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BEST TONEARM FOR HIGH COMPLIANCE MM

Dear 'gonners'

I have a lovely Pickering XSV 4000 MM cartridge. I understand this to be from the heyday of high compliance MM cartridges when the correct tonearm was lightweight etc.
As a result of this I have decided to have 2 arms on my turntable - one for this, and another for my Transfiguration Temper V
I already have a Moerch DP6 and am considering a light arm wand, but I was simply gonna use this for my Temper V.
Can someone recommend a tonearm from the heyday of light arms in the 70's that will be suitable - thanks
lohanimal
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Another fine choice, in this case from the early 1980's, would be the Magnepan Unitrac 1. If you find one, though, make sure that it is not missing any parts or necessary accessories.

Regards,
-- Al
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atmasphere
11,894 posts
 
Al, if I am not mistaken the Magnepan has a construction flaw (a burr) that causes it to slice up the signal wires where they exit the arm tube. Apparently it was the lucky owner that got one that didn't fail- as I understand it eventually all of them will. Magnapan used to have a room full of that arm that they were not selling to anyone.
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
That's interesting, Ralph, thanks. I hadn't heard that previously. In any event, my Unitrac still works as new, after 31 years. Member Rodman99999 also continues to use and be very pleased with a Unitrac as well.

Best regards,
-- Al
effischer
564 posts
 
Ralph has answered a puzzlement for me. My Unitrac cut one of the ground wires twice, and it couldn't be properly repaired or rebuilt the second time. Magnepan had stopped servicing them and the guy I ended up trying to work with couldn't get the ultra-fine 44 gauge Litz wire. A pity, as it was superb sounding arm. Ended up going with a Graham Phantom to replace it. Awesome but oh, so spendy.
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yogiboy
5,732 posts
 
The SME 3009 was a low mass arm from that era of high
compliance cartridges. The Grace 707 was another low mass arm.
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