Best tonearm under $2k

Look for a used Basis Vector tonearm. Spindle to pivot is the same as a Rega.

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. 

Very good advice Chakster, well said! To answer the OP's question...I would have to say without looking at cartridges at all, my $2,000 would go to a SME 309, Period!


Matt M

Wow, everyone's on a roll here, chakster is on the money and matt's
suggestion I think is also excellent. The Jelco would work for you but the SME is better. The Sorane is a wild card. Looking at pictures of it my instinct says no. It has a very complicated structure. I do not like removable head shells that create additional contact points and it looks very high mass. It is far easier to add weight to a tonearm than it is to remove weight. 

I run a Jelco arm and they are just great for the money and beautifully made. 
+ 850

@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?  From what I’ve read about the Sorane, it’s been said that it has the mass of a typical 12” arm so that would be a plus. 

George Merrill sells the Jelco 850S for $795. It is an excellent sounding arm with expansive 3D soundstage, cohesive frequency response, and a fine top end. And you don't have to spend $2000 to get a big improvement over the Rega. Get the Jelco 501 phono cable. Don't let the low price fool you. Economies of scale.

Maybe consider an Origin Live Encounter—same mounting geometry as Rega and a big step up in performance. It will mate well with your MIMC Star.

rickraymond, that is correct you want a higher effective mass arm for cartridges with lower compliance. However, there is no typical 12" arm. The SME V-12 has an effective mass of 12 grams and the Kuzma 4 Point 11 16 grams. I am sure there are 12" arms with effective masses over 20 grams. The Sorane certainly looks like a high mass arm but numbers speak louder than looks. Never make assumptions. Assumptions are the mother of all f--- ups.

Mike

@dodgealum 
 I looked into the Origin Live arms and they seem to claim quite a bit about their arms and not really too concerned about arm mass vs cart compliance. They state that a very well built arm supersedes any issues with mating mass and compliance. There’s a ton of informative info on their website which is hard to take it all in. I would say though that their arms do look very well built and their methods of engineering are very convincing. I’m interested for sure but need to do some more homework. 

I'd suggest having a look at a Thomas Schick 12" or 9.6" (available in the US @ $2000 I see).  On my Nottingham it performs superbly with low compliance cartridges and should work very well indeed with both the Denon and the Soundsmith.

It's very much a "less is more" design and the fit, finish and in particular the bearings are all superb. In my opinion there isn't an arm out there which can touch it at the price and I grow ever more fond of mine as I test it with different cartridges.

The standard graphite headshell from Schick is 15g, but way too expensive @ $289, so pick up an excellent Audio-Technica AT-LH15H (or AT-LH18H) instead and you're good to go.

However, if you're loath to spend the full stated budget then the Jelco 850 is also an excellent arm and a superb value at the $795 mentioned above.  I'd personally take it over an SME 309 without a second thought, though the 309 is also a very competent arm.

@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.

Rick, there is no getting away from physics. Effective mass and compliance determine the frequency the suspension oscillates at. You can dampen the oscillation with various damping methods like a paddle in viscous oil but the frequency remains the same unless you change either compliance or effective mass. You want that frequency between 8 and 12 Hz. I like to keep it under 10. Below 8 and you start getting into record warp frequency. Which means when your cartridge hits a warp the tonearm rockets skyward comes down and bounces back up again and if you get it just right it will keep bouncing till it jumps off the side. Get it above 12 and you start getting into low bass causing feed back and softening bass transients. Origin Live might not be concerned but you certainly should.
Agrippa you and I obviously live on different planets. The Jelco is a fine arm for the money with medium to lower compliance cartridges but it is no where near as sophisticated as the SME 309 with its tapered arm tube and aerospace bearings. The SME is much lighter and therefore adaptable to far more cartridges. It is easy to add weight to an arm. Not so easy to take it off. I have not played with a Schick arm but the pictures do not look promising. 
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. 
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. 

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.