That arm has a 14.5 effective mass. You can use this chart to calculate if the cartridge that you want to use would be compatible with that arm!
Here ya go! 14.5 grams Using a basic effective mass calculator (link below), the Micro Seiki MA-505 has an effective mass of 14.5 grams. It needs another ~16 grams to achieve a new effective mass of about 30 grams. To add 16 grams to this tonearm, more weight at the headshell and more counterweight has to be installed. https://www.micro-seiki.org/denon-103-project MA-505 Denon 103 Project — Micro |
I am always puzzled by quotations of tonearm effective mass. Let’s assume 14.5g is the effective mass of the tonearm plus its OEM headshell. To this value, one has to add the mass of the cartridge and mounting hardware. In the case cited, that would be the mass (weight) of a Denon 103, which is a rather heavy cartridge as cartridges go. Furthermore, many of the many mods available to the 103 will further increase its mass. So let’s say the 103 weighs at least 10g. That’s a low end estimate. Then let’s say the mounting hardware adds 2-3g. In this case, you only need to add 3-4g to the ensemble to achieve a 30g total effective mass. Probably you wouldn’t need to add any mass over and above that of the DL103 plus hardware, because probably the DL103 weighs more than 10g. Then there’s the counter-weight. |
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The effective mass of a tone arm is effected by the location of it’s counterweight. Increasing the distance of the c/w from the arm’s bearings increases the arm’s effective mass. To decrease an arm’s e/m, add weight to it (wheel-balancing stick-on lead weights work) and move it closer to the bearings. To increase it of course do the opposite. The Groovetracer company makes an excellent after-market counterweight for Rega arms, and it comes with an assortment of different screw-in weights. That allows the same arm to be used with a variety of pickups featuring different suspension compliances. |
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Here is a discussion about that arm. The head shell weighs 9.7 grams! https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=48848 |
The MA-505 series is a dynamically balanced tonearm. It reacts completely differently than a statically balanced arm for tracking purposes. The mass is 14.5g (with the standard Micro Seiki headshell) and it was designed primarily to work with all cartridges, but especially with very high compliance cartridges which were all the rage when this tonearm was designed. But it works great with moderately low compliance or heavy cartridges. It's one of my favorite "budget" tonearms. |