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Garrard 401 Tone Arm recommendations

You say no plinth no arm yet. If you still haven't worked out a plinth, consider making one that accommodates two arms. Unless you're rigidly opposed to the idea, a Garrard 401 deserves it.

Then you could have some real fun, experimenting with both arms and cartridges. A $1200 budget should be fairly easy, for older arms. If you're willing to look overseas, here's a smattering of Japan arms at current prices and currently for sale in Japan ($ = ¥160):

Fidelity Research FR54: ¥55,000 ($350, I'll just do yen for the prices below)
FR-64: ¥165,000
SAEC WE-407: ¥135,000
SAEC WE-308 (long version): ¥120,000
SAEC WE-308SX: ¥95,000
Micro Seiki MA505 (long): ¥150,000
Pioneer PA-70: ¥70,000
Exclusive EA10: ¥165,000
Pioneer PA-5000 ¥200,000
Stax UA-70 (long): ¥150,000

For reference, SME 3009s are weirdly abundant in Japan, and go for about ¥85,000.

If you happen to hunt on Samurai Audio, know that tonearms there are usually sold without a cable. It's the main reason I don't really look there. All my prices above are with the cable, for arms in good visual and working condition, and do not come from Samurai.

Your budget definitely covers two arms for some of the models above, not sure about Chris's opinion of SAECs which use a (horror) knife edge bearing, though it's a double knife edge. Some people have praised the arm while criticizing the manufacturer's recommended geometry as "wrong". I use them, SAEC's own geometry and-all, and I like them. I'm also drawn to the Pioneers and the FR's, for no particular reason except perhaps hearsay, though I don't own either yet.
 
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I am not claiming that the SMEs II or III are ideal arms for the OP's cartridges or that they are the best out there - obviously it isn't the 70s any more. But he now owns a Series II improved, so he might as well try it. And not everyone is worried about cost, but better arms typically are quite expensive.
 
And just to give Cafe a little flame - if you still have the very high compliance cartridges of the 70s and early 80s, the Series III is a lovely arm to use. Inappropriate for some cartridges and not ideal for many, but I have a bunch of ADC/Sony/Stanton/Pickering/AKGs that work very well with my Series III. Oddly I've never really warmed to the Shure V15 series that the arm sort of was designed around.
 
Tonoje said:
You say no plinth no arm yet. If you still haven't worked out a plinth, consider making one that accommodates two arms. Unless you're rigidly opposed to the idea, a Garrard 401 deserves it.

Then you could have some real fun, experimenting with both arms and cartridges. A $1200 budget should be fairly easy, for older arms. If you're willing to look overseas, here's a smattering of Japan arms at current prices and currently for sale in Japan ($ = ¥160):

Fidelity Research FR54: ¥55,000 ($350, I'll just do yen for the prices below)
FR-64: ¥165,000
SAEC WE-407: ¥135,000
SAEC WE-308 (long version): ¥120,000
SAEC WE-308SX: ¥95,000
Micro Seiki MA505 (long): ¥150,000
Pioneer PA-70: ¥70,000
Exclusive EA10: ¥165,000
Pioneer PA-5000 ¥200,000
Stax UA-70 (long): ¥150,000

For reference, SME 3009s are weirdly abundant in Japan, and go for about ¥85,000.

If you happen to hunt on Samurai Audio, know that tonearms there are usually sold without a cable. It's the main reason I don't really look there. All my prices above are with the cable, for arms in good visual and working condition, and do not come from Samurai.

Your budget definitely covers two arms for some of the models above, not sure about Chris's opinion of SAECs which use a (horror) knife edge bearing, though it's a double knife edge. Some people have praised the arm while criticizing the manufacturer's recommended geometry as "wrong". I use them, SAEC's own geometry and-all, and I like them. I'm also drawn to the Pioneers and the FR's, for no particular reason except perhaps hearsay, though I don't own either yet.
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I’m considering just getting Acoustand plinth. Just not sure if it’s worth the price. I reached out o bobland plinths. I also thought of trying to make my own from concrete or marble. Idk trying to have fun with it
 
Countdown said:
I’m considering just getting Acoustand plinth. Just not sure if it’s worth the price. I reached out o bobland plinths. I also thought of trying to make my own from concrete or marble. Idk trying to have fun with it
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Both Bobland and Acoustand make wonderful plinths.
 
Tonoje said:
You say no plinth no arm yet. If you still haven't worked out a plinth, consider making one that accommodates two arms. Unless you're rigidly opposed to the idea, a Garrard 401 deserves it.

Then you could have some real fun, experimenting with both arms and cartridges. A $1200 budget should be fairly easy, for older arms. If you're willing to look overseas, here's a smattering of Japan arms at current prices and currently for sale in Japan ($ = ¥160):

Fidelity Research FR54: ¥55,000 ($350, I'll just do yen for the prices below)
FR-64: ¥165,000
SAEC WE-407: ¥135,000
SAEC WE-308 (long version): ¥120,000
SAEC WE-308SX: ¥95,000
Micro Seiki MA505 (long): ¥150,000
Pioneer PA-70: ¥70,000
Exclusive EA10: ¥165,000
Pioneer PA-5000 ¥200,000
Stax UA-70 (long): ¥150,000

For reference, SME 3009s are weirdly abundant in Japan, and go for about ¥85,000.

