FR66S vs Ikeda IT-407 vs FR66FX

FR64S is best bang for the buck. FR66 is better, but expensive to buy.
66FX I have never heard, but is lighter mass and costs less to buy than 66S. 407 has mixed reviews - most folk believe the FR64S/66 are the best built, and sounding. There have been some reports of quality issues with the Ikeda range ( not built by Ikeda, founder of FR ). The FR’s have the lateral weight balance on the side to balance the whole arm/cartridge, which was omitted on the Ikeda series arms.
One advantage with the longer arms is that you will have lower tracking error with the fixed headshell cartridges such as the EMT/SPU where you cannot alter the tracking angle.
I have had 2 FR64S with no problems.

The 66fx is very expensive and very rare model with banana shaped armwand (only this model), look here for the specs, the cost if very close to the 66s. I wish i could buy one of them for myself.

66fx goes for about $5000 and can be even more expensive (or slightly cheaper if you’re lucky). While the shorter 64fx can be found for under $2500 NOS

66s goes for $9000 nowadays (or cheaper if you’re lucky) with b-60 vta base.
But the 66s goes for about $1700-2000 (depends on condition). The weak part of this tonearm is stock base, it’s garbage, must be replaced with b-60 VTA base (this base is extremely expensive, even for replica, the most expensive is ikeda b60 base that goes for $1500).

FX short models comes with much better base, it was made later and finishing is better, tonearm easily can be transformed for use with SPU and FR7f series with optional W-250 superheavy counterweight. This is how i use my 64fx. The difference of the FX series is mix of materials and higher damping factor.

64s is undamped, solid steel, can be used with lower counterweight W-170 to reduce the mass. W-250 is heavy one.

Another option is W-210 counterweight from 64 model (compatible with 64s). I just bought NOS.


P.S. I have Reed 3p "12 Cocobolo and this is a very nice tonearm, fully adjustable. Vintage tonearms is another passion. In terms of usability Reed 3p is definitely better than 64s or 64fx!


You could look for Frank Schroeder tonearms if the price is not a problem. 

Another Reed 3P (with vdH Colibri) and FR user here, although my experience is limited to the 64s and 64fx. In terms of ’adjustability’ I agree with chakster that Reed is most versatile. But my sample of the 3P has a fixed headshell and mounting and/or dismounting the Colibri is not exactly my idea of fun. So for my other cartridges I use the FR arms. Therefore in terms of ’usability’ the FR are better and I do prefer the 64s (with B-60) over the 64fx, especially with the heavy FR7 and SPU type cartridges.

There is much information about the FR64/66 series and opinions are divided about which is better. The original price difference between both models was modest (ca. 35.000 JPY if I remember correctly), but apparently most buyers chose the 64s. Consequently the 66s is much rarer, which explains the huge price difference on the current market. This does not seem to be an indication of a major quality difference, so 64s is indeed most ’bang for the buck’.

Most folks who had the opportunity to compare them do seem to prefer the 66s. But I guess if they had to pay the current market price they’d want or even demand it to be better. I know I would....

My Reed 3p has fixed headshell, but i must say that latest version comes with special headshells that can be changed easily. Nandric ordered custom made shells for his Reed. With my first version of 3p it’s impossible.

With sme type headshells it’s more fun to swap cartridges for sure.

The difference between FR-64s and FR-66s is the length of the armwand as far as i know. I’m wondering why no one never offered a rebuild of 64s with longer (stainless steel) custom made armwand? The difference in price between 64s and 66s is so huge, but in fact this is ONLY the length of the armwand you’re paying many thousand dollars for (because B-60 can be found separately). It’s so difficult to disassemble one armwand and replace it with longer custom made armwand (same stainless steel material) ? It will save you $3000 at least.

@nandric what you think ? 

Are you saying the Reed 3p and Schroeder tonearms are better than 64/66S everything else being equal?
how about early version IT-407 vs 64/66S?