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
Please excuse my lack of knowledge concerning the SME V. I haven’t seen one for decades and forgot that it has a VTA adjustment ability. However, it is there and easier than the SME IV per other Audiogon forums but not on the fly. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/vta-on-sme-v


nsgarch2,517 posts04-12-2006 2:16pmYou can’t adjust VTA "on the fly" with an SME V. It’s main failing IMO (and I own one).

The arm post is held in place vertically by the clamping action of two captive bolts that go thru the adjustable "sled" base (a really great mechanism that makes adjusting stylus overhang a snap).

There is a removable adjustment screw that you can insert to help you make small changes in the arm height, after loosening the clamping bolts, but you cannot do this while playing a record.

If you want to adjust VTA (really SRA) while playing a record, you should consider a Triplanar, or a Graham 2.2 or Phantom (the Grahams are unipivot design, the SME and Triplanar are bearing pivots)

Now, back to my comment that set it and forget it. I’m using a Benz Ruby 3 which is not a hypereliptical but certainly not a conical stylus shape. It apparently is not as critical in set-up as the former but renders great detail using the SME IV. It took several hours and shimming up and down the post to postition the VTA so that the tonal balance was found to my satisfaction. I’ve kept it there for 12 years. The VTF and VTA were found which sounded best for most LPs. Note that I 100% agree that records can vary in VTA per cutting stylus changes as well as record thickness. It makes playing records more challenging than CDs or streaming. I have probably 7,000 LPs which are not and will never be released in any format again, half of which the master tapes do not exist.
@nandric : I wasn`t looking for a prize. : )

@fleschler
: VTA adjustment on the SME V is actually easier than you think. You described the process quite correctly, but the adjustment screw does not have to be removed until you have the VTA just right. The adjustment screw is positioned in such a way that it doesn´t impede normal use of the arm.

In addition to the SME V´s clamping bolts, the arm post is held in place by two spring- loaded clamps. This means that even with loosened clamping bolts, the arm post will stay in place.
I just read and responded to the thread on cartridges and now I'm reading and trying to make sense of this thread. I've come to the conclusion that it's almost like someone strolling down the soda aisle at the supermarket then the liquor aisle trying to come up with different mixtures that will intoxicate in the most pleasant way. Have fun folks. I've already spent too much time on something that is most certainly endless and pointless.
I'm out.
@chakster 

Hi! Actually I have an 801 I could use those extra parts for. Love the tone arm, and would like get them from you. Can you email me at Hoffman1984@gmx.com  Thanks!