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Good arms for catridge swappers

Yeah I have VPI and like it (12.5) have thought of Graham 2.2 or Phantom.But wondering what others might be out their that have good sound and can sawp without thiking a fortnight.Guess I would like to try something other than uni-pivot arm and not break bank.Think that (and maybe wrong) one is better with arm tube swap as opposed to head shell for speed of change and rigidity.Have thought of SME 309 being good contender but assuming (maybe wrongly) that contact break farther down arm tube is better.The good multi arm decks seem to be pretty pricey and cost of full assembly of arm is not as cost efficient/.Yeah maybe one day I will have enough $$$ for a TW Raven etc but not now.Also many choices on list of possible phono might have only one input.Like anybody to chime in on how important mono cart in PRACTICE has been though I have read the therory.But have many mono jazz LP's.re-issues more and more give you that option.Less so on pre or phono front but thinking that maybe some phase issues or something I haven't thought about would make this better down the line.One plus for cheaper head shell it would allow not only for a good stereo and mono option but also allow for one cheaper "beater" cart.Setup by myself or pro is another factor.Yet thinking that I see many good pieces from all price points that allow for mono option and given number of LP's this should be way to go.Thoughts broadly on subject welcome.
Cheers
Chazz
chazzbo
9 responses Add your response
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rauliruegas
13,103 posts
 
Dear Chazzbo: You made/put this almost same thread in 2006. I wonder what happen that along four years you can't decided about when you want to do it?

Anyway, you already like the VPI one so my advise is to go for a second one that between otherthings gives you the advantage that you can use both tonearms for made cartridge swaping in " transparent way ", even if you have two TTs.
Other advantage could be that you can make some kind of cartridge comparisons using the same tonearm/wires.

No, the VPI is not perfect but nothing is " yet ".

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
thom_at_galibier_design's avatar
thom_at_galibier_design
729 posts
 
Let me take this question up one cognitive level.

In my experience, cartridge swappers are like gear swappers. They collect numerous pieces of gear - none of which they like, and they flitter back and forth between them.

Now, I realize that all hi-fi components are inherently flawed, and we frequently find ourselves in a situation of having to choose our colorations (sometimes in relation to musical genres) - especially in things analog.

Even taking this into consideration, I suggest that you practice serial monogamy, hopefully honing in (over time) on what floats your boat. You WILL find a combination that works for you, and will return to having fun with your music.

Picking the right tonearm is hard enough without imposing yet another design constraint (easily swappable cartridges).

Now, it may well be that the arm you love actually has an easy swap capability, but to narrow your search by imposing this limitation on it is putting the cart before the horse, IMHO. Worse, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that you will continue to switch, and switch, and switch ...

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier
jaspert
157 posts
 
I have a MA-505Mk3 on my slate SP10mk2 and it's really a good performer for not too much money. I have a straight wand and heavier S shaped want for various headshells i have. Very convenient.

Like Dgrarretson, I also have a Transfi T3Pro linear tracker but it's matched with my slate PTP Lenco. I have 3 different wands for the T3Pro,the stock wand and 2 with shielded silver wires direct to phonos. Makes it really easy to change over and the performance is fantastic for the money. BTW, i had a TW Raven 1 for a while and really like the Transfi T3 Pro matching, more so than the popular Phantom II conventional match.
t_bone
1,182 posts
 
Mosin, the EPA-500 is a great suggestion. My only 'worry' on that arm was that to get three different levels of effective mass it starts to take serious bucks. I have seen the heavy sets go for high three digits. One can 'manipulate' effective mass higher on the EPA-100 by using a heavier headshell. It would be difficult, however, to go lighter.
mosin
410 posts
 
T_Bone suggested the EPA-100, and it is a great one, but also consider the EPA-500. What makes it different is that it had optional wands that included the counterweight, and were made for various cartridge requirements. There were not only wands of various effective mass, but even one for p-mount cartridges. The standard one had a wand of 12 grams effective mass, which is the same as the EPA-100. The downside is the rarity of some of the wands, and the overall cost could exceed that of an EPA-100.
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
If you are open to a linear arm, the latest iteration of Trans-Fi Terminator has arm swaps down to a T. Separate flat wand/counterweight assemblies can be swapped in minutes, requiring only readjustment of VTA to get going. The same external wiring harness is reclipped to the replacement wand. Unlike arms with detachable headshells or tubes, this one is uncompromised by mechanical junctions, and like some of the best arms these days, the included silver wire harness runs uninterrupted from cartridge to phono stage.
bpoletti
1,553 posts
 
The MA-505 is a good choice. VTA on the fly, removable headshell with a built-in stylus overhang locator, easy VTF adjustment. Some people say it betters the DP-4. I haven't made the comparison.

My opinion would lean toward the Micro Seiki MA-707. Has removable headshell and variable effective mass. Easy to tune the arm to the optimum resonance frequency. Very easy to set tracking force (just balance the arm and dial in the VTF). VTA can be set manually. IMO, it's more difficult to adjust effective mass than VTA.
t_bone
1,182 posts
 
I tend to agree that the right armwand collet chuck is going to be better than the standard headshell mount. Finding a removable armwand arm which is not a unipivot might be a tough one (the Micro Seiki MA 505 Mk3 would work). That said, there are plenty of fantastic arms with removable headshells.

The one I might go for is a Technics EPA-100. It is flexible enough to use low-ish compliance carts all the way up to very high compliance carts. The one thing it cannot handle by itself is things like heavy-weight FR carts (unless you buy the optional counterweight add-on weight, which is rare as hens' teeth) but it is super-flexible in its use.

I like my mono cart. It may however be more a like of mono records than actually loving my mono cart.
likecap's avatar
likecap
44 posts
 
I highly recommend Moerch / Morch UP4 or DP6 tonearms. You can have multiple, easily replaced armwands for each cartridge you have. You can also use the appropriate armwand weight to get the best sound out of your cartridge.
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