Why Would a Turntable Need More than 1 Arm ?

You may have only one arm, for instance with an EMT table, an EMT 997 or Ortofon RMG 309 you can switch easily from Stereo to Mono carts without alignments at all. If you are going to be happy with one tonearm in this constellation you have my respect.

However as stated above there are so many more options if you decide to go for more tonearms and many different carts. It is on the other hand the entry into the ongoing discussion what makes sense? Believe me it makes sense if you start becoming addicted...

I have a Graham B44 arm with 2 wands. 1 for stereo & 1 for mono. My mono records sound much better with my mono cartridge than my preamp in mono mode with my stereo cartridge. I am also thinking of a 3rd wand for a more analytical cartridge.

Why would a turntable need more than one record? "Need" doesn't really enter into this hobby. Mounted on one table, I have a 12-inch arm with an SPU and a variety of headshells, and a 9-inch arm with two arm wands that I switch between a variety of carts, MM and MC. All offer very different sounds, and all sound good to great. I have a friend who has four turntables, all connected and ready to play through the same system. As Lear says, oh reason not the need. Variety is nice. Many roads to Dublin.

As there isn't a single best arm/cart combination. I'm fortunate enough to have two arms on my Platine Verdier - a Schroeder Model 2 plus Allaerts MC1B and a vintage late 70s Hadcock 228 plus rebuilt Decca FFSS MkIV C4E.

When I play a record, I play the first minute or so with each arm/cart. One of them will sound better with that record and it's not always the same combo that comes out tops. Then I listen to the LP with the arm/cart that suits that LP (and the way it's mastered) best.

Charlie

Some turntables can accept three arms, so why not three?