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Top 5 Tonearms Newer or Vintage Under 2500 That Will Beat anything above/below 2.5k?

From all your tonearm experiences trials errors comparisons etc is there a Top 5 tonearm list that are known for their musical superlatives in all music ranges and genres? including finer detail nuances feeling, 3d sound but also deep bass and midbass, basspunch. Airy highs. And importantly long hours listening without fatigue.
The criteria also to be met are easy setups for all angles vta vfa azimuth anti skating etc 
The Tonearm must also the ability to use more than just one or two cartridge compatibility.

Probable Turntables to be Used: Garrard 301/401, Lenco, Linn, Thorens 124, Technics 1100 1200 10 or 15. 

Heres the list i compiled of ToneArms to pick from.
Feel free to mention others.

  • Tw Raven, D Talea, Graham 2.2/phantom, Moerch, Origin Live, Vpi, 
  • AudioMods

  • Clear Audio, Stax, Rega, Technics 500/1000, Sumiko, Alphason, Black Widow, One unipivot, Saec, Clear Audio, Basis Vector, Triplanar

  • Origin Silver, Rega 9, Linn Ittok, Project, Technics 500/1000,
  •  Alphason, Audio Technica, Dynavector 507

    Grace, Mission, Grado, Ortofon, EMT, Thorens Tp,
  • ESL, Sme 3012, Sme 3009, Sme V, IV,

  • Schroeder, Kuzma, Eminent, Ikeda, Breuer, 
    Stax, Kenwood 007 arm, Sonys top Arm, Artemis
vinny55
Post removed 
vinny55 OP
259 posts
 
Much difference between the two smes @fleschler ?
fleschler
2,015 posts
 
The SME V has an oil trough and is said to have higher rated/durable ABEC bearings. I have the 1989 SME IV version with even older bearings played at least 7,000 or 8,000 hours with no apparent wear on a VPI TNT VI (previously on a VPI 19-4). The arms are less sensitive/critical of VTA adjustment which is somewhat difficult to adjust (but leave it set for the average LP). Some dealers said that the SME is more than adequate for VTA LP variances versus some arms where it appears more critical to adjust for differences in the LP cutting angles. A fine pair of arms all around which will last a lifetime.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

The VTA adjuster may be ON the arm but is FOR the cartridge .

Those are supposed to be ''sensitive/critical'' for the VTA adjustment.

But our love for some components can be such that we can't bear

any negative comment. Say the fact that even the SME V misses

the VTA adjuster (grin).

tkr
100 posts
 
The SME V has VTA adjustment, and I can`t agree with @fleschler that it´s difficult to adjust. 
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