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How important is the tonearm?

I am presently shopping for a new tonearm for my new turntable. I looked at basic arm like the Jelco (500$) but also at arms like Reed, Graham, Tri-Planar all costing over 4000$.

The turntable is a TTWeights Gem Ultra and the cartridge I have on hand is a brand new Benz Ruby 3.

Here is a couple of questions for the analogue experts.

1. Is the quality of the tonearm important?

2. Is it easy to hear the difference between expensive tonearm (Ex: Graham Phantom) vs a cheaper Jelco (Approx. 500$)?

3. What makes a good arm?

Any comments from analogues expert?
acadie
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
The question was NOT what is more important, rather HOW important is the tonearm. And I think we all agree that the arm is very important.

Soulbrass, all things being equal, etc., the low-end cart on the high-end arm will sound better because the arm is providing more complete support to allow the lesser cartridge to sound its best.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
VERY!!
vernneal's avatar
vernneal
438 posts
 
out of my league
blackburn
16 posts
 
Matching a cartridge to the tonearm then choosing the right table to hopefully hear the arm,cartridge and your music at their very best. It's all important this far up the stream.

Remember when Ivor Tiefenbrun popped onto the scene back in the 1970s preaching about the source ,.......whom here bought into that back in the day? :-o
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
As Raul says....the Jelco is inexpensive.
It doesn't mean it's a bad arm. If you find a cartridge that you like and which is a good match, you don't have to pay more for an arm.
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