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Best tonearm for London Reference Cartridge

Hi,
i have a Decca London Reference Cartridge (LRC), actually mounted in an older Mission Mechanic tonearm and would like to ask you with which tonearm one can get the most out of this wonderful cartridge.
The player is a Kuzma Stabi Reference and a Thorens TD 124, other arms i use are Sumiko MDC 800, Shindo Meursault and old Decca for ffss cartridges, but in these i haven´t tried it yet, but all these tonearm run with other cartridges so fantastic, that i don´t want to change them.
Some people recommend the long VPI 12.5, 12.6 or 12.7 tonearms. Have you some other suggestions?
Thanks very much!
breezer
dover
2,187 posts
 
I have set up around 20 Decca's over the years, mostly Garrott modified Decca's.
Best arm I've heard was with the Zeta, but can confirm the Decca works well in the Dynavector arms. I heard a Dynavector 501/Decca with Futterman OTL's & Stax electrostatics and the sound was excellent - Decca speed with a little more warmth than with other arms.
breezer OP
117 posts
 
Any new experiences?
Now i have a London Reference once again, still have the Well Tempered Signature and Kuzma Airline and 4Point Arms with Kuzma Stabi Ref and Verdier turntables.
First i will try it in the 4Point.
Oder recommendations?
ps68
228 posts
 
Breezer,

Pls keep me posted on your thoughts of LR 4Point, and any other. No mention of SME V here?
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,508 posts
 

I was looking at contemporary arms for the current London’s a while back. Robert Levi at Positive Feedback has his Reference mounted on a Helius Omega Silver Ruby---a great arm, but over five grand retail. The Kuzma arms look up to the job (stiff arm tubes, great bearings), even the relatively-modestly priced ($3200) Stogi Ref. As dover said, the old Zeta has long been considered a great match, but they don’t come up for sale very often---their owners tend to keep them!

Though damped uni-pivots were recommended for the old Decca’s, none of them have as stiff an arm tube as I like to see (as has been said, the Decca/London design pumps a LOT of energy into the arm). And the current London’s don’t necessarily require damping to the degree the Decca’s did.

ps68
228 posts
 
Presumably tonearm tube material is paramount along with bearing design. SAEC could work very well here? My WE 506/30 would be a good start point if i do consider a Reference, though maybe a shorter arm would be preferable?
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