Best tonearm under $2k

Ok, so you’ve been using extremely low compliance cartridge (Denon 103) on lightweight Rega tonearm (11g effective mass) probably without knowing what is a cartridge/tonearm resonance frequency. This combination is a miss match if you don’t know. For Denon you need an arm with very high effective mass, definitely over 20g (something like 30g), but your Rega is just 11g, and it's better for mid compliance MM or MC.

Now you have SoundSmith cartridge with 10cu compliance which is still very low!

Without understanding tonearm/cartridge matching you can’t buy an arm. You definitely need an arm with high moving mass for those two cartridges. Pay attention to cartridge dynamic compliance at 10Hz and to tonearm moving mass. 

@Chakster that’s strange that the table came with the Denon 103. Do these German TT manufactures know what the heck they are doing? So I should be looking at high mass arms with the low compliance cartridge?

Sometimes it is very strange indeed. Some dealers have no clue what they’re selling. The manufacturer did not designed Rega arm for Denon for sure, just because it is oldschool cartridge (not for everyone). The manufacturer instead made the arm with 11g mass for most of the modern cartridges on the market today.

Yes, heavy arm for a low compliance cartridge is rule number one, it’s the basics. Just like a light mass arm for high compliance cartridge. The reason is tonearm/cartridge resonance frequency, this is theory, practically you can actually see how the arm wobbling and shaking at the resonance frequency, to do that you just need Hi-Fi Test LP. If the resonance frequency is in the frequency range of the real music then it is a problem.

The best high mass arm is probably Fidelity-Research FR-64s, this is a heavy monster. Another one which i am using is FR-64fx and Victor UA-7082, Lustre GST-801 also great. With those arms you can change the mass with different headshell (and different counterweights) for example.

Schick "12 inch tonearm is one of the most elegant tonearms, i owned this one in the past. Schick is very simple. Very nice for low compliance cartridges, but FR, Victor, Lustre are much better.

Maybe you can find used Reed 3p "10.5 at $2k, they are very nice.
My Reed 3p "12 Cocobolo has 18g effective mass, a few more grams can be added by special screws.

The Reed arm is intriguing to say the least and I would love to get to play with one. They look more expensive than 2K though. You never want to buy a used arm site unseen. They are too easy to damage. Just letting an arm sit out uncovered is enough to permanently screw up the bearings.

Reed is actually 5k EUR, but i bought mine from the manufacturer, it was their demo, the price was much lower. Some dealers can offer a demo with huge discount. It is impossible to damage Reed if it comes with original wooden box, the armtube is removed from the arm in original package. This is really a top class modern arm with unique design (so many unique features).

Chakster, 18 gms is up there. I use my Koetsu in an arm with an effective mass of 19 gms and the Koetsu is about as stiff as they get. 18 gms might be good for something like the Air Tight cartridges. Lyra’s and Clearaudio’s would get into trouble. The Ortofon Anna Diamond would work nicely.

Yes, even 18g is not the heaviest, i have Fidelity-Research 64s with 35g effective mass. I have more fun with vintage tonearms. I’m gonna try Reed 3p with Miyajima Kansui. Reed was nice with many cartridges i’ve tried before, but none of those carts are super low compliance, it was fine for medium compliance i’ve tried before.