I owned at least 10 FR-64S. Since the 80is. Never longed for 66S
because I was in love with 64S and consider this one as an beauty
and 66 as an beast . I don't believe that 10 " arm is lesser than 12"
arm. Besides the FR-64S can be made less heavy with 170 g.
weight and lighter headshells. But to get an perfect sample one
need to buy many and exchange some parts which lost the spring
on fastening screws together with plastic peace on their ''nose''
to protect aluminum scale and steel at the opposite sides. I now
own the copper and silver (inside) kinds.
My Reed 3 P is , in some way, similar to Dertonarm 'Arche'' headshell.
By Arche one can buy additional insert pieces on which
the cart is fastened. So one can use the same frame for as many
carts one wants .By Reed 3 P one can change in similar way
the as ''insert piece'' made headhells and pre-adjust carts on
them as if one owns more headhells than one.
My experience with Ikeda was an mixed blessing. Not as easy to
adjust and use as FR-64S and not better sounding. So I
sold Ikeda and kept (both) FR-64 S. Also easy by cart exchange.
When FR 64/66 FX was produced the argument (from German
importer) was that FR-64/ 66 was much more difficult to produce
because hardening steel was much more difficult to work with
in comparison with aluminum. The same was the case with SME
arms. The first series were made from steel the later from aluminum.
I don't want to suggest that the same reason apply for Ikeda 345
or other Ikeda versions (grin).
because I was in love with 64S and consider this one as an beauty
and 66 as an beast . I don't believe that 10 " arm is lesser than 12"
arm. Besides the FR-64S can be made less heavy with 170 g.
weight and lighter headshells. But to get an perfect sample one
need to buy many and exchange some parts which lost the spring
on fastening screws together with plastic peace on their ''nose''
to protect aluminum scale and steel at the opposite sides. I now
own the copper and silver (inside) kinds.
My Reed 3 P is , in some way, similar to Dertonarm 'Arche'' headshell.
By Arche one can buy additional insert pieces on which
the cart is fastened. So one can use the same frame for as many
carts one wants .By Reed 3 P one can change in similar way
the as ''insert piece'' made headhells and pre-adjust carts on
them as if one owns more headhells than one.
My experience with Ikeda was an mixed blessing. Not as easy to
adjust and use as FR-64S and not better sounding. So I
sold Ikeda and kept (both) FR-64 S. Also easy by cart exchange.
When FR 64/66 FX was produced the argument (from German
importer) was that FR-64/ 66 was much more difficult to produce
because hardening steel was much more difficult to work with
in comparison with aluminum. The same was the case with SME
arms. The first series were made from steel the later from aluminum.
I don't want to suggest that the same reason apply for Ikeda 345
or other Ikeda versions (grin).