Comparison of sonic qualities of some tonearms

Tonearms

I agree with rauliruegas

Today’s new and recognized vintage tonearms are all darn good.

We all love music, and do the best we can afford to increase the enjoyment.

Perhaps differences are measurable, that does not mean we are all able to hear the very subtle differences OP is asking about. I believe most of us could not hear any difference (and, if so, preferred or better?)

Certainly, the vast majority of us have not actually done side by side comparisons.

Thus, for me, it’s about Features (and appearance).

1. Fixed cartridge/removable headshell

is a clear separation, I always recommend removable headshells, and remind people, despite ‘fixed is better’ thinking, that many highly respected Tonearms came with/have removable headshells.

A quick ‘vintage tonearm’ search on hifishark, recently listed: Denon, Fidelity Research, Glanz, Grace, Ikeda, JVC, Micro Seiki, Ortofon, SAEC, SME’s, STAX, Thorens, ... and many new Tonearms, lets not forget all current beloved Technics .....

2. Wiring, I agree with rauliruegas, is important and ‘slightly more of us’ can hear a difference if truly concentrating, but: enough to rewire when a problem does not exist? I actually moved ‘down’ from silk covered 37 strand litz to whatever Steve at VAS uses for all his re-wiring jobs (unless customer requests …). I can’t hear any difference, but no direct comparison: broken, away, fixed, back. Much sturdier insulation that the silk covered litz it came with helps me sleep at night!

 

3. Azimuth: see below, Micro Seiki headshell collet allows Azimuth adjustment.

I buy headshells allowing azimuth adjustment, shims be gone

 

4. Arm Height Adjustment is very important, not just easier setting VTA initially, but when changing cartridges after initial one is worn, playing from a small collection of cartridges you may have, mounting a friend’s cartridge, switching from Stereo to Mono cartridge …

I have installed 3 arms with easy height adjustment

1. My Acos Lustre GST 801 on my JVC

2. My friend’s 2 Micro-Seiki 505s on his Luxman TT.

 

3. My friends Technics EPA-B500 Base with changeable arm wands

Curved wand, removable headshell

 

5. Anti-Skate is a must, easy?
6. Mounting of Tonearm, ease, solidity, future change, is why removable arm boards are important, not essential but ….
7. Appearance, someday this Ikeda

 

 

 

The facts of Linear Tracking are indisputable, however the advancing mechanism must perform as designed ....

The facts about less error with longer tonearm are indisputable, however what else about the arm?

My Linear Tonearm experiences (all good) are:

1. My Mitsubishi Vertical TT, LT-5V (belt drive). In my office system. MM Microline on aluminum

2. My friends Horizontal version of it: Mitsubishi LT-22 (quartz direct drive). MM advanced stylus on boron.

3. My Compact Programmable Technics SL-J33 (quartz direct drive).

I put a P mount MM cartridge with Advanced Stylus on aluminum cantilever.

Was in my shop system, until I needed a stackable TT pull out drawer to get my dual cassette deck back in. I got a Sony TT, FL-something ... put P Mount/1/2" adapter on, then MM with Advanced Stylus shape on boron.

The Technics is my ’loaner’ TT for friends with problems, like my Fisher 500c is my loaner tube receiver for friends in trouble. Gotta keep em with music while their problem is fixed.

Everyone is amazed how both loaned pieces sound, especially that little TT, it, and it’s arm do not look substantial at all, yet ....

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My favorite: 12.5" effective Blackbird, from NewArtVinyl in Russia, now $925 usd. Excellent communication, excellent protective packaging, 

 

http://newartvinyl.ru/board/detali_proigryvatelja/tonarm_black_bird12_5_5pin/7-1-0-53