I need a great medium weight tonearm.

JohnVF

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I'm starting to think about arms for my Sony TTS-8000 motor unit, a really top-flight DD tt motor. I have an FR-24mkII that I love, but its found a permanent home on my Sony 2251. So.... what to put on it? I've thought about a Jelco 750D but they're getting hard to find. I've thought about Micro Seiki arms, like that MA-505...they look great. I've thought about the Technics EPA-250, but they're costly. I'm not really sure what all is out there that is fairly top-flight, that isn't over $1000. And I'd love to be under $1000. Any ideas my friends? I could do another FR-24 but the spice of life is variety.
 
Ok, here would be my first question: what do you want the arm to do? Fixed or interchangeable headshell? Which carts would you like to run, ie. just how much mass?
 
Does it have to be a tangential arm, or would you consider a linear tracker?
 
Ok, here would be my first question: what do you want the arm to do? Fixed or interchangeable headshell? Which carts would you like to run, ie. just how much mass?

I don't really have an opinion on interchangeable headshell or not. I'm ok with either, and don't have a problem with either. I'm looking for something that would run a fairly wide variety of carts but there's a better than even chance that it'll have a Dynavector XX2 on it at some point.


Does it have to be a tangential arm, or would you consider a linear tracker?

I don't think a tangential arm would fit where I'll have this mounted, which is inside of an old console. It won't be playing through the console, I just use one that I've converted to a gear rack. A 9 or 10" arm is about what will fit in there.
 
For some context, this is the Sony TTS-8000 and where it lives. This is with my Grace 704, which is a fine arm but mine needs a rewire, and it really only works best with higher compliance carts. I have a Stax UA-7cf, which if -ok-, and a Linn Basik LVX, which is also -ok- but i'm looking for something more on par with the excellent quality of this turntable, which is among the better DDs around.

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I have! That’s a great option actually.
Didn't I read here somewhere that Series V sales have been suspended while Jeff is working on a new version ?

There's always the tried and true tarted-up RB300. I happen to know where one is....
 
I might consider a tarted up RB but the Rega arms I’m really interested in are the new ones. I like the Audiomods as well because, well, it looks really cool.
 
I might consider a tarted up RB but the Rega arms I’m really interested in are the new ones. I like the Audiomods as well because, well, it looks really cool.
I have both and it is a good step up when you get into the Audiomods.
 
Rega, of course. You can sometimes find a used RB1000 for less then your max.


There is always Origin Live, which is another lovely medium mass arm, but more balls then the Regas. Silver new or Zephyr used should work.

Finally, an oddball. The Wand! Weird, flaky and lovely sounding:

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So the drive is going to stay in the situation where it is now? That definitely sets a limit on arm length.

If you can turn up an Acos GST 801 for a decent price I have it on good authority that it is a terrific arm. It would fit and do justice to any cart you might like to run.
 
Didn't I read here somewhere that Series V sales have been suspended while Jeff is working on a new version ?

There's always the tried and true tarted-up RB300. I happen to know where one is....

If you've got a drill press (or access to one) and a bit of DIY ability, the Audiomods kit is extremely hard to beat (and still available). If Jeff is working on a series VI, then we might see some of the Series V technology (e.g. fully capped bearing yoke) trickle down to the DIY kit.
 
I was -this close- to pulling the trigger on a Zeta tonearm. Which is more of a very nice heavy arm, but I could use that, too. I figured I'd sleep on it, and if it was still around when I woke up, I'd make a good offer. But it was gone, and the fates have decided that maybe I'll just work with the arms I have for now. Maybe?
 
If you could afford double the budget (e.g. $1900), I've heard very good things about Pete Riggle's String Theory arm. But, again, that's way outside your budget.

I'm still suggesting an Audiomods kit at your budget.

...or maybe a used Sumiko FT-3?
 
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If you could afford double the budget (e.g. $1900), I've heard very good things about Pete Riggle's String Theory arm. But, again, that's way outside your budget.

I'm still suggesting an Audiomods kit at your budget.

...or maybe a used Sumiko FT-3?
I like the Sumiko, I've had a Premier MMT, so just a step down. And also one reason the Jelco intrigues me.

I think if I had $2k to spend, I'd just get a Rega RP-8 and call it a life. But that is a well regarded arm. As was the Zeta, but...snoozed/lose'd
 
So... I think what I'm going to do is buy one of the new Jelco knife-edge-bearing arms. The TK-850s. I need to due some measurements, and I need to sell a few things before I buy it, but that is the plan. A bit more extravagant than I wanted to go, but I want this to be a kind of do it and forget about upgrading ever again thing. Supposedly they're very nice arms that keep up with much much more expensive arms. I'm also going to have my Grace 704 and SME 3009s2 serviced. Not sure about my Stax UA-7cf, I need to figure that arm out. I don't like it as much as everybody else does.

Here is the Jelco:

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