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FR64 to FR66 conversion Analogmagik

Hi guys

 

I read the thread started by @syntax whose opinion I genuinely value. I have decided to get Richard Mak to refurb my FR64s arm.

 

Whilst on the website I saw you could get an FR66 replica arm tube.

 

Has anyone done this conversion?

What is the benefit of going 9 to 12 inches?

There is a very solid school of thought advocated by the maker of the SAT arm and the late great Max Townshend that the shorter the arm the better - rigidity and also resonance outweigh tracking improvement…

 

I would be grateful for the input of anyone particularly those who have both arms or got the conversion 

 

thanks 🙏 

 

lohanimal

Showing 1 response by dover

dover
2,280 posts
 

In my view you should consider that the FR64S will be more compatible with a wider variety of TT's than the FR66S due to the 12 inch arm not fitting many TT's.

Is a small improvement worth the downside.

Also you have an increase in effective mass and inertia - pushing the arm into a smaller group of compatible cartridges.

If you really want to optimise the FR64S and are prepared to butcher it - get the guy to drill holes up and down the FR64S arm tube to lower the effective mass, eliminate the head shell bayonet mount, and wire the arm from cartridge to phono input in a continuous run. That along with a bearing upgrade should improve the arm immensely, and should outperform a standard FR66S by some margin.

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