SP10 MK3 recommendation

I would like to read about a comparison between the 12" Triplanar, 12" Graham Elite, and the 12" SME V-12. Interesting that the Triplanar and Graham have SME mounts. There seems to be quite a newfound interest in these longer arms. From my experience, I can report that the V-12 is a significant improvement over the standard 9" SME V which I compared on the same table with the same cartridge and wiring. I can also recommend the AirTight Supreme/V-12 combination. It is very good. The Supreme was developed on an SME arm, though I don't know if it was 9" or 12". The 12.5g weight is ideal for the arm, allowing the fully loaded counterweight to move very close to the pivot point, lessoning the moment of inertia.

I have also read that the Durand Telos is a contender, though I have not heard it. And I have only heard the Reed in show conditions, so can't really comment on that one.

Albert Porter has been testing a few arms on his table. You may want to contact him for some more thoughts. Congratulations on getting his old MK3. I'm sure you will have a very happy musical year ahead.

C1 Ferrari,

No more BMW. My whole system is basically new. I just haven't updated pics yet.

Peterayer,
I Will be for sure leaning on Albert's knowledge, but he hasn't heard the Reed arm on the MK3 so I'm fishing around to see if anyone else can comment on the sound of the Reed arm compared to these other great arms especially with the cartridges mentioned.

Between the Supreme and the Atlas does anyone have experience which handles less than great recordings better? What if an album has a little spit or sibilance, will the Atlas make it unlistenable? I have a lot of 70's and 80's classic rock which I just can't find great pressings of.

Congrats! on your table purchase.

Gotta love Vac, what phono are you using?
I have owned a few separates and found I liked this or that but still enjoyed the the Vac, I just received my Burmester 100 phono so it will be interesting.

I own the same pre with phono built-in paired up with Vac 450 Statement mono's, absolutely marvelous! :)

I also have a 12" Reed arm, have it paired up with a MSL Ultra BC cart and just love it, have owned several other arms and carts. It was a toss up compared to a Olympos and Ref Schroeder arm set-up. I found listening they both have more similarities than differences but for what ever reason it may be I seem to favour arms with wooden wands, just sound more natural "realistic" to me without giving up anything.

I have only heard good things about the Atlas and look forward to hearing one in my system.

Both carts you mention are superb but it's gonna really be hard, your system being different and what you like.

Best if you can go and hear some set-ups and see what peaks your interest but still in the end will be a crap shoot when it comes down to the actual set-up in your own.

My 2-cents worth anyways

Happy New Year! to all

I have a 10.5-inch Reed 2A mounted on my Mk3, and it is the best of my many tt/tonearm combinations. But really this has been said many times here, the tonearm should "match" the cartridge, first and foremost. True, the tt will impart its own set of colorations but in my experience, those are rather independent of the tonearm chosen. You cannot use a 9-inch Triplanar on the Mk3 without re-plinthing the motor separate from its square escutcheon-like chassis, simply because the offset of the Triplanar base from its bearings gets in the way physically. Same would hold true for a 9-inch Reed or possibly the Talea. (Talea is a shade longer than 9-inch I think, so might work.) 10.5-inch and 12-inch tonearms can easily be mounted so just choose one that is a good match for your cartridge. Then fugeddaboudit.

Ralph, Can 9-inch Triplanars be "upgraded" to the 12-inch version?