Firstly I am all for the Circular Economy so the Technics EPA 500 as a selected model fits perfect for that area of interest, but that interest is not fully covering what is best for an individuals interaction with audio equipment, especially the Analogue Source.
I do not have a direct experience of the Reed 3P Tonearm, but do know an individual who highly rates the Brand as well as Glanz Tonearms. This same person has a healthy dialogue with the Sculpture and I have been demo'd items they produce.
I do know an individual and their system very well. Who when investigation a Tonearm to add to their SP 10R, was loaned my SME IV and a selection of other Tonearms of which one was a Reed, but their end choice was the Glanz 12".
Both the Reed and the Glanz has exchangeable Headshells and this is an attraction if one wishes to use more that one Cart' and be able to speedily exchange between them.
In a recent Thread I wrote the following about Tonearm Wands designed to be exchangeable.
" In relation to Arm Wand exchanges being the option to extend the usage of Cart's as an exchange on the fly. This can present itself as being limiting for a few reasons:
1, The Signal Wire is not as continuous as a path used on a conventional Tonearm design, there are additional connections when using a removable arm wand, hence a less purified path for the Signal to Transfer through.
2, The idea that often shows as being the most attractive, where having a continuous Signal Wire running from the Cart' Lead Out Pin's through to the Phonostage is not an option when using a removable arm wand.
3, In the case of the Tonearm in Question, the additional Arm Wand is £1000, which is a substantial cost associated with creating an option to swap out a Cart' on the fly.
My Interest in a Tonearm has to be where I have a control over selecting different Cart's that is very cost effective and uncomplicated as a method to complete an exchange. I also need to be knowing the option to exchange a Signal Path Wire is easily achieved as a continuous wire design. "
The Tonearm I use, is a Vintage Design and undergone a complete redesign, it also has a removable Headshell Option or Arm Wand Option as the original design.
The changes for the design on the TA owned is possible to be considered for the EPA 500.
The Wand Inserts to receive wire connections are removable. Exchange Parts can be purchased if the original parts are not wanted to be modified!!.
The exchange Parts will need the connectors removed and the remaining holes modified to allow the Wands Signal Wire to be routed through.
A selected Headshell will also need the inserted connectors removed and the remaining holes modified to enable Signal Wire Routing.
There is no need for Tag Wires when the above is put in place, the Wand Wire can extend from the Wand to the Cart' Pins.
The point of Terminating the Signal Wires becomes ones preference, a connection can be put in place as typical at the exit from the TA, or the increased fragility design can be used, where the Wand Wires can be sheathed and extended onto the RCA Termination at the Phonostage.
Does the design migrate to the EPA 500 - Possibly Yes -
The Arm Wand of choice will need to be selected and be in permanent use, as the Continuous Signal Wire used internally on the Wand, is not the friend of maintaining a removable Arm Wand.
The Removable Arm Wand can be maintained if the design is using a externally exposed Signal Wire?? which is found on a selection of Tonearm Designs. Also there are a larger selection of Models where the Signal wires become external and exposed at the rear Pivot end of the Wand??
Sticking with the Wand having an internal wire, investigation of the Wand shows that the Headshell may become detachable if the two Grub Screws are released on the underside?? If this is the case and the Headshell detaches, the mod's suggested at the Headshell end are looking likely to be able to be achieved. The option to have additional Headshells coupled to a Cart; also looks to be an option.
Most important is that in the design for my own TA nothing is destructed, no changes made can't be returned to the original, but in my case that is never going to occur, as this is now the TA design.
If the EPA 500 can be shown to not have the steps undertaken as being revertible to the original design, then a lot can be achieved for the Electrical Interface for the Tonearm, without the considerations for the modern wire types that can be selected.
A new Reed 3P 12" is being seen as a $6K Purchase.
A EPA 500 is being seen with a Single Wand as a $750 Purchase. There is no reason a Modified EPA 500 with the Signal Path produced to being continuous and potentially have additional Headshells, if proven to be exchangeable should not creep too far over $1K.
My being seen to be interfering with the older designs belonging to supporting the Analogue Source, especially relating to Vinyl Replay. Is born from a very long-term interest in undertaking investigations into what designs are available today. With the intent to learn where there are benefits to be created as the result of adopting designs that are found and realised today.
How the discoveries made of modern concepts for design, which can be adapted to be introduced to the older design is a side interest to my audio interest. To date a large proportion of what is adopted has been more than successful for the benefits realised.