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Any decent improvments left for my ES-1?

Yes, I'm still using my AR ES-1. Over the years it's been modified with parts and whatnot from Scillia and Sound of the Wood. New springs, platter, bearing, motor, plinth heavily damped with the SotW damping material. By and large it sounds pretty good. I'm using a Denon 103R which I will probably send to Soundsmith for a new tip and Ruby cantilever.

I'm sure the thing that's really holding me back is my old MMT arm (don't laugh!). Not a great arm in the history of arms. So I'm looking to replace it. Willing to buy used. I need some firsthand recommendations on a good arm that works really well with this table and low to medium compliance carts.

I will admit that if I took all the money I spent over the years on this table and had it now I could probably buy a nice used VPI or Clearaudio. But if I can improve something that's already had the investment made by finding a good arm I'd choose that route.

Oh, if I can get an arm with some means of azimuth and vertical height adjustment, all the better. Looking for used << $1K.
tonyptony
ddarch44's avatar
ddarch44
40 posts
 
I think going for the COMPLETE Merrill platter system would result in a higher level of detail retrieval from your lps. The whole system is: 1)upgraded drive shaft/spindle; 2)acrylic platter; 3)lead mat; 4)outer ring clamp and 5)record weight.

In my opinion, once you own the whole platter system (originally designed by George and later refined by Anthony) you will never be able to go to another table.

Dave
tonyptony OP
617 posts
 
Dave, I did it piecemeal, but I have everything except the outer ring clamp. At the time that was the limit of my spending, given that I also did a motor upgrade and chassis damping - oh, and acrylic mouting board. I may try to track down a clamp this year to complete the package. So, yes, I do have the majority of that configuration (plus a little extra). So what arm do I put on this thing to give me the next level for less than a grand?
tonyptony OP
617 posts
 
the jelco arm, which is the equivalent of the above mentioned AQ PT9 would be a significant upgrade to the mmt

Jaybo, which Jelco?
rccc
216 posts
 
I just set up a highly modded ES1 with a modded rb300 (incognito, mitchell etc) and a riggle vta. I made a custom arm board which entailed modifying the acrylic sub chassis. I was skeptical about the vta until I heard it. The guy I did it for was just going on conversations he had with Pete. In short I dont know how this combo could be improved on and with the cartidges I listened on it (I hate to say it) sounded as good or better than my SME V . I think total investment was not much more than a grand.
ddarch44's avatar
ddarch44
40 posts
 
Great. Did you do the stub/spindle too? Don't discount the improvement of this part over the mass produced shaft/spindle pridcued by AR in the 1000s. These are singly made of a much better grade stainless steel to much finer tolerances.

Dave
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