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Any decent improvments left for my ES-1?

Yes, I'm still using my AR ES-1. Over the years it's been modified with parts and whatnot from Scillia and Sound of the Wood. New springs, platter, bearing, motor, plinth heavily damped with the SotW damping material. By and large it sounds pretty good. I'm using a Denon 103R which I will probably send to Soundsmith for a new tip and Ruby cantilever.

I'm sure the thing that's really holding me back is my old MMT arm (don't laugh!). Not a great arm in the history of arms. So I'm looking to replace it. Willing to buy used. I need some firsthand recommendations on a good arm that works really well with this table and low to medium compliance carts.

I will admit that if I took all the money I spent over the years on this table and had it now I could probably buy a nice used VPI or Clearaudio. But if I can improve something that's already had the investment made by finding a good arm I'd choose that route.

Oh, if I can get an arm with some means of azimuth and vertical height adjustment, all the better. Looking for used << $1K.
tonyptony
tonyptony OP
617 posts
 
Mofi, I think the ES-1, especially after all the mods, is not bad at all. Yes it needs a rigid platform or shelf mount, and it may be just a tad soft in the low end compared to a non-suspended design. But it does a really nice job of putting out what's on the disc. The MMT I've found over the years is (IMO) sort of neutral to the point of being a little dead. Or maybe obscuring of everything that may be on the disc. Not sure how to describe it. In any event I really do think it's the weakest part of my TT right now.
tonyptony OP
617 posts
 
Hmm, should have done a search first, My memory is slipping - I asked this same question in 2005! But back then my ES-1 had not yet been modified.

It seems like the the AQ PT-9 and Rega RB300 are the usual suspects for this table. Wondering further if anyone can give me a sense of how they might differ in sound, whether one works better with one type of cart vs another. And whether there's anything within that << $1K range that might be a real improvement over these two standards.
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
the jelco arm, which is the equivalent of the above mentioned AQ PT9 would be a significant upgrade to the mmt. other than another cartridge at some point, you're there man.
ddarch44's avatar
ddarch44
40 posts
 
I think going for the COMPLETE Merrill platter system would result in a higher level of detail retrieval from your lps. The whole system is: 1)upgraded drive shaft/spindle; 2)acrylic platter; 3)lead mat; 4)outer ring clamp and 5)record weight.

In my opinion, once you own the whole platter system (originally designed by George and later refined by Anthony) you will never be able to go to another table.

Dave
tonyptony OP
617 posts
 
Dave, I did it piecemeal, but I have everything except the outer ring clamp. At the time that was the limit of my spending, given that I also did a motor upgrade and chassis damping - oh, and acrylic mouting board. I may try to track down a clamp this year to complete the package. So, yes, I do have the majority of that configuration (plus a little extra). So what arm do I put on this thing to give me the next level for less than a grand?
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