Tonearm recommendation

Dover, you said "most enthusiasts of the EPA100 replace the ruby bearings with silicone nitride or ceramic balls".

I found that very interesting since it is the first time I've seen it stated.  I have an EPA 100 so I read anything I find mentioning it.

After buying my EPA I discovered the bearings were out of adjustment and some of the rubies may have been damaged.  I happened to have mine repaired with silicone nitride, just as you suggested, because I was told they were better than the original rubies.

Anyway, that was reassuring, even if I never read any reference to it previously.

Flieb,

  The Lustre has 4 high precision radial bearings which are super grind-finished.  There are 2 vertical and 2 horizontal.  What makes then really unique is that they are spaced farther apart than usual for a tone arm for better angle accuracy. 
  Yes, advertiser hype but interesting concept none the less  The real proof is in the pudding!  In my opinion, the arm does deliver and lives up to its hype!
  V/E has the original manual listed for downloading and also an advertising blub/report that goes into more detail.  Worth reading if interested.
Regards,



Regards,

Don, I acquired a Victor 7045 as part of the deal when I bought my TT101, in the context of a QL10 ensemble (including plinth).  I have never yet listened to the 7045 but you've got my attention.  I am surprised to learn that it is low to medium in effective mass, as it appears to me to be made of stainless, but if it is indeed aluminum, I can understand that it might not be so heavy as effective mass goes. (I would expect alu to oxidize over time, yet my 7045 is as bright and shiny as my FR64S.)  Do you know the actual effective mass?
Also, as regards the application of VTF, I understand that Raul advocates not using magnetics for this, passive only.  What do you guys favor?  On my DV505, I use about 50-50 dynamic vs passive, if those are the terms for the two options.  I've got a Dynavector DV501, which was less expensive than the 505 when new partly because it lacks dynamic VTF and a few other doodads found on the 505, yet I understand that many favor it over the 505, and even the 507.

Lewm,

  My dear friend and comrade Nandric and I have had running arguments in regards to my love for the JVC 7045. He also has one that he hasn't found time to mount.  He's in love with his FR-64.  It was actually him that convinced me that perhaps I should at least try a heavier arm with my FR's.
  I must admit, I was also surprised at just how good the JVC is.  In many regards, it is quite similar to the Lustre. Both have VTF adjustment on the fly. Both, removal head shells.  Both have exceptional bearings.  The only short coming that they both have is lack of azimuth adjustment.  I solved that problem by the exclusive use of the Sumiko/Jelco head shells.  LP/tunes also carries the same head shell but calls it the Supreme. 
In regards to the use of magnetics for the VTF on the Lustre. I still prefer the old fashion method. Balance the arm, then move the counterweights for VTF using a digital scale for verification.  I've been doing it that way for damn near 50 years so I am too old to be changing!  (grin)  I like the magnetic concept but 'blind trust comes into play with that design and considering the arms age, well, I just don't trust 'trust'!  (grin)
  As far as effective mass?  I wish I knew.  I did the typical search but found nothing definitive.  Only speculation.  Considering how it performed in regards to my 'high compliance/low compliance cartridges, I tend to believe it is on the lighter side.  The arm assembly has stainless steel parts, but the arm tube is of an aluminum mix. Mix of 'what' would be an interesting discovery.  This would explain the lack of corrosion that you and I expected to see.  I also though it was stainless but discovered this aluminum mix statement somewhere in regards to its arm tube.  
  My TT-81 came without arm.  I had a spare Graham 2.2 and had thought about mounting it  on the TT-81 but what I really wanted was a arm with a removable head shell.  The Graham has removal arm wands. Those wands  were $800 a piece new, $400 used when you could find someone willing to sell one.  Thanks to the M/M thread, I have more cartridges than I care to admit and to place each of them in their own arm wand would of forced me to sell my house and give the profits to Bob Graham. (grin)
  I did a search to determine what others were using with that table and to see what was recommended by JVC. That 7045 was/is JVC's top arm and considering it was 'the' arm during the legendary production run of both the TT-81 and the TT-101, I went looking for one.  Just so happens that 'Foxtan' had a good one available so I bought it. I now consider that an even better decision than the actual purchase of the TT-81.  
Lewm, you are wondering how much do I really like the JVC 7045.  Let me put it to you this way.  And I am being quite honest when I state this.  I am considering selling my Graham 2.2 and mounting the JVC 7045 in its place on the VPI Aries table.  Those two tables (the VPI Aries and the JVC TT-81) would have excellent arms on each of them with removable head shells.  This would allow the mounting of  low compliant cartridges to  high complaint cartridges when ever I wanted.  No arm changing required. No 'wondering' if a higher mass or lower mass arm would be a better match.  Performance wise, I would loose nothing.  All three of the mentioned arms are 5 star arms in my opinion.  But I gain in versatility.   
  The biggest problem in all of this is the selling of the Graham.  to do this   is to me like selling my beloved dog to a stranger!  It is going to be a tough thing to do. I'm the original owner and have had that arm for many years.  The selling of the dog I couldn't do.  But selling the Graham?  I definitely leaning that way!
Regards,

Thanks, Don.  When I bought the QL10 (which equals a TT101+7045+plinth), the seller admitted that the TT101 was "broken", and I got the whole shebang for about what I estimated to be the value of the 7045 alone.  I was planning on selling the 7045 to recoup my cost and then spending whatever it took to fix the TT101.  However, I have yet to sell the 7045.  Nor have I ever used it.  I will give it a try.
Just for the record, I would never completely trust the markings on the adjuster for VTF on a tonearm that allows for dynamic application of VTF.  I ALWAYS use a digital scale to verify.  With my DV505, I use the dynamic VTF to get to about half of the needed VTF (according to my trusty digital scale), then I apply the remainder by adjusting the counter-wt.  I really should try the DV501, which is a little jewel. It was gifted to me by a dear friend.