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I want to try a different tonearm on my classic

Hello AGONers,

I have been thinking about trying a new tonearm on my classic 1. I beleive I want to try something outside the JMW line. Have any of you VPI users made an upgrade to your tonearm? If so, What make and model tonearm are you getting good results with? I currently have the JMW 10.5 arm with a soundsmith sussuro paua. This combination sound nice and I have been happy with it thus far. I am just curious to see if I cant squeeze more performance out of this cartridge with a different tonearm. Do you guys have any suggestions or should I just stay with the JMW.....

Thanks
Andy
andyprice44
sarcher30
596 posts
 
A Rega arm will not just drop in the VPI Classic. The Classic arm is an 10.5 inch arm. If you really want to use another brand arm and don't want to modify the table yourself I believe VPI can do it for you. Tri-Planar or a Reed 10.5" would be the easiest. A Graham will not work without allot of modification due to where the tonearm cable exits the arm and the fact that it exits at 90 degrees. The plinth of the Classic is too thick for the Graham's tonearm cable to clear the bottom.
andyprice44 OP
133 posts
 
thanks for the insight Sarcher. I will look into that.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
I own the Triplanar VII as well as the Reed 2A (12'') but enjoy the old FR-64 s the most. As some Aussie stated the best buy arm in existance. That is to say a bargain. There
is a myth about the eff. mass of this arm but 'it depends' from the used headshell. However I would never use a light weight headshell. Those cheap (magnesium) Sumiko headshells with azimuth provision and included wire are excelent (13g). I use this arm to test all kinds of carts; the MM kind and the MC kind.
brf
1,715 posts
 
Just for clarification, the JMW 10 and JMW 10.5 are both 10 inch arms. The JMW 10.5i and the Classic are 10.5 inch arms.
riffer
362 posts
 
You have to find something with the same spindle to pivot distance that fits in the VPI cutout. The spindle to pivot of the 10.5 is reported to be 250mm. The vinyl engines tonearm database reports two arms that are 250mm, the Opera Audio ST600 10.5" and the Sony PUA-9. You could do further research to see if any modifications are required to the cutout etc.
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