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ATP-12T questions and setup

Kelso1

Kelso1

New Member
Hello everyone. Long time reader, first time poster here. I'm needing information on setting up a newly acquired turntable. I have a Technics SP-15 with the ATP-12T tonearm. The tonearm is missing the headshell and I do not understand if a certain headshell needs to be used or what the differences between plastic, aluminum, antd titanium are. Furthermore, I would like to get opinions on the stylus / cartridge that would work well for a high resolution experience.
 
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That tonearm is a heavy broadcast arm, suitable for cartridges like the Denon DL-103 moving coil cart. Use it with a heavier headshell 10-12 grams and a MC phono stage and it should sound great! I use one as the rear tonearm on my two arm Victor plinth. It's a very good and rugged tonearm.

BillWojo
 
BillWojo said:
That tonearm is a heavy broadcast arm, suitable for cartridges like the Denon DL-103 moving coil cart. Use it with a heavier headshell 10-12 grams and a MC phono stage and it should sound great! I use one as the rear tonearm on my two arm Victor plinth. It's a very good and rugged tonearm.

BillWojo
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Is there any recommendation on branding of the headshell?
 
Check and see what Audio Technica offers. A lot depends on what cartridge your planning on using. If your going to run a Denon DL-103 than maybe a AT-LH15H, it's a heavy 15 gram headshell that gives you the ability to adjust azimuth. The Denon is a very low compliant cartridge, meaning the cantilever is very stiff to move so it needs a lot of effective mass to counter that.
If your going to use a medium compliant cartridge than you want to find a much lighter headshell to reduce the effective mass.
Google that tonearm, lots of good info on it. They made a lot of them. Getting very collectible as well.

BillWojo
 
BillWojo said:
Check and see what Audio Technica offers. A lot depends on what cartridge your planning on using. If your going to run a Denon DL-103 than maybe a AT-LH15H, it's a heavy 15 gram headshell that gives you the ability to adjust azimuth. The Denon is a very low compliant cartridge, meaning the cantilever is very stiff to move so it needs a lot of effective mass to counter that.
If your going to use a medium compliant cartridge than you want to find a much lighter headshell to reduce the effective mass.
Google that tonearm, lots of good info on it. They made a lot of them. Getting very collectible as well.

BillWojo
Click to expand...
You're awesome! Thank you.
 
I'll do research with the information provided. This tonearm does not have the interconnect. Do you know of a good quality, but practical brand or model that you could recommend?
 
Any standard (for curved arm) headshell will work. The weight of the headshell should be determined by the cartridge you intend to mount, but as others have said it is a rather massive (by modern standards) broadcast arm best suited to stiff broadcast cartridges like the DL103 or maybe a Stanton or Shure with the appropriate stylus. I have used mine with an Ortofon Spu which of course is pre-mounted in a headshell and likes its mass. It is probably the only budget choice appropriate for an SPU. As for a cable, any standard tonearm cable will work. To my ears, the cable choice is often the least determinant variable of all the choices in the vinyl chain (turntable, tonearm, cartridge, SUT, preamp, support, etc.,) but I am sure others feel otherwise.
 
Blue Jeans Cable will make you a tonearm cable for reasonable price. Less than $80. I paid $48.20 in 2018 for a 1 meter tonearm cable.
 
It seems the combo of a SP-15 or 25 and the ATP-12T was pretty common. Here is mine from a few years ago when I got it:

DSC_0076.jpeg

The original AT headshell has a series of fixed cartridge locations so I don't recommend it. I like the LP Gear Zupreme headshell which is the same as the Jelco HS-25 at 12gr. As already noted this was a broadcast combo so they needed carts that handle some abuse and the Denon DL-103 was common but I've run a 103R on it too. I also had pretty good results with a Shelter 501II. The effective mass of the ATP-12T is about 20 - 21gr so a cart with a compliance under 10 is probably best.
 
Great! I'm researching it now. As great of reviews as the Denon is, it's hard to commit to making that purchase. By the reviews, I'm unsure that the SPU would have the sound I want. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the information I have found shows the SPU to be focused in the mids.
 
My order is in for the Zavfino interconnect. I intend on adding the Lpgear Zupreme if that works with a MC as well as a MM.

The scary part of it all is that I've yet to confirm that either of the SP-15 platters have all controls operating in the correct RPM
 
Kelso1 said:
I intend on adding the Lpgear Zupreme if that works with a MC as well as a MM.
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Lots to know about tonearm (including the headshell) and cartridge interaction and it isn't really MC or MM dependent. If you need some help on this topic there is a lot of info if you do a search of AK but also just ask a question and many will offer their help. Same applies to the SP-15 as lots of folks have them.
 
Kelso1 said:
By the reviews, I'm unsure that the SPU would have the sound I want. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the information I have found shows the SPU to be focused in the mids.
Click to expand...

I find the SPU's sound like music to me with great life and dynamism, but I suppose one could also say they are focused on the mids--perhaps that amounts to the same thing?
 
Facts here: Vinyl Engine has the setup manual for the ATP-12T arm, and also has the manuals for the Technics SP-15 motor unit. Register if you haven't and those are helpful to you. The Audio-Technica AT-MG 10 is the factory headshell for these. 10 grams.
 
I've decided to send the turntable off to be capped and reconditioned. I'll likely go Denon and the Zupreme. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing major is needed.
 
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