Makeshift tonearm for under $800

Dear Goch, I am not sure about Symphonic line but you should start a new thread with the title: 'Pluto 9A the best tonearm ever?' BTW according to me Pluto is more familiar in Saudi Arabia and similar countries than in the West. No idea if ebay exist there nor why should such a kind of market at all exist there. But you can try of course.

Regards,

Actually this "makeshift" thing was just an impulsive thought, simply because I could not conjure up a valid list of tonearms which I would truly like to buy as my "main" arm. My requirements are simple but sometimes too much of simplicity is not easy to achieve!!

As stated in another thread, I listen to a lot of oldies classics and many of my records are "old" as in not in good condition. At present I use a SME 3012 S2 and I am surprised that with this arm the sound is very composed, refined and silent even on very worn out records (still clearly sounding worn out). Unfortunately in my part of the world (India) records manufacturing have stopped decades back and I always have to depend on used records to enjoy music of this origin. In most cases the records are not in good condition. That is why many people on our side prefer MM cartridges which have the tendency to suppress garbage and present music with fuller presence.

One excellent thing I love about the SME 3012 is its ability to keep the timbre very accurate. It is very important!! When listening to a 50s melody it really paints a "black and white" picture of the music nearly transforming me into that era. It depicts the vintage-ness of vintage in such a convincing manner that it feels like I am watching a movie of that era in a old world cinema theatre. Now that is not easy, let me tell you! I have played these records on many modern vinyl setups with high end tonearms and cartridges and most of them fail to achieve this realism of presenting the era along with the music tones. I agree they sound clean and resolving but when we talk about melody it is more than just clean dynamic sounds. I would also like to point out that the Denon 103pro which I was using prior to the ZYX was even better in painting this picture than the ZYX. In the end I do feel that, may be because we/I have grown up with those classics I relate to every nuance of them much more closely than I relate to something like Diana Krall/Jennifer Warnes kind of music. These newer age music sound good on many setups and the criteria to appreciate/enjoy these music is mostly dependant on detail and transparency.

This is the reason I am unable to prepare a list of tonearms to consider. I am looking for a tonearm which is lively, resolving, good tracker, can handle new age MCs well and is really tone/timbre neutral. Am I looking for too much ?

If not then please help me at least prepare a list of tonearms under $2k (new or used).

BTW, I have an offer on Origin Live Conqueror and Naim ARO at this point (both used).

Maybe you look at the wrong direction.
I know this harmonic organic completeness of your 3012 and that was the reason which directs me to buy my SAEC (as you probably know, there are only these 2 brands that utilise the knife-edge bearings). When I have the 3012 I've matched it with a Decca in order to elevate it's dark personality. But I would never advise you for this once the Decca's demands upon everything in the system, the LPs condition and every day use are a nightmere.
If you dare to experiment with a couple of headshells, then please give a chance to a used VDH Colibri LW gold before you swap your 3012. You really can't imagine what you're missing. Conqueror is not better than a Triplanar (but the cheap Clearaudio Satisfy it really is!) and don't bother for the ARO (just because you trust the firm). I have both in the past and the ARO is a very vicious monster about cartridge match and even armboard & overall TT philosophy. It's not good on handling either, while has an average performance. Some of us we have change over 20 cartridges till we find what works in our set-up. Do you really trust the DL103, RS30 as the upper limit to your quest?
About matching with 3012, I'm not expecting any surprises, but please do not stuck with this perforated heashell. Ask our Raul about the proper one, change the internal wiring and examine the condition of the (unfortunatelly plastic) knife-edge bearing.
My first recommendation to you, if you didn't have a budged limit, it would be the SAEC WE-506/VDH Condor. But the Condor never appears in the used market and the WE-506 (that is the 12" model) is priced from $2850. The 9.5" that I have (WE-308SX) $950 w/o headshell is very different sounding from your 3012. Not a sight of darkness or dullness, but at the opposite side of been at the edge of brilliance. Now imagine that this was not enough for me and I've hardwired from headshell collar till the step-up with VDH MCS 1000M (silver). I've changed the headshell with the Zonotone Z-10 'cause on this tonearm you must swing the cartridge to the headshell in order to align for Baerwald. I'm perfectly happy pairing it with my Colibri XPP & my Thorens TD124 II.

Thanks Geoch for all that information. I am happy to read that you have experience with all the tonearms (3012, conqueror and ARO) we are discussing. I also had Linn Ekos on my mind.

Regarding SAEC tonearms, I never thought about it. But now that you have recommended it so highly I will look for them. There are so many models in SAEC, the 407, 506, 308, 8000 series, it is very difficult to understand which one to choose. Would you be able to give some idea on what each of these series may sound like.

Secondly regarding the WE-308SX, how different is it sonically from the WE-506 ? You say it is opposite to 3012, does that mean it is very bright ?

Last question, is 308 and 506 only two tonearms worth buying from SAEC ? What about 407 ?

Rolf Gemein (the founder of Symphonic Line) has modified an Ekos for his own RG6 TT in his house. He said to me that the Ekos needs all these extra modifications, but even then, it is impossible to approach the performance of a Pluto 5A (5A is Pluto's entry model) and advices to stay in the Pluto family. I don't have first hand experience with Ekos, but it was said that it's bearings were very prompt to misalignment during a short period of use, so maybe it is better to avoid the Ekos at the second hand market.

SAEC has also the 317 but no one has it yet. Raul has the 308 & 506 (and maybe even the 8000 I'm not so sure), Halcro has the 308, Nandric had the 407, Tuchan has the 506 & 8000. I choose the 308SX 'cause of the very elevated quality of parts but I've never heard another model. What I must say about 308 models, is that you must not purchase any of them with the ULS-3X headshell 'cause it is not sloted and therefore you can't align per Baerwald. Keep in mind that all SAEC models (except the WE-8000ST) have come with a wrong angle at their armtube and you have to twist the cartridge at the headshell. Forget the 308N which is the entry model and also the 8000 that is impossible to find. Now the late Allen Wright (1947-2011) of Vacuum State after many years dedicated use of the 407, has returned to the 308SX. Although the 407 demands almost no twist at the headshell and the 308SX needs over 10 degrees! it seems the 308SX has something better in it's form of armtube or bearing housing. Tuchan advices me for the 506 that asks for a minimum twist (the cartridge at the headshell) and I trust his taste and opinion. I'm only want to add, that it is better to avoid the ULS-3X 18gr ceramic headshell. It is very inconvenient, extremely expensive and to my experience is a no-no with the SAEC models due to it's fixed holes for the cartridge. I'm using the Zonotone Z-Shell 10 and I'm extremely satisfied.
Bright? almost. But very vivid fo sure. (prepare your self for a big surprise). But I'm only refering to the WE-308SX. Not the 506. Maybe this 12" is better for your needs.
It is 07:00 and I have to go to my work now.
Have a nice day