"oldskool" tonearms


Hi folks, why do many audiophiles who own analog set ups love "oldskool" tonearms, like the SME 3010 or 3012, the Micro Seiki 282, Audiocraft, Toho, Koshin, AR and Hadcock? Are these tonearms better than most of the contemporary siblings? Do these audiophiles like them because of their (oldfashioned) sound? Or because the fact that they are very difficult to get nowardays?
dazzdax

Showing 1 response by newmanoc

This is surely and incomplete explanation, but often people who are into analog have been so for many years. If they are happy with their rig that includes one of these arms, why change?

That said I am not one who buys into the vintage argument. At least with stuff I have heard, newer gear in every area of (solid state) audio is better than old models from the same manufacturer at the same (inflation adjusted) price point. I know some people disagree with this statement (on amps for instance). But my ear tells me audio is clearly moving forward - not as fast as computers of course, but it is moving.
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