Equal or better tonearm than Jelco for like amount of money


Now that Jelco has announced that they are shutting down operations what other like or better quality tonearms are available in the same price range.Looking at removable headshell arms not fixed headshell arms
alucard19

Showing 5 responses by chakster

At $1000-1500 one of the best is Technics EPA-100 "10.5 tonearm (titanium tinride) with Ruby Ball Bearings and dynamic damping.

 A variable dynamic damping system which permits the user to tune the arm for compatibility with virtually any cartridge now available. An extremely stable 4-point Gimbal suspension employing ruby ball bearings which maintain static friction at 5mg or less for movement in any direction. A titanium nitride shaft which is light and also resistant to flexing and resonances. These elements all contribute to one end, keeping the stylus in optimum contact with the record grooves. Although this many seem elementary, the ability of the EPA-100 to perform this function in a high grade sound system can make a noticeable difference in the clarity and openness of the resulting sound.  
There are so many inexpensive vintage tonearm better than Jelco. 

Denon DA-401, Victor UA-7045, Sony PUA series 

for a bit more long Victor UA-7082
Fidelity Reseach FR-64s 

Victor 7045 and 7082 with VTA on the fly are great (if you can find a perfect sample). 


"such arms must be 5g mass. Jelco mass is much higher, it’s for mid compliance, with heavier headshell can be used for high-ish compliance cartridges." 

Isn't it the opposite, with lighter headshells it could be used with high compliance cartridges?


When i said about 5g tonearm mass i mean with headshell like Denon DA-401 tonearm or Infinity Black Widow (even lighter). 

When the mass of the tonearm is high you can't detract much using lighter headshell, it will be a problem to find a nice headshell lighter than 8g, and the Jelso stock shell is probably 10g ?

But it's easier to add mass with heavy headshell.

However, the problem often is counterweight own weight too. 

Chakster I do have 750EB and with heavy (not original) headshell it’s in the region of 20 with test disk.

Although Jelco abandoned old series and new series compliance is much higher. In 12 inch they do have only 13 grams.
https://www.jelco-ichikawa.co.jp/cn3/tk-850m.html
So IMO if someone likes high compliance it’s the last chance.

Thanks, i am not familiar with TK-850 model, i think 750 series is the most popular and i remember long discussion about it's mass, so i expected something like 15-21g. 


FR64S for similar price or LESS than Jelco? On what planet?

Planet Tokyo, Japan
Paid about $1200 for my FR-64s , as i said in my post FR will cost more. But i forgot the price for Jelco, i think not every Jelco was $500, some of them are more expensive (latest models) ? 






Jelco is definitelty NOT for high compliance cartridges, such arms must be 5g mass. Jelco mass is much higher, it’s for mid compliance, with heavier headshell can be used for high-ish compliance cartridges.

Thimas Schick tonearms available in "9 or "12 inch, removable headshells. Modest price. 
TS-350S MKll  effective mass is ~ 9 grams


Maybe i missed that model, classic Jelco 750D series are higher mass, but no one can recall exact mass (15-21g?)