What Arm choices for the Garrard 301

I use Ortofon RMG 309 after trying SME3012 I think, that the Ortofon is making it more of the dream deck...I have Shindo plinth, plater, bearing and arm board on it.The bass is super!

Hi,
Thomas Schick's tonearm would be a good choice, but bear in mind that it is heavy, so those cartridges which like a heavy tonearm should be used with it. Thomas is one of the good guys, so I am a bit biased toward his. However, Joseph Esmilla has been experimenting with a heavy brass insert into the wood plinth of old idlers with positive results. The tonearm would be mounted onto the brass. Imagine a pod, but an integrated one, and you have the basic idea. That build method will allow for the use of a wide variety of tonearms without the concern of influence generated by the drive mechanism...just some thoughts.

I can give a little info. Whether it's of use???? ..... I have been using a a Tri-Planer with my Garrard (along with a ZYX Universe) with very good results. The turntable is not as quiet as I would like it to be, but it does have a certain magic that makes it a winner for me. Someday I hope to get a new platter/bearing set-up which I hope quiets things down to modern/belt-drive levels (SHindo maybe?).

When I first got started the Garrard project I experimented with a JMW 10. As you might expect the 'Planer sounds much better in all ways. It's true about the amazing bass and rhythmic flow..... Just a really cool TT IMHO.

BTW, I am curious about some of the 12" arms too......

Chris

What about the Stax 12" arms of yore? Is that one any good on a Garrard? I seem to recall that Stax tonearms got good reviews back in the day, but I don't recollect whether that included their 12" offering. I think of it as comparable to the Ortofon, if not the SME.

I'm using a Triplanar on my Lenco these days with great pleasure, but I have not tried any alternatives.

For the money and sound I recommend the Ortofon 309. I forget which version but I compared it to the Phantom in a very high resolution system. The Orotofon sounded great!. Why waste money when you can get a great arm for less. If you are changing cartridge often then more features come into play, but for set & forget the Ortofon sounded great. Note: I don't own one & will not buy one, but if I had to do it all over I would have.