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Top 5 Tonearms Newer or Vintage Under 2500 That Will Beat anything above/below 2.5k?

From all your tonearm experiences trials errors comparisons etc is there a Top 5 tonearm list that are known for their musical superlatives in all music ranges and genres? including finer detail nuances feeling, 3d sound but also deep bass and midbass, basspunch. Airy highs. And importantly long hours listening without fatigue.
The criteria also to be met are easy setups for all angles vta vfa azimuth anti skating etc 
The Tonearm must also the ability to use more than just one or two cartridge compatibility.

Probable Turntables to be Used: Garrard 301/401, Lenco, Linn, Thorens 124, Technics 1100 1200 10 or 15. 

Heres the list i compiled of ToneArms to pick from.
Feel free to mention others.

  • Tw Raven, D Talea, Graham 2.2/phantom, Moerch, Origin Live, Vpi, 
  • AudioMods

  • Clear Audio, Stax, Rega, Technics 500/1000, Sumiko, Alphason, Black Widow, One unipivot, Saec, Clear Audio, Basis Vector, Triplanar

  • Origin Silver, Rega 9, Linn Ittok, Project, Technics 500/1000,
  •  Alphason, Audio Technica, Dynavector 507

    Grace, Mission, Grado, Ortofon, EMT, Thorens Tp,
  • ESL, Sme 3012, Sme 3009, Sme V, IV,

  • Schroeder, Kuzma, Eminent, Ikeda, Breuer, 
    Stax, Kenwood 007 arm, Sonys top Arm, Artemis
vinny55

Showing 2 responses by vpi

vpi's avatar
vpi
223 posts
 
Used ET II.  It has VTA adjust on the fly and choice of three different arm tubes for quick swap of about any cartridge.

vpi's avatar
vpi
223 posts
 
@vinny55 
You are most welcome.  After all, forums like this are supposed to exist for audiophiles and budding audiophiles to help each other out. They are not designed for arguments or insults.  Sonic nirvana is very subjective.  My ET II tonearm is mounted on a VPI HW 19 MK IV.  I have used many different cartridges on this arm to nice success.   I am currently running a VDH Black Beauty SPX on that rig and am quite pleased.  I have also used a Lyra Delos and before that a Lyra Clavis on this arm all with nice results. VTA, VTF and Azimuth are very easy to set on this arm and, since it is a lateral tracker no anti-skate is necessary.

I also just recieved a Garrard 301 back from total refurb.  I fitted it out with an Ortofon TA-110 arm and my Lyra Delos cartridge.  The TA-110 is a heavily damped arm but it works fantastic with the Delos.  I'v never heard a Delos sound this good, even with my ET II which I consider a superior arm.  I've not yet had the chance to substitute different cartridges on the TA-110 so I can't speak to how well it will work with multiple different cartridges but it makes the Delos sing.  Good luck in your search, but, above all, have fun doing it.
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