the 47 lab RS-A1 arm, and it's clone ?

Oregon, the friend who owns the RS-A-1 that I tried for a month came over this afternoon and we discussed this thread. As far as, "Can you describe the sound" is concerned, we're both puzzled and he asked, "Can you describe the taste of chocolate?" which I thought was apt.

The RS-A1 is very open, musical, and forgiving. It will change all your views of tonearms and how they work. Doesn't seem to matter all that much where it's mounted relative to the turntable/spindle as long as you get it in the ballpark. It just sits on the plinth (doesn't have to be attached but has a tendency to fall over if it isn't). VTA and VTF are similarly in the "get it close but don't sweat it" vein. No antiskating is provided or needed. The arm is straight, the "headshell" swivels but is not offset and the cart doesn't precisely follow the groove, so any comparison to straight-line trackers is off the mark. Tracks like a champ, though. It is simply a goofy arm that works very, very well if you can stand to live with it. I couldn't.

Oregon, I'm the owner of the RS-A1 referenced above and there's not really much I can add to Dave's excellent description. The only direct comparisons I've made in my own system have been with an ET 2 air-bearing arm and an RB 300. It bested both of these arms in sound quality although it may be a pinch lighter in the bass than the Rega. It is also ridiculously easy to set up (which was a real change from the ET 2) and Dave is correct when he says it can't be compared to a linear tracker despite the "swiveling" headshell.

One of the attributes the arm does have in common with the ET 2 and other linear trackers is the lack of inner groove distortion (at least to these ears). The midrange and treble are nimble and extended, and the whole range is ligtning quick. I would say the RS-A1 is the tonearm equivalent of my Quad ESL 57 speakers, although with more extended treble as confirmed by listening to it in another system.

As Dave also pointed out, the caveat is ease of use (or lack threof). I had five mishaps the first week trying to get the cartridge into the lead grooves (even with the use of an ingenius "dental cueing aid" Dave came up with), and a robust cartridge is initially recommended. I'm much better at it now (no fumbles in two weeks), but I still need to stay focused and normally switch to digital media if I've had a few drinks :-). For this reason (and this reason alone), I'm still evaluating whether I'll be keeping the arm long-term.

P.S. I seriously doubt you will find any used in the $500 range. The best price I can remember seeing in the past year was around $900.

One was sold off this website for $500, or certainly less than $600, within the past 6 months. I know because I wish I had bought it.

Thanks, Lew. I now feel like I did when I saw my SUV on sale for thousands less only a few months after I purchased it. Aargh! ;-)

You are exchanging communications with a man who once owned collector sports cars now worth many millions of dollars. Not to mention why didn't I buy that Ferrari 250GTO back in 1971 for $12,000 (now worth upwards of 5 to 10 million)? I guess one reason was that $12K was more than I earned in FY1971. So, it's all relative, and c'est la vie, etc.

Anyway, patience is its own reward. FWIW, there's an RS-A1 for sale now on A'gon, for more than $500 but with a re-wire upgrade that adds value.