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Micro Seiki MA707 vs CF-1

I see photos of these two tonearms, and they appear to be identical. In both cases the arm tube can be black in color, which I assume means that it is made of carbon fiber, and has markings at regular intervals from pivot to stylus. However, sometimes the armtube has a sliding weight on it, sometimes not. I understand from my reading on the web that the graduations on the arm tube along with the sliding weight are used to adjust tonearm effective mass. So, two questions, really: What are differences between the two arms? If I see an arm tube that is black and has the graduated markings on it but no sliding weight, is it likely that the arm is incomplete? And BTW, does the MA707 or the CF-1 offer any kind of repeatable VTA adjustment, on the fly or otherwise? Thanks.
lewm
clio09
3,354 posts
 
I hopefully can answer some of your questions. I bought a Micro Seiki DQ-30(?) TT because of the MA-707 tonearm that was mounted on it. Subsequently I acquired an MA-505 tonearm and no longer needed the MA-707 (which in the end could not easily be removed from the table anyway). Both the MA-707 and CF-1 had the arm tube markings and came with the additional sliding weight. If the weight is not included the arm is incomplete. To me these arms looked identical and the only difference was that the CF-1 was made out of carbon fiber. Unlike the MA-505, the MA-707/CF-1 does not allow for repeatable/on the fly VTA adjustment.
lewm OP
12,993 posts
 
Thanks, Clio09. That's about what I had come to believe from seeing photos on-line. So I gather that the major if not the only difference between the two is the carbon fiber arm tube on the CF-1. If I see an "MA707" with a black arm tube, I then assume that it's made of metal, just painted black. Correct?

As an aside, you say you replaced your 707 with a 505. Do you think that the 505 is a better all around tonearm? I've got a 505 MkIII, which is quite nifty, but the MkIII version no longer has the VTA "on the fly" feature. It IS however set up so that changing the VTA is very easily done.
clio09
3,354 posts
 
You're correct about the composition of the MA-707 arm. Even without the VTA on the fly (which is problematic in that it requires the steadiest of hands to use, and I choose not to use it) the MA-505 is superior. It's an incredible tonearm and if I recall from a previous post yours is in near original condition. It's a no brainer from my perspective as to which arm to go with.
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