Look for a used Basis Vector tonearm. Spindle to pivot is the same as a Rega.
Best tonearm under $2k
I’m looking to upgrade the tonearm on my Acoustic Solid Bubinga wood TT. It came with a Rega Rb330 tonearm and although it does a pretty good job, id like to squeeze out a bit more. I just replaced the Denon 103r cart with a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC Star cart and I don’t think I’m realizing it’s potential. I also upgraded my phono to an EAT E-glo S which I think would also benefit from an upgraded arm. My power amp is an Audion 300b Silver Night Special Edition driving Zu Soul Superfly’s.
I’ve got one dealer steering me towards the Jelco 850s and another dealer suggesting the Sorane SA 1.2 tonearm.
Does anyone have any listening recommendations on either of these?
Thanks,
Rick
I’ve got one dealer steering me towards the Jelco 850s and another dealer suggesting the Sorane SA 1.2 tonearm.
Does anyone have any listening recommendations on either of these?
Thanks,
Rick
- ...
- 14 posts total
Ok, so you’ve been using extremely low compliance cartridge (Denon 103) on lightweight Rega tonearm (11g effective mass) probably without knowing what is a cartridge/tonearm resonance frequency. This combination is a miss match if you don’t know. For Denon you need an arm with very high effective mass, definitely over 20g (something like 30g), but your Rega is just 11g, and it's better for mid compliance MM or MC. Now you have SoundSmith cartridge with 10cu compliance which is still very low! Without understanding tonearm/cartridge matching you can’t buy an arm. You definitely need an arm with high moving mass for those two cartridges. Pay attention to cartridge dynamic compliance at 10Hz and to tonearm moving mass. |
- 14 posts total