Looking for tonearm inspiration


I just bought a used SME 20/12 turntable that is about 15 years old.  I also had a used 

Dynavector DRT XV-1s rebuilt/are tipped.  Odd as it may seem, there was no tonearm with the turntable.  I have yet to identify what the phono stage, but listening so far suggest a Sutherland Loco (still open to alternatives).  There must be many out there that have had experience with the SME 20/12 turntable and perhaps a few that have had experience with the SME/Dynavector combination.  Can you suggest a tonearm that had some magic for you with either bit of gear?  Wide range of music: Rock, Jazz, Female Vocal and a bit of Opera from time to time.


chilli42

Showing 5 responses by dover

Chak, as I understand it the Pro version of the FR64/66fx is simply one that comes without the anti-skating device. A bit of a mystery actually, ’cause why should a pro user go without it and us regular folks supposedly need it and cartridge manufacturers advise us to use it also?
Not a mystery at all. "Pro users" refers to radio stations, DJ's etc where they use cartridges tracking at high tracking weights. The higher the tracking weight the less important antiskate is.
I agree with Raul & Atmosphere above

The Triplanar you will need to check the arm clears the suspension tower right hand back corner.

SME V is a natural partner and is excellent with the Dynavector

I have recently installed a Kuzma 4point and was very impressed with both a VDH Colibri & Kuzma CAR50 - this easily surpassed the same cartridge with Morch DP8 & Helius on the same TT.

I think the new Kuzma 4Point9 would be a perfect match for your TT/Cartridge - the original 4Point wont fit. The 4Point9 is a nine inch arm as is the SME V.

I would not touch a vintage arm, although there are some excellent vintage arms there is always a risk of worn bearings, corroded wiring etc.

The FR64S ( I have a couple ) has robust bearings.
The Technics EPA100 is an excellent arm, but I would not buy one unless I was prepared to upgrade the ruby bearings ( they are brittle and easily damaged ) with either new ones or silicon nitride for better performance.

In a nutshell here is my shortlist for your TT/Cartridge

SME V
Triplanar
Kuzma 4Point9
Graham Phantom

I would personally go with a new Kuzma 4Point9 or Triplanar.
If you go for a second hand Triplanar, get it serviced before you mount it.
Your turntable deserves the best arm you can afford.



@atmasphere if not headroom explain how those 25 watts can handle the Scintilla. 
It can't. I distributed Apogees in the 80's. Heard the Classe amps on Apogees including Scintillas many times. They drove them but the sound was awful, big upper base hump and nothing else. If this is audio nirvana for you then you dont know what music sounds like.
Things could be that you are a tube audiophile 
No, I select amplifiers based on their ability to drive  the particular speakers to be used and the consequential sound quality of the COMBINED PAIRING.
Nobody in their right mind would try and drive Scintillas with tubes.

For home use the anti-skating must be set up equal to tracking force (less for advanced profiles). At least this is a basic recommendation, following this advice, if the tracking force is 2g then the anti-skating is about 2g too. If the tracking force is 1g then anti-skating is also about 1g. The higher the tracking force the higher the anti-skating? No?

This is a dangerous and wrong assertion,

Generally, antiskating required is a little less than the tracking force, but it is non linear and very seldom, if ever, 1:1.

Antiskating is correct when the cantilever is parallel to the groove at the tangent when the record is playing.