Origin live Silver or VPI JMW-9 Signature

The turntable that I am using, is a DIY project. It is based on a 80 mm acrylic platter and bearing from Scheu Analogue (I believe the brand is known as Eurolab in USA). It is a rigid construcion with no suspension standing on 3 Boston Audio tuneblocks. The Plinth is made out of multiple layers of birch plywood that has been dampend with about 25 pounds of led shots. It also has a rubber/cork compound layer. I'm currently experimenting with armboard material, and will try solid maple, plywood with a cork layer, aluminium and several others.

In regards to future cartridge investments, I'm probably going to end up buying a Shelter 901 or Perhaps a Dynavector 17DMKII in between the Denon and the Shelter.

Initially my budget for a new tonearm was around $1000, but I am now considering maybe spending a little more and going for the really great arm right away. I figure I'm probably going to upgrade again, so why not do it straight away. That brings me in the range of the Graham 2.2, Basis Vector, Origin Live Illustrious and others in the $1500 range (used).

That sounds like a good idea as long as you can swing the extra budget.

Last spring I was able to hear a new Teres model that was built entirely from birch ply and hardwood. It sounded very nice. Not as detailed and dynamic as a cocobolo model, but still very nice. I wish I could remember if the armboard was made from ply or solid birch. I'm guessing there was some ply in there as well.

I bet an armboard of ply and hard maple would do pretty well. You've probably already thought of this but try to get the good baltic birch that's made with many tight layers. That should help with the dampening and I rarely find voids in it.

Aluminum could work well and I'd also suggest brass.

Good luck!

Dan

>>Not much in the way of easy VTA/VTF but no worse than the OL<<

Hi Dan, Actually VTA on the Vector 3 is very very easy if the arm is ordered with the VTA micrometer. VTF is adjusted by moving the counterweight. It will track virtually any cartridge with extreme precision and the build quality is superior to any OL arm.

What is your current tonearm?

Hi Bill,

Yes, I'm familiar with the Basis VTA option. I once had the pleasure of a first hand demo from A.J. in his shop. That is one very well engineered and implemented device! It had better be for $800. :) I completely agree with you regarding the stability of the Vector. I once owned the Model 1 and a 2.2. I preferred the Vector over the 2.2 in most cases, but there was also a great synergy with the 2500 table I was using at the time. The VTF adjustment is no different than the OL, or the Triplanar as well. One thing I did like was that the Vector's weight has that double "O" ring that made for a little easier adjustments.