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Technics EPA-100 MK2 wiring

With a help from my old friend in Tokyo i have finally managed to get EPA-100 MK2 in perfect condition. I don’t know why but this tonearm was in my wantlist for a long time (since i bought my first EPA-100). The classic EPA-100 was sold long time ago when i upgraded to Reed 3p "12, but with this craze of MM cartridges i was thingking about some decent arm to swap the cars quickly. The EPA-100 MK2 Boron Titanium is what i’ve been looking for. Well, dreams comes true. The only part i had to replace was the armlock, but it was easier because this plastic armlock is identical to the armlock of the SL1200mk2 tonearm and it was easy to fix. Another problem is that the small ring with digits (to set it up to zero when balancing the arm) on the counterweight is not moving apart from the whole counterweight. I hope i can fix it soon.

And finnaly the cable:
Everyone knows that original Technics connector accomodate 2 RCA and one ground pin in the middle. I have this ugly connector on the wire, but the wire already replaced with some Mogamy (nothing special). I’d like to use a proper phono cable cable (RCA to RCA). But i need this pin to insert the ground in the middle of the RCA’s mother on the tonearm side.

Dear EPA-100 mk2 owners, how did you solved the problem ?

I’m not sure i want to rewire tonearm internally, do you think it worth it with EPA-100 mk2 model ?


I have revired my Lustre 801 arm with Discovery internal wires, but i’ve done so because the original silver wire was broken. I use new external wires.

BTW it would be nice if someone can shape the copy of the manual for the EPA-100 mk2 
chakster

Showing 2 responses by dgarretson

dgarretson
2,609 posts
 

@chakster

Jim Howard of Applied Fidelity(RIP) once mentioned to me that rewiring the EPA-100 is worthwhile.  He also replaced the stock ruby ball bearings with silicon nitride balls-- which were claimed to be rounded to a tighter tolerance.  I own a stock EPA-100 that I have not had the courage to modify.  I have, however, adjusted the bearings.  Try setting VTF and antiskate to zero. If the bearings are working properly, the tonearm will float so freely that a slight breeze will shift it in both dimensions.  I haven't found another tonearm with such low friction.  

dgarretson
2,609 posts
 

@chakster 

Thanks for the URL to Audiogears Luxman tonearm bases.  I have been machining brass top plates for various tonearms, but not the underlying sled mechanisms.  Audiogears's pricing is reasonable relative to old stock units on ebay. 

For those similarly challenged like Nandric, I should have mentioned that the bearing cones on the EPA series are easily adjusted externally with a jeweler's screwdriver and without disassembling the tonearm. 


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