Comparison of sonic qualities of some tonearms

I’ve been using the (legendary, so I’ve been told) Sumiko MMT since 1985.

Just two weeks ago, I got lucky and found a NOS minty Jelco SA-750EB.

Jelco made the MMT and this is essentially the same arm, but better, with newer improved bearings, it’s about an inch longer so it will improve on the HTA, etc.

The point being that I have a turntable/cartridge/tonearm combo that’s worked for almost 4 decades, so why fool around with a totally different tonearm design, comparable or not?

theaudioatticvinylsundays.com

@unreceivedogma I as an individual am very pleased to hear your commitment to a Vinyl Source of 40 Years.

I myself have used and do use TT's of this age and older, as well as a Tonearm from this era as well, even though fully redesigned as a functioning model.

I have been able to witness the state of mechanical interfaces from devices used for replaying vinyl from this prior to this period, this period and newer, where the build up of contamination and loss of a functioning lubrication is nothing but detrimental to the function of the moving part, even could be described as catastrophically impeding the function.

Thorough Cleaning, Servicing and even Repair is a must. 

I will find it very very difficult to accept a optimum performance is on offer from a very old mechanical interface that has not had TLC administered from a competent person.

These partially functioning devices will replay music, but only as a version of what their youthful formers selves could create.      

@pindac
All of my components get serviced every 5 to 15 years, depending.

The tonearm has been serviced and functions as it is designed to.

People who manufacture tables and arms say that with proper maintenance, old components can last a lifetime.

The owner of VPI talked me out of spending $5,000 and out of upgrading to a classic from an HW: he said that the HW MK IV is as good as the classic and the bearing is designed to last forever. Not to be too on-the-nose about it, but that was $5K he could have made from me; instead, he told me to spend it on the wife. So, he clearly disagrees with you: since he has been building tables for almost 50 years, why should I trust you more than him?

I recently had two guests over from Israel (I studiously avoided politics for an evening): one is a repeat visitor but who hadn’t been over since Jon rebuilt the amps, and the other was his dad who had just flown in. His dad is a year younger than me.

For two hours, I played some of their favorite music, as well as some surprises. For two hours, on almost every song after song, I would drop the needle in the groove and watch them clasp their hands over their heads and faces in astonishment and disbelief: they could not believe what they were hearing. At the end, the dad gets up, gives me this enormous bear hug that only Mediterranean types are capable of, thanks me again and again and says "When I die and go to heaven, I am going to ask God to send me here".

Btw, my speakers are a mere year younger than him: they are 68 years old.

Do you REALLY think I would not give attention to maintenance?

Oy vey iz mir. 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄

@unreceivedogma I very much know how a Social Get Together with a audio system in use for the listening to music, as the main topic on the agenda, is truelly good for ones spirit.

I participate in such activities regular and am a active individual extending invitation and meeting new like minded enthusiasts on regular occasion.

My local Audio Group are keen to put on a Weekend of a Social Activity extending invites to the Wider Audio community, and I have now found a Ideal Venue for this that has a wonderful acoustic produced in the space, as a result of  Multi Faceted Ceiling that is continuous in gaining Height within the Space to be used for Listening, there are also Tie Rods used for ceiling structure that are approx' 10" above floor level, so a light weight absorption or diffusion can be suspended to further treat the space.

Note: at no time did my post suggest that your equipment was without service, I was not given any indication that the equipment you are using was without a service.

  I was commenting on my experiences of seeing what lies under the hood of a variety of Audio Equipment that has a mechanical interface as part of the design and has a long term history of being produced.

If one really wants an eye opener, have a look at the images that can be found of Cart's that are only a few years old and been sent to a Third Party Repair service that Photo Documents  the before and after work. There are Cart's that appear to be so heavily contaminated, the crud looks like it could have been from usage in Sand / Dust Storm.

There is also the degrade of the critical materials caused by moisture or UV. Dampers looking like they have been eaten away on the side that has received th most UV exposure and Rust Particles (shorting risk, rusted or not) when collected  on Coils, or even Verdigris oxidation seen on Copper Coils.

To the individual with a keenness to experience Vinyl Replays at a high level of quality for the end sound, these conditions that can speedily manifest are a condition needing to be avoided.

There are third party services that do recommend a dehumidifier is used, I have often though maybe a inclusion of a recycling air filter as well, with a micron type filter screen.