real-estate agent' wide-angle, but that's not in focus!
John, the one in your photo looks even longer.

 

[JohnVF]

That looks like it.

Yes, same arm- the one you have is the shorter one, but there's a longer one as pictured. I had a Sony, 2251 too...my TTS-3000 has a much larger plinth. I put various arms on my 2251, from Stax to some rare thing from Hong Kong - "Tokyo Sound"- which was odd as, well, it was not from Tokyo. Nice heavy arm, though.

 

[JohnVF]

@mhardy6647 Yes, the one in my photo is closer to a 12" arm. The real-estate available on the this long version of the TTS-3000 plinth is quite a bit more roomy.

Though thinking about it, I'm not sure the AT arm would give me much that the Sony arm isn't bringin?

A better POV:

 

[Anton D]

I like the sound of my Schick 12 inch arm with his graphite headshell.
I installed a Sorane 12.7 arm that is very nicely finished and sounds wonderful on a Gem Dandy TT.

Schick and same headshell here!

 

[Thermionics]

First name I think of for 12" tonearms is Schick (especially since Jelco is NLA). Maybe someday I'll even be able to afford one.

 

[JohnVF]

There's also the Denon 308 and Stax UA-70? I've never heard the Denon, but I do have the shorter version of the Stax, the UA-7cf. I like it don't love it.

 

[Redboy]

The Schick stick is the easy recommendation here, but the arm that’s really piqued my curiosity lately is the Korf Audio tonearm. It’s higher priced but those guys are doing some reaaaally interesting stuff.

Or check with @blue_lu about that Tonemechanik arm of his. That one makes me think unholy thoughts…

 

[Wntrmute2]

The Schick stick is the easy recommendation here, but the arm that’s really piqued my curiosity lately is the Korf Audio tonearm. It’s higher priced but those guys are doing some reaaaally interesting stuff.

Or check with @blue_lu about that Tonemechanik arm of his. That one makes me think unholy thoughts…

Can you expand on both of your recommendations? The Korf website is lacking in detail and I see nothing on the Tonemechanik arm.
Thanks

 

[Redboy]

Can you expand on both of your recommendations? The Korf website is lacking in detail and I see nothing on the Tonemechanik arm.
Thanks

I thought the Korf site was okay, but the real interesting stuff is in their blog posts.

Here’s the Tonmechanik Berlin site. I don’t know anything about it really, but I lust…

I can’t say I’m recommending these because I don’t have any firsthand experience with them, but if I were shopping for another 12” arm today I’d probably start here.

 

[JohnVF]

Those are both beautiful arms, going by looks, especially that Tonmechanik one- though I can't tell if it's a render on their site? I can't find a price on it, the the other one is $2500 Euro. Which might be a bit rich for this project, though it's not a crazy price. I suppose I could sell something to fund this adventure.

I'm so excited by how well my low-mass adventure turned out that now I'm trying the other way.

I thought the Korf site was okay, but the real interesting stuff is in their blog posts.

Here’s the Tonmechanik Berlin site. I don’t know anything about it really, but I lust…

I can’t say I’m recommending these because I don’t have any firsthand experience with them, but if I were shopping for another 12” arm today I’d probably start here.

 

[adnick]

Can recommend the AT16 and they can be had from Japan for a reasonable amount….

Andy

 

[adnick]

The Stax UA70 is a nice arm, it‘s truly a 12” and has excellent specs, but many are missing the headshell & additional weight….

 

[je2a3]

I still enjoy my Bokrand AB309 and AS309. Unfortunately, their availability is very uncertain.🙁

However, I find Serge's (of Karmadon) Ortofon inspired 12" tonearm very tempting!😊