Luxman PD121A - PD441

chridabs OP

your best value may be to wait until you find a 441 with an acceptable arm included, get it, and later change to a different arm.

I often see SME 3009 arms on them, I used one for many years on my Thorens TD124, loved it. Easy and precise balance, tracking weight, and anti-skate. Arm height is by clamping screw, not easy for changing VTA like the Acos Lustre GST-801 or Micro-Seiki MA505.

Similar to the JVC Victor, the SME 3009/12 have a rubber sleeve that isolates the rear from the front tube sections. It can deteriorate, the rear counterweight tube slips over it. I renewed mine many years ago. Steve at VAS likes them, he bought mine.

SME’s have a unique bottom connector, a shield that slides onto it, and a dedicated fitting on the phono cable, make sure the cable is included. Conversions to RCA Jacks can be done.

This listing shows it well

https://www.ebay.com/itm/257043523542?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=3cf7a98c-6e12-11f0-b771-346330323932

I got new part from SME, found this just now

https://www.ebay.com/itm/127262758116?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item&srsltid=AfmBOop4JplseoWQ7A5i1UWMfnVpkrgOJO9wQK6MeRVBZeurV6R6o_tc_rw

@elliottbnewcombjr

Appreciate the info. Probably saves a ton of server space having external links!

The pd441 is on the way. I got it relatively cheap (is there such a word?) I also managed to get a seac 308SX on the cheap (theres that imaginary word again).

I really did like the SME 3009 but just didnt find one at the time with the right price. Also the armboard that is coming with the 441 is Seac size and I didnt want to go and get another one just yet. I really did LOVE the micro seiki 505 MKIII straight arm. That thing is sexy. But the fixed head was a little hmmmm

SO just waiting out on delivery. Luckily all free returns etc just i case. 

Just need to get myself a cart. Currently looking at a Grace f8c (in another post i made)

And then a sound stage :( Just never ends. May post about a decent stage after i have done my daily youtube lurking.

Have to say this forum is awesome!

Will post a pic once i get things laid out in front of me!

congrats, best of luck with it.

I never saw/heard the SAEC arm, it looks good, they made an accessory Stabilizer weight, seen here

https://audio-database.com/SAEC/etc/we-308sx.html

If 308sx needs a 30mm hole, then, for the future, that plate's large hole is big enough for the Micro-Seiki 505, the Acos-Lustre CST-801 or JVC Victor 7045/7082, the one's I know about.

One trick, is to make a pencil mark using the plate with no arm mounted, so you can pre-measure with your ruler flat, 235mm center of spindle to the center of the hole in the plate, (+5mm overhang = 308sx's 240mm effective length).

Make a pencil mark you can see/align with after the arm is mounted in the plate (when you can no longer lay your ruler flat).

@elliottbnewcombjr 

I managed to bag myself a stabaliser. The seller said it wasnt a MUST but worth getting. I figured if i wanted to sell the arm later it would be better to have the whole bits that go along with it. 

Do you think its worth getting the ceramic head? I dont rally know what the advantage would be??

Would you happen to have any links / pics of the procedure? I think I get.