Get a lowish mass tonearm and add mass as needed to suit any cartridge. Then choose a tonearm based on other qualities such as bearings, ease of VTA and VTF adjustment, etc. Don’t overthink it.
Another “How to choose an arm” question
I currently have a Sota Saphire running an SAEC We317 arm (221mm spindle to pivot and 12 mm overhang).
That is running a Garrott Bros p77i, but I have been looking at some LOMC cartridges, as well as SoundSmith LO-MI, AT ART, etc.
How is one supposed to determine their current arm is good or not?
It sounds fine and I would think that the knife edge design is not prone to a lot of wear.
However it was recommend that I upgrade the arm… But how would I know “to what”, and how would I know if the upgrade is worthwhile?
I was looking at some DD tables to have a more expanded choice of arms that can be mounted, as the Sota is a bit restrictive in that regard. That is still on the cards as a possibility… however assuming that the Sota is a keeper, then how do I determine the arm’s adequacy, being “fit for purpose”?
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- 67 posts total
Dear @holmz : Look for no unipivot designs, no matters what. Even that you like stay away of knife bearing designs. Read carefully the tonearm manufacturer site information, is very important. Look for well damped tonearms. Medium mass is fine. Reading reviews from TAS or STPH could help too. Now, even that your cartridges or any cartridge can be well matched about the resonance frequency ideal range same cartridges in different tonearm sounds a little different. Each tonearms it self vibrates/resonates different and are damped in different way but any good choice that you decide will performs really good. Today there are only a few tonearms that you could say: this is a bad tonearm. There are many tonearm manufacturerers. Each one of us tonearm opinions come from our first hand experiences through our room/system that never is near the one you own, so be very carefully here and if you have near tonearm retailers then go to listen it and the same is you have audio friends near your place and I hope you already definied very specific targets for your system that can match it according your MUSIC/sound priorities You need this kind of reference and when listening to other systems or even in yours you need to know exactly what to look for in LP tracks to really know you are near your targets:
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@holmz - Since the RB3000 was recomemnded I would also suggest taking a look at the Audomods Arms I've had a the old Classis Series 3 with the Micometer VTA for about 11 years and have no thoughts of changing it. The new Series 6 has many improvements Jeff at Audiomods will answer any questions you have about his arms. He can also make mounting plates to suite your turntable in many cases His arms are superb, finely crafted and provide exceptional performance to any turntable He can also recommend cartridges that match his arms perfectly Hope that helps - Steve |
- 67 posts total