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Good arms for catridge swappers

Yeah I have VPI and like it (12.5) have thought of Graham 2.2 or Phantom.But wondering what others might be out their that have good sound and can sawp without thiking a fortnight.Guess I would like to try something other than uni-pivot arm and not break bank.Think that (and maybe wrong) one is better with arm tube swap as opposed to head shell for speed of change and rigidity.Have thought of SME 309 being good contender but assuming (maybe wrongly) that contact break farther down arm tube is better.The good multi arm decks seem to be pretty pricey and cost of full assembly of arm is not as cost efficient/.Yeah maybe one day I will have enough $$$ for a TW Raven etc but not now.Also many choices on list of possible phono might have only one input.Like anybody to chime in on how important mono cart in PRACTICE has been though I have read the therory.But have many mono jazz LP's.re-issues more and more give you that option.Less so on pre or phono front but thinking that maybe some phase issues or something I haven't thought about would make this better down the line.One plus for cheaper head shell it would allow not only for a good stereo and mono option but also allow for one cheaper "beater" cart.Setup by myself or pro is another factor.Yet thinking that I see many good pieces from all price points that allow for mono option and given number of LP's this should be way to go.Thoughts broadly on subject welcome.
Cheers
Chazz
chazzbo

Showing 2 responses by t_bone

t_bone
1,182 posts
 
I tend to agree that the right armwand collet chuck is going to be better than the standard headshell mount. Finding a removable armwand arm which is not a unipivot might be a tough one (the Micro Seiki MA 505 Mk3 would work). That said, there are plenty of fantastic arms with removable headshells.

The one I might go for is a Technics EPA-100. It is flexible enough to use low-ish compliance carts all the way up to very high compliance carts. The one thing it cannot handle by itself is things like heavy-weight FR carts (unless you buy the optional counterweight add-on weight, which is rare as hens' teeth) but it is super-flexible in its use.

I like my mono cart. It may however be more a like of mono records than actually loving my mono cart.
t_bone
1,182 posts
 
Mosin, the EPA-500 is a great suggestion. My only 'worry' on that arm was that to get three different levels of effective mass it starts to take serious bucks. I have seen the heavy sets go for high three digits. One can 'manipulate' effective mass higher on the EPA-100 by using a heavier headshell. It would be difficult, however, to go lighter.
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