That Shure has a very high compliance of 30x10 and weighs 6.6 grams. You will need a tonearm with an effective mass of 6 grams or lower. Here is a calculation chart you can use before you make a decision on the arm that you get!
Tonearm for vintage mm cartridges
I know I’m very, very late to the party but I’d like to start investigating older mm cartridges. Unfortunately having used low compliance mc’s for a long time I no longer have any suitable tonearms, all of them having high effective mass (I think my Fidelity Research FR64fx is probably the lowest!).
Which tonearms would you recommend please? I’m thinking about Audio Technica AT-1010 or AT-1100 or the Technics EPA100/250/501.
For cartridges I have found an old Shure V15 type iii in a drawer with several replacement styli so will start with that. I will then start trying others.
Many thanks in advance for your suggestions.
David
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That Shure is an example of a extremely high compliant cartridge and a matching tonearm won't be a great match with the majority of modern and vintage mid compliance cartridges. Our member Chakster could probably recommend a tonearm that would still be suitable for that cartridge and will work with a lot of the mid compliance cartridges. A turntable with a replaceable tonearm board would allow you to use different tonearms. Something that you may want to investigate.
BillWojo |
Thank you all for your advice. I think I’m still inclined towards an Audio Technica AT-1100 though as I am in the UK the SME Series 3 will be easier to source. My thinking is that with the Audio Technica I can easily swap out the arm for the heavier AT-1010 using the same base, etc should I need to. I should probably have said my turntable is a Garrard 401 so the plinth can easily accept different armboards. David |
Dear @dwhistance : I own/owned all the tonearms you named. Your choice 1100 is excellent and the 1010 too.
Don't worry about the SME3 the AT is even better.
Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS, R. |
