looking for tone-arm sugestions

NJBOB · « **on:** 29 Apr 2007, 02:28 pm »

i have a vpi mkiii with sama, currently i have a audio quest pt6. it sounds great but as we all know its time for an upgrade. i'm looking to spend under 1000 used or new. can you give me recomendations and tell me why

i was looking at the moth rb250 with mitchel weight and incognito wireing for about 550, or trying to find a used sme 309 in my price range

thanks
bob

WEEZ · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 Apr 2007, 03:18 pm »

Curious as to why you would consider a Rega an upgrade from the Audioquest.

WEEZ

NJBOB · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Apr 2007, 03:37 pm »

thats why i posted...are you saying the pt6 is better

thanks for any sudgestions or opinions

doug s. · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Apr 2007, 04:24 pm »

you will not find a better arm for anywhere near the price than an origin-live modded rb250, imo. i suspect the incognito modded rb250 is similar. but, personally, i prefer the non-eccentric counterweight of the o-l. i tried an eccentric counterweight that lowered its center of gravity, & i actually got better results w/the o-l counterweight.

also, the rs labs tonearm is killer. i had one & traded it for an o-l silver taper, only because its unique shape precluded the use of an auto-lift device w/it & i am a lazy slob!

there's one f/s on agon right now, perhaps its asking price is a mite high, but maybe not...

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtnrm&1182821765

here's an ad for the o-l rb250:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ddanlgtnrm&1182142727&demo&3&4&

ymmv,

doug s.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Apr 2007, 05:39 pm »

I have an SME309 on my Avid and on my Oracle and am very fond of
them because they are easy to set up and align. The detachable head
shell, while not as ridgid as the SME V arm, makes it really easy to
swap cartridges....

You should easily be able to find a used one for less than 1000 bucks!!

eric the red · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Apr 2007, 05:46 pm »

How about a DIY wood arm kind of like the one on this Thorens?

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1183024403
Is it just me or does a wooden TT arm seem kind of strange

doug s. · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Apr 2007, 07:25 pm »

Quote from: eric the red on 29 Apr 2007, 05:46 pm

How about a DIY wood arm kind of like the one on this Thorens?

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1183024403
Is it just me or does a wooden TT arm seem kind of strange

that's not a diy arm, it's an old grado arm. actually, a decent arm. i had one that came on an empire 208 that i used to own. (not as good as the rs labs arm i put on it, i admit!) these grado arms can fetch up to & over $300 on ebay, when complete, & in excellent condition...

if you're interested in diy wood arms, this site has what looks to be a nice arm, w/diy turntable, as well (the turntable uses a really cool bearing/shaft set-up made from a harley-davidson valve & valve guide!):

http://www.altmann.haan.de/turntable/

doug s.

WEEZ · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Apr 2007, 07:52 pm »

The reason i asked why you think a Rega is an 'upgrade' was partially answered on this board. It seems audio boards are full of people who say so. It may or may not be, however.

In the '70's, (maybe into the '80's) Harry Weisfield offered the Rega on the HW19 models. When Audioquest introduced the PT6 (which WAS an upgrade from the PT5) VPI began offering them instead of the Rega. Wonder why. He then followed thru and offered the PT9 after the PT6. Another upgrade. Better wire? Better bearings? Yes, and yes. Adjustable VTA? Probably that too. Fluid damping? Yup.

I find it interesting that there seems to be a feeling that if something is 'modded" is must be better. Ask Roy Gandy. He'll not only disagree, but disagree with a lot of passion and valid engineering explanations as to why it ain't necessarily so. (Whatever..

) You said, "sounds great but as we all know it's time for an upgrade". Are you sure?

Now, an SME might 'be' an upgrade. But IMO, and IME, compared to a Rega, any Jelco arm; whether it's branded Linn, Premier (Sumiko), Robin (Graham) or Audioquest, is every bit as good AND is more cartridge 'friendly' to boot.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

WEEZ

Wayner · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Apr 2007, 09:01 pm »

I have the HW-19 with the AudioQuest tone arm. I couldn't be happier. I think my arm is the PT-9. Since I replaced my Sumiko BSP with a $100 Audio Technical AT440MLA, I'm really like what I hear.

By the way, the AQ tone arm does have adjustable VTA, Fluid damping and all that neat stuff. I didn't know if WEEZ was sure on that but it does. Opps!

Maybe I just recommended the AQ PT-9?

aa

WEEZ · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Apr 2007, 11:16 pm »

Wayner, yes I'm 'sure' the PT9 'does' have it (VTA and fluid damping)...I'm not entirely sure about the PT6, though. The Rega's have neither. And the stock PT9 has OFC Litz wiring. And it's DIN connector will accept cable upgrades, (if one is so inclined). It has advantages over the Rega that 'matter'. And as NJBOB says, "it sounds great".

And just so I'm not mis-understood...I'm not bashing Rega arms. They are what they are. I've used them too.

WEEZ

Nels Ferre · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Apr 2007, 12:15 am »

Quote from: WEEZ on 29 Apr 2007, 07:52 pm

I find it interesting that there seems to be a feeling that if something is 'modded" is must be better. Ask Roy Gandy. He'll not only disagree, but disagree with a lot of passion and valid engineering explanations as to why it ain't necessarily so.

While I respect Mr Gandy's engineering and products, he's also the same guy that believes record cleaning manchines are redundant...just let the stylus do the cleaning.

WEEZ · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 Apr 2007, 12:24 am »

And thinks in terms of 2mm spacers to adjust VTA. And no fluid damping. But hey...

doug s. · « **Reply #12 on:** 30 Apr 2007, 12:37 am »

rega arms are ok. (as are the audioquest arms, and as is my fluid-damped sumiko premier ft-3 arm.) but the origin-live modded rega arms are a whole different animal... adjustable vta, wiring to your own taste (with or without din plug), & fluid damping unnecessary.

ymmv,

doug s.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #13 on:** 30 Apr 2007, 01:34 am »

The necessity of fluid damping is a by-product of your cartridge.......a tonearm with fluid damping allows for greater compatibility with a wider range of cartridges. Fluid damping in and of itself doesn't make one tonearm superior to another, but it goes a long way in achieving satisfactory results for users. In other words, it's better to have it than not, all or most other things equal.

I have a Rega 250 with Expressimo end stub, counterweight and VTA. Hope to change out the botch job re-wire with something else shortly to really see how good this famed tonearm really is. Anybody found the bearing easily in it?...I haven't found a tonearm that didn't improve rather drastically with a shot of Tufoil in the bearings

It's probably far more slippery than perfectly smooth liquid ice