Tonearm suggestions?

[Mgraves]

My house was recently broken into and vandalized, all of my hifi gear and records were destroyed. I'm trying to repair my AR XA, which was smashed to pieces. I'm building a new wooden frame and fixing damage to the plinth in an attempt to resurrect her. My table didn't have the original AR tonearm, it had some unknown broadcast arm, but it's broken beyond repair. I'm flat broke right now, trying to get my life back together, but not being able to listen to my records is painful. Anyway, are there any affordable tonearms available out there that will get me back up and playing? I'll purchase a quality one later, when i can, but for now, i just want something to work.

On a similar note, I noticed that Ortofon has a really cheap cartridge out now for $40, how bad is it? is there anything else in that price range that isn't complete junk? Thanks for any help.

 

[bichitus]

Hi Mgraves, sorry for your losses. I feel your pain and listen music is the best medicine to ease it. If you referred about the Ortofon Omega is a cheap but a good cartridge. Also, you can buy an Audio Technica AT95, several persons here have given very good references about it and it's cheap too.
Good luck, I stay tuned.
Regards.

 

[bichitus]

Sorry I forgot tell you. You can contact a member here marcmorin, he is a Guru specialized in AR turntables more specific in AR XA turntables. I think he can help you with it.
Regards

 

[mkane]

I have a stock arm with headshell & counterweight you can have. You will need to source the ball bearing and delrin piece that it rests on. Just need your address.

 

[sfrost]

If the table has been modified to receive a different arm most likely the original will no longer fit, really depends how the table looks, maybe a picture would help.

 

[mkane]

^^good point Steve

 

[shelly_d]

Sorry to hear your news. Having been the victim of several break ins I can understand your anger and grief over that damage. I hope you are insured, as small a compensation as that is.

I don't know about the Ortofon but I have used the AT cartridge mentioned above and it is a fine sounding cartridge, actually hits above it's weight class, sounds better then it's modest cost suggests.

I hope you get through this easily.

Good Luck to you.

Shelly_D

 

[majick47]

Mgraves my sympathy for your house/belongings being violated. To get the AR going again I'd first get a tonearm then second a cartridge that would be the appropriate compliance. A Syntec S-220 is a decent economical tonearm that was used for broadcast. I believe there is a national campaign this week to adopt dogs/cats at shelters, might be time to have a sentry at home while your away at work. The next door neighbors are flying out to CA today and I'll be babysitting their two large Boxers for a week. The Boxers are handful and I doubt anyone would be stupid and risk entering the neighbors property or house.

 

[hifitommy]

what a feeling of defeat a burglary is.

well, i suggest a grace arm, most are VG and i have had the G707 which is low mass and fixed headshell. other models offer detachable shells, some are S shaped. there are a couple of zippy looking ones that are unipivot-704 & 714. the 704 is metal, the 714 is wood. the last two are costly.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1.....0j0i7i30k1.zm70gIzvQaI#imgrc=PDAX7O9cMtb3VM:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Grace-G-545-Tonearm-Armrest-Headshell-Genuine-Phono-Cable-F-S-/263049327848

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...-ab..0.1.122.FHdz6ddv_ao#imgrc=PKoB0SoBJT0zRM:

https://www.google.com/search?q=gra...i=xBqVWaaSM6uN0wKd3YuQBg#imgrc=jbcZu1h1scR8vM: