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SOTA NOVA, HR-X VPI, Technics 1200G recommendations?

I am considering SOTA NOVA, used HR-X VPI and Technics 1200G TTs. I have an old SOTA STAR with vacuum, (and essentially a Jelco 750 arm-retipped Denon 103R) so I know its high quality and durability. Technics apparently has performance that far exceeds its $4000 price tag. For tonearms, I am down to Jelco 850M and old FR-64S. I am considering low compliance cartridges. For VPI, it would be JMW 12 or 3D. Changing the tonearms seems to be more of a hassle on VPI. What are your thoughts and recommendations?
128x128chungjh
tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 
For anyone who has ever tried playing the Telarc record of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Symphony knows that if the tonearm/cartridge combo isn’t right, that tonearm is going to skate across the record when the cannons fire.  Very exciting record. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
And don't forget that you can't use dynamic compliance measured at 100Hz (all Japanese cartridges) for calculations! 

All calculations must be made with 10Hz compliance figure only. So the compliance must be converted first from 100Hz to 10Hz. Japanese manufacturers never publish compliance figure at 10Hz. 




tonywinga's avatar
tonywinga
844 posts
 
That’s right what chakster said.  
lewm
12,556 posts
 
May I interject here that if you want to use a low compliance LOMC, and there are many fine sounding examples, then a tonearm with high effective mass is not an evil; it is a necessity both for best SQ and preservation of the LP.  Furthermore, VTF and stylus shape are more determinants of LP wear than is the low compliance/high effective mass class of playback equipment, although I too prefer the opposite in general based on listening.
bpoletti
1,531 posts
 
HR-X with a VPI fixed gimble 3D arm.  Then consider a SoundSmith Xephyr MIMC * cartridge.  When your settled on the table and cart, get a Herron VTPH-2a phono stage.  

That should take care of your vinyl front-end.
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