there is no sonic advantage of the "A" against "G"...in Japan it is a matter of bigger nostalgia(NOS) and in reality it is just the arm choice....if you have the old Ortofon/EMT arms, you either have the "A" or "G" version, so....Against the $$$ of the new AS 309S I would maybe look at the used market...you may get the older arms which are miles ahead of the new in the "classic sound"....my opinion.