Tone arm for SOTA/ZYX

SME would be an excellent choice. Alternatively, if you can find one, would be Sumiko's MDC-800, "The Arm." The SOTA tables were originally developed with both arms.
Mark

Hi Swampwalker,

An SME IV or V would be a fine match for a ZYX with the silver headshell weight, which yours had when last I saw it. ;-)

They are excellent arms, more refined than an OL Silver, and are easy to set up and live with. They lack VTA on the fly, but if vinyl's your second source you may not care. You probably won't find that feature on a good arm for $1,500 anyway.

Another great choice in that price range would be a new Moerch DP-6. I haven't heard one but they have a fine reputation. Different weight arm wands make the Moerch arms suitable for nearly any cartridge. Great lookers too.

Cheers,
Doug

P.S. Come pay us a visit some evening. We've upgraded quite a bit since you were last here. Those three ladies sing like we never heard them sing before!

I'll play devil's advocate. Since this is not your primary source I'm thinking why not try the Silver on the Nova for short change? This is a great example of a better table allowing an arm to shine more to its fullest. You could always do the arm upgrade latter.

Me, I'd shoot for the moon but I don't have your schedule. :)

Good luck!

Thanks, guys.