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1200GR upgrade tonearm or table?

My vinyl rig sounds so freakin’ good it should be illegal. The last item on my list is the tonearm. I’m running a Phasemation PP-500 with their top headshell. I’ve been told it works fine with the Technics tonearms but something better and heavier will make it even better. I’m thinking Glanz or Soraine.

for $3k-ish I don’t think I can upgrade the table but the arm is doable.

Thoughts?

gochurchgo

Showing 2 responses by lewm

lewm
13,476 posts
 

So if you are already using a "heavy" headshell and if you had to add a heavier counterweight to balance it (which also adds to the effective mass of the tonearm) then what leads you to believe you need an entirely new tonearm to get the most out of the cartridge? IMO, you might achieve a small audible improvement (and anyway, you will tell yourself that the new tonearm is an improvement, because you spent money on it), but you might be better off spending the bucks elsewhere.

lewm
13,476 posts
 

I would agree with the sentiment that an upgrade in your phono stage is going to be a lot more audible than purchasing a new tonearm, as there is nothing terribly wrong with the OEM tonearm on your TT.  Why do you say you need a "heavier" tonearm?  If that is the driving force behind your interest in a new tonearm, why not just add mass to the OEM tonearm?  It's quite easy to find a heavier headshell, for example.  Examples: Ortofon LH9000, Orsonic av101.  Or just place a dime or a nickel on top of the OEM headshell.

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