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Tonearms: Ripoff?

If you search for tonearm recommendations you'll find an overwhelming amount of praise for $1k and less products. Audiomods and Jelco are the two most mentioned.

The Audiomods is just some guy making Rega-based tonearms in a workshop. Just some guy is putting out tonearms that compete with tonearms that cost many times the price -- from the likes of SME, Clearaudio, VPI, Graham, etc.

So the question is -- are tonearms just a scam? How is it that everyone loves Audiomods and Jelco to death and never talks about / dismisses high end tonearms? Is it because there's no real difference between one of these low-cost tonearms and the high end ones? Is an Audiomods Series V ** really ** the equivalent of a SME V? Some guy in a workshop equals the famed precision of SME? Is that once you have the math and materials worked out all tonearms are essentially the same? Or is it that most owners of record players online are dumpster-diving for vintage gear and simply can't afford to listen to better?

So, what's going on?
madavid0

Showing 3 responses by br3098

br3098
1,000 posts
 
So what will a TW, SME, Basis, Graham, etc, give me that a Jelco or Audiomods won't?
Maybe a lot, or maybe nothing.  Your question argues your fundamental understanding of high end audio and audiophiles and sounds more than a little judgmental.  Not everyone wants, needs or can afford a "high end" (aka expensive in your parlance) tonearm.  Those who do or can may be looking for features or adjustability that are not available in less expensive tonearms. 

Cartridge/tonearm/turntable matching is a complex art.  Not every tonearm works best (or at all) with every cartridge and every turntable.  Got a Lenco L75?  If so you are probably not going to try and mount a Thomas Schick tonearm on it.

Let's say that you want to run an Ortofon SPU cartridge.  You can do that on a Jelco (it will work but it's not the best choice, IMO).  But the Audiomods?

No.  I'll use another example: I enjoy the London Decca Super Gold cartridge.  The best cartridge/tonearm combination I have heard is with the Fidelity Research FR-66.  A great tonearm.  Is it worth $3,500+ for a 25+ year old arm?  Not to me, but every one that comes available gets snapped up pretty damned quickly.

Use what works for you and leave us to do the same.  Please.
br3098
1,000 posts
 
Where the hell you can find FR-66 for $3500 ? This tonearm price tag is over $6000 nowadays.
OK, but I was only thiiis much off.  I was trying to take an optimistic approach.

If you don't know, you can just say "I don't know".
Typically, you missed the entire point  of my reply.  Did you read anything after the sentence you quoted above?  As do many of us, I fins that a correctly matched tonearm to be invaluable to optimizing the analog experience.  Elizabeth, whom I admire greatly (now that I know she cruises for naked guys), apparently does not share this sentiment.  So YMMV.

br3098
1,000 posts
 
mdavid0,

I don't get it.  You ask a question and you receive several good replies, some agreeing with your postulate and some not, but all thoughtful and in the spirit of the purpose of this forum.  You then decide to crap on anyone who doesn't agree with your preformed conclusion.  What's wrong here?

Oh wait, I must be tuned into Fox News...
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