Technics SP-10 MKIIA tonearms

Dear Radicalsteve: IMHO both tonearms are very good depend the cartridge you mate with. Both are very flexible with different cartridges due to the different arm wans on the 500 and removable headshell on the 100 ( along with its adjustable damping. ).

I love the VTA mechanism on the 500 over the 100 and over many other today tonearms. I agree that both tonearms could improve its quality performance if we make a internal re-wiring, no I don't do it yet.

The EPA 100MK2 that comes with the same EPA-500 VTA mechanism has to me a Reference tonearm standard level and its effective mass is lower than the EPA-100. The bearing friction on the MK2 is almost inexistent and IMHO unique on the subject.

Technics ( a member of Panasonic and Matushita gigant. ) research and development team were second to none even in this days. THose tonearms, phono cartridges and its SP-10s TTs are a vivid " test " of that Technics dedication to the Excellence on the design and build execution of analog audio items that after all those years where were made today are still performing at high quality level.

I don't know if Fineaudio has " problems " with his EPA-100 or if he does not likes its performance with the cartridge(s) he own or maybe only want to try something different.
Anyway all of you already give him the precise answers he need it.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Dear Downunder: The Technics EPA100MK2 is IMHO even today an " unbeatable " tonearm design, a piece of real art design.

Technics knew very well how fulfil the cartridge needs that unfortunatelly today we can say the same from other tonearm designs.

It is a static balanced design for good reasons that the designers of dynamic balanced tonearms can't understand it even today. Build material is unique: boron as the cartridge cantilever. Comer with a wise dynamic damping mechanism unique in the audio industry. For a gimbal tonearm bearing design its vertical/horizontal friction is lower than 5mg: unbeatable till today. Its VTA adjustement on the fly mechanism is the best ever designed and an " orgasm " to use it.

Been a removable headshell design contribute to its versatility with almost any cartridge. The Technics MK2 headshell was made from boron too.

Could be other tonearms that are better " looking " ones but I think can't beats it.

If the unit you are looking for is in good operation condition and flawless in any way then I think the choose for it is a " close eyes " one.

Btw, your 100MK4 will make you " cry " of hapiness when you hear it mounted in the MK2.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.