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Tonearm Advice Needed

I would appreciate some advice on selecting a tonearm.  While new to the forum - this is my first post, I have spent quite a bit of time reading on a number of topics over the past couple of years, or so.  And, while I've had several systems composed of separates, I have allowed myself to become a little stagnant over the years.  So I have "some" knowledge, but I'm nowhere near sophisticated.

I have a couple of turntables, but I purchased another one some time ago. I plan to use it with a new system I am in the process of assembling. The turntable is a first year production TD124 (1) in great shape I bought at a pretty fair price. I did set it up with a mid-level tonearm with a MM cartridge and it was somewhat impressive. Thus, I was encouraged to improve the sound with a nice arm.

Before knowing as much as I needed to know, I put the proverbial cart before the horse a couple of years ago. I latched on to an SME 3009R still sealed in the original packaging.  I've not taken it from the sealed wrapping, since I later thought I may need a lower mass arm for an MC cart, such as an AT Art 9.  I'm considering the similar style SME M3-9R.  I could depart from the iconic style, I suppose.  But the new model may be sufficient - I'm not really sure.  The system I'm putting together so far consists of a Pass X250, Pass X1.  Phono Pre may end up being Pass as well. At the present, the phono is an ifi 2.  I've tentatively set the tonearm budget at around 2K, thinking I could sell the NOS SME to at least partially fund the new arm. I not quite comfortable with a used tonearm.  I'm not married to the whole TD124 thing, but I'm hoping that for the cost of the table and arm I can obtain very high quality sound for the money.  I'm budgeting for new speakers, having lived with 4311's and AR10Pi's for a long, long time. I listen to all genres of music.  


nolojunko
nolojunko OP
34 posts
 
Note:  I just noticed I made a typo on the tonearm model I'm considering, though most of you already likely understood I must have meant SME M2-9R, at 9 g effective mass, and improved ball races, etc., vs. the early production 3009R at 12.5 g. effective mass with nylon bearing. 

For those of you who have run (or are presently running) a 3009, is it a lower mass version, such as the improved?

Another question: Is the significantly lower mass and improved ball race engineering worth the additional investment in terms of higher compliance cartridge options, performance, and SQ?  

And, would anyone know the market value of a mint NOS 3009R should I end up being convinced other tonearms would be quite a bit better on this setup?
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
Keep what you have.  You need to spend big dollars to make a substantial improvement
solypsa's avatar
solypsa
462 posts
 
Ditto. If you take the 124 / SME you have and select a cartridge to match it (there are plenty) you will have a superb analog front end. What plinth is the 124 in?
dgarretson
2,598 posts
 
Put another way, my SME 3012R surpasses my $6.5K Kuzma 4P.  Those R-series SME arms were magnificent.  Be confident enough to unwrap yours and try it prior to hasty resale. 
thom_at_galibier_design's avatar
thom_at_galibier_design
729 posts
 
Before knowing as much as I needed to know, I put the proverbial cart before the horse a couple of years ago. I latched on to an SME 3009R still sealed in the original packaging. I’ve not taken it from the sealed wrapping, since I later thought I may need a lower mass arm for an MC cart, such as an AT Art 9.

Note: I just noticed I made a typo on the tonearm model I’m considering, though most of you already likely understood I must have meant SME M2-9R, at 9 g effective mass, and improved ball races, etc., vs. the early production 3009R at 12.5 g. effective mass with nylon bearing.
Hi @ nolojunko,

By the numbers, a 9-ish gram effective mass arm is a reasonably good match for your AT9 which is specified at a fairly high compliance for an MC of 18×10-6cm/dyne.

A large majority of current MC’s are in the 12-15 range and vintage ones can go down into the 6 range (very low compliance).

Numbers are just that however, and you’ll find (for example) that subtle changes in effective mass can significantly change the character of the cartridge.

I relate my experience with arms that have multiple counterweights (Durand, Tri-Planar, Moerch, Kuzma) which allow you to use lighter weight combinations (farther from the bearing pivot) or heavier ones (closer to the bearing pivot) to achieve the desired tracking force.

The actual change in effective mass is very subtle, but the audible change in presentation can be quite dramatic, depending on the cartridge.

Results from the few arms I’ve played with which have sliding weights along the arm tube yield even more significant results as you’d expect.

I think the bigger question for you relates to whether you’ll find yourself liking the AT cartridge. If you don’t for some reason, you may be locking yourself into fewer choices down the road - trying to source a high compliance MC to match your tonearm.

I like to think of cartridges as a consumable item (much as we don’t like to) and to approach this from the tonearm perspective - matching a cartridge to the tonearm rather than the other way around.

The safe bet (given the current range of cartridges) is to source an arm with an effective mass in the 11-12 gram range.

Having said that, none of this is an absolute, and I don’t mean to strike fear in your heart over the SME / AT combination.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier Design


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