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Tonearm suggestions for my Nottingham Analogue Spacedeck

After contemplating purchasing other TT,s I have decided to just upgrade my existing TT, my Nottingham Analogue Spacedeck.

I already use a Walker Motor Controller and it sits on Isoacoustics feet.

I think it's weak link right now is possible the stock Spacearm.

To that end looking for thoughts and suggestions for a good replacement. Using lomc carts right now, Scheu Analog MC SL and have the use of an Ortofon Cadenza Black.

Have looked briefly at Origin Live, Audiomods, Rega etc but have ZERO experience with tonearms apart from whatever has been on any TT I have owned at purchase time ( usually stock).

Not really looking to explore vintage or air bearing arms at this stage.

Thank you.
uberwaltz
solypsa's avatar
solypsa
462 posts
 
+1 on a Schick; especially if you plan to stay with medium compliance carts going forward.
Similar price range and also superb is the Audiocreative GMII titanium. This one is a great choice if you plan to try heavy/low compliance cart directions...
I've got a spare 10" GMII if you want to try it.
Disclosure: I'm a dealer for both brands so have some bias...
agrippa
160 posts
 
The GrooveMaster II Ti looks like a good choice and I briefly considered it before buying the Schick.  However, after VAT it would have ended up more expensive, as well as appearing to be significantly less flexible in terms of suitable cartridge weight and compliance.

Still, solypsa's offered loaner tonearm seems like a no-brainer...
br3098
1,012 posts
 
I have a 12" Thomas Schick tonearm and it's great, especially considering the cost.  Despite the claims made in Schick's new website that these arms support cartridges up to 22  µm/mN in my experience this tonearm definitely works best with very low compliance cartridges like the Denon DL-103 and Ortofon SPU families, which is what it was designed for.  I have tried several other cartridges with this arm and the results ranged from OK to just not a good match.  If you want to use medium and higher compliance cartridges you may want to look at another tonearm.

I don't have any experience with the Schick 9" arm but I imagine it's the same.
agrippa
160 posts
 
I have no experience with the 12", but my 9.6" Schick certainly works exceedingly well with my medium compliance cartridges.  My AT150Sa weighing in at 5.3g and having a compliance of 18 or so ( (@ 10Hz) tracks and performs a treat.  The ART9, with a compliance which should work out at 32 (18 @ 100Hz x 1.8 = 32.4 @ 10Hz, as stated by A-T when I wrote and asked), also sounds and tracks wonderfully.  To be honest 32 seems rather high for the ART9, but A-T made it, not I, and ought to know best.

Again, whether the same would be true of the 12" I have no idea about.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
Like the fact we have real world opinions and reviews on actual tonearms here of late, just the sort of thing I was hoping for and many thanks indeed.

Might be just me but I did not read that Solypsa was offering a free loaner of the tonearm, just that he had one to try ?


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