Top 5 Tonearms Newer or Vintage Under 2500 That Will Beat anything above/below 2.5k?
@nandric
Micro Max 282 is what i wish to buy too, but it's too expensive, definitely over $5k (used). Actually new Reed 3P is over 5k euro, but a bit cheaper on used market. So ellegant, so nice, oustanding build quality. Yes, Technics is better for those who uses MM or lightweight MC of mid to high compliance. Lustre GST-801 (by Koshin, ACOS) is nice, but magnetic system doesn't work in most cases, it can be repaired, but it's too compliacated. Mine was ok (without magnetic drive), i just sold it to a friend. Still own some important spare parts if anyone needed (original lustre ring weight and additional counterweight). |
@vinny55 please describe how they sound and on what ttables used and cartridges hooked with Reed 3P "12 Cocobolo is my reference tonearm, purchased for Technics SP-10mkII (in a custom teak wood plinth) to replace my first EPA-100. The Reed 3p was a stunning performer with Audio-Technica ART-2000, Glanz MFG-61, Audio-Technica AT-ML150, AT-ML170 and AT-ML180, Victor X-1, Victo X-1II, Pioneer PC-1000 mkII, Garrott P77, Argent MC-500HS ... Every cartridge on this tonearm was great (MC or MM), even high compliance Stanton 980 LZS. This is very detailed sounding tonearm, and the only tonearm to my knowledge that allow us to adjust AZIMUTH ON THE FLY and VTA on the fly. So with REED everyone can adjust everything properly for the most complicated stylus profile. Reed has no limitations and the other tonearms. This tonearm is a must have for serious listening to make your cartridge sing. I sold my plinth, so i don’t use it at the moment, i’m gonna mount it on my Luxman PD-444 soon. Well, the vintage tonearms i have mentioned are 5 times cheaper than Reed 3P, but for its price they are great + removable headshell is a nice option to swap cartridges. I’ve been using them only on Luxman PD-444 turntables. I like SONY PUA-7 for the build quality as well, this toneam has the best anti-skating mechanism, the best and super smooth armlift, vta on the fly. I like tonearm with counterweight that i can use without digital scale, there is a digits on the counterweight to set up tracking force. I use this ronearm mostly with MC cartridges like Fidelity-Research PMC-3, Argent MC110, Dynavector DV-30A ... I feel the same about Victor UA-7045 tonearm, but for MM cartridges only. I like my Grace F14 and AT-ML170 cartridges on this arm. Tonearm can be purchased for under $750 and it is such a good value for top quality tonearm from Victor. Actually the price is a steal! And my Luxman TA-1 with removable armwand and heavy tonearm stabilizer is for High compliance cartridges, it’s like the Infinity Black Widow, but better quality from Micro Seiki. I use it with Stanton Signature SC-100 WOS. Maybe i will sell this toneam, i bought Technics EPA-100 MKII nor so long ago and i can use it for high compliance carts if i will find out how to mount it on my Luxman PD-444. I don’t like to describe sonic quality as i’m not a reviewer and it will be impossible to compare all the tonearm in a proper way (with same cartridges on the same turntable at the same time etc). I use different arms for differend needs (i have many different cartridges). I still think that cartridge is more important (if it’s not a total mismatch between the arm and cartridge). What i have learned is that a vintage tonearms are not bad compared to very expensive new tonearms. There are many great vintage tonearms available in top condition for reasonable prices. |
@lewm Chakster you must have misspoken when you wrote that the FR64 is best suited to light, high compliance cartridges. Can't find anything about it in this thread, but anyway the FR-64FX is not like the FR-64s. So what i said earlier somewhere is that FR-64FX (Black Color) has a bit lighter effective moving mass compared to FR-64s superheavy monster. The FR-64FX can be used for heavy FR-7f or SPU cartridges and that's why i bought my FR-64FX. Actually even with the small counterweight the heavy MC cart like FR-7 can be balanced and used as i can see in the internet, but it's probably wrong as the counterweight is to far from the pivot. The right conterweight for heavy carts (up to 32g) is FR W-250, on this picture you can see both (the bigger is W-250). This arm was developed in the 80s, later than FR-64s. FR-7f black cartridge (and FR-7fz) also developed later than silver color FR-7. So i believe the FR-7f supposed to be used with 64-FX tonearm (they are both black). But it shouldn't be a problem to use lighter carts with 64FX tonearm if the owners got additional (smaller) counterweights. So the FR-64FX is more versatile tonearm than his older brother FR-64s. |
Fidelity-Research products in order by release dates: 1) FR-7 (1978): http://audio-heritage.jp/FIDELITYRESEARCH/etc/fr-7.html 2) Tonearm FR-64s (1976): http://audio-heritage.jp/FIDELITYRESEARCH/etc/fr-64s.html 3) Tonearm FR-66s (1977): http://audio-heritage.jp/FIDELITYRESEARCH/etc/fr-66s.html 4) FR-7f (1980): http://audio-heritage.jp/FIDELITYRESEARCH/etc/fr-7f.html 5) Tonearm FR-64fx has been released in 1980 and discontinued in 1990 as far as i know: http://www.jupiteraudio.com/5005/5005.html According to this logic the FR-7f cartridge and FR-64fx tonearm were introduced in the same year (1980) and supposed to be made for each other with W-250 counterweight. P.S. I wish to continue with release dates of the FR-7fz and FR-702 cartridges, but i have zero information about it. Anyway these models appeared to be released later than FR-7f. They are all black, so the latest Ikeda-San's tonearms under Fidelity-Research brand are the FR-66fx and FR-64fx. Normally any tonearm designer is trying to upgrade his products in the latest versions. |
@rauliruegas The black body cartridges started at the end of 1980. What is your source to make sure the carts are from the end of the 1980 while the FX series of the tonearm is from the beginning of the 1980? Why you said: " and supposed to be made for each other."" when the tonearm appeared at the begening of that year and the cartridge at the end ! ? ! ? They are from the same year (1980), your statement must be checked, but actually it doesn’t change anything. With optional W-250 counterweight FX series of the Fidelity-Research tonearm is suitable for FR-7f and FR-7fz cartridges from the same designer, but also suitable for lighter carts with different counterweight. This tonearm is more universal than its predecessor 64s. I didn’t said it was made exclussively for FR-7f and FR-7fz or FR-702 cartridges, but those cartridges were the best from Ikeda-San at that time and according to J.Carr - Ikeda-San is still proud of them. In my opinion matching the best products in color is also a good idea for those who cares not only about the sound, but also about aesthetics. |
I have AudioCraft headshells (many) and i like them, i also use Stax headshells (lightweight) with azimuth/overhang, Grace HS-5 Carbon is also very nice, ZYX Live-18, Audio-Technica Technihard ... so no problem with headshells. I bought 64FX primary for FR-7f cartridge, so i don’t need headshells at all, but my arm comes with stock FR headshell, but with only one counterweight (w-250), you’re lucky to have all 3 counterweights. I think the price for FR-64s is too high! |
@vinny55 it's because i have UA-7082 for MC (low compliance), the difference between lighter UA-7045 and heavier 7082 is effective mass and length, since my MM are mostly mid of high compliance the 7045 is nice for them. My personal MC cartridges are mostly low or mid compliance, so 7082 is better. But in fact an MC can be used on 7045 too if the compliance is not too low. There is an optional subweight provided by Victor to balance heavy headshell and insrease the effective mass. The only problem is the rubber part infront of the counterweight, it's not easy to find a sample with strong enough rubber, most used samples have serious problem with counterweight. However, i've been able to find a perfect samples (original, not repaired). This is a great tonearm! |