If you happen to hunt on Samurai Audio, know that tonearms there are usually sold without a cable. It's the main reason I don't really look there. All my prices above are with the cable, for arms in good visual and working condition, and do not come from Samurai.

Your budget definitely covers two arms for some of the models above, not sure about Chris's opinion of SAECs which use a (horror) knife edge bearing, though it's a double knife edge. Some people have praised the arm while criticizing the manufacturer's recommended geometry as "wrong". I use them, SAEC's own geometry and-all, and I like them. I'm also drawn to the Pioneers and the FR's, for no particular reason except perhaps hearsay, though I don't own either yet.
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Do you have any Japanese websites that a good for buying arms?
 
Nat said:
I am not claiming that the SMEs II or III are ideal arms for the OP's cartridges or that they are the best out there - obviously it isn't the 70s any more. But he now owns a Series II improved, so he might as well try it. And not everyone is worried about cost, but better arms typically are quite expensive.
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Yah I’m gonna try it. Worst case I can sell and hopefully recover 80-90% of the funds
 
Tonoje said:
You say no plinth no arm yet. If you still haven't worked out a plinth, consider making one that accommodates two arms. Unless you're rigidly opposed to the idea, a Garrard 401 deserves it.

Then you could have some real fun, experimenting with both arms and cartridges. A $1200 budget should be fairly easy, for older arms. If you're willing to look overseas, here's a smattering of Japan arms at current prices and currently for sale in Japan ($ = ¥160):

Fidelity Research FR54: ¥55,000 ($350, I'll just do yen for the prices below)
FR-64: ¥165,000
SAEC WE-407: ¥135,000
SAEC WE-308 (long version): ¥120,000
SAEC WE-308SX: ¥95,000
Micro Seiki MA505 (long): ¥150,000
Pioneer PA-70: ¥70,000
Exclusive EA10: ¥165,000
Pioneer PA-5000 ¥200,000
Stax UA-70 (long): ¥150,000

For reference, SME 3009s are weirdly abundant in Japan, and go for about ¥85,000.

If you happen to hunt on Samurai Audio, know that tonearms there are usually sold without a cable. It's the main reason I don't really look there. All my prices above are with the cable, for arms in good visual and working condition, and do not come from Samurai.

Your budget definitely covers two arms for some of the models above, not sure about Chris's opinion of SAECs which use a (horror) knife edge bearing, though it's a double knife edge. Some people have praised the arm while criticizing the manufacturer's recommended geometry as "wrong". I use them, SAEC's own geometry and-all, and I like them. I'm also drawn to the Pioneers and the FR's, for no particular reason except perhaps hearsay, though I don't own either yet.
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If I went two arms I might do one 12 in and one 9inch. So I have the 9 now. What do you suggest in the 12?
 
Countdown said:
Do you have any Japanese websites that a good for buying arms?
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I've put that in a PM.

What do you suggest in the 12?
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I haven't thought through what I'd get, my two-arm deck has two 9-inch arms for now and I'm still mulling over which 12-inch I want. There are a lot of options, and I've been thinking of a Denon, to pair with a DL-103 cartridge, or another SAEC, or a Pioneer. I'm still working it out though, and not likely to make a decision very soon.

Of course you can use armboards if you want more flexibility about installing and swapping. That's how I mount them.
 
Countdown said:
dynavector Karat 17DS
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Has a compliance of 15 @ 100Hz so it doesn’t want a heavy arm and is just shy of liking a low mass arm.

One of the better under $1000 arms is the Magnepan and my 17D2Mk2 with similar compliance works fine on that arm. Difficulty for some is non-standard headshell, but I have plenty and undamped unipivot but I’ve been using this arm since it was introduced in 79-80 in the store, then at home. And have a few. My SME 3009 Series II and 3009/S2 Improved do not get much time on any of the turntables.

The OTF VTA is very nice on these Unitrac I tonearms.

Some of those Japanese purchase options might be a good source. Didn’t use it but BillWojo brought one to an audio gig for me to look at. I’d try one.
 
Blue Shadow said:
Has a compliance of 15 @ 100Hz so it doesn’t want a heavy arm and is just shy of liking a low mass arm.

One of the better under $1000 arms is the Magnepan and my 17D2Mk2 with similar compliance works fine on that arm. Difficulty for some is non-standard headshell, but I have plenty and undamped unipivot but I’ve been using this arm since it was introduced in 79-80 in the store, then at home. And have a few. My SME 3009 Series II and 3009/S2 Improved do not get much time on any of the turntables.

The OTF VTA is very nice on these Unitrac I tonearms.

Some of those Japanese purchase options might be a good source. Didn’t use it but BillWojo brought one to an audio gig for me to look at. I’d try one.
Click to expand...
Isn’t compliance typically measured at 10HZ? Do they do it differently in Japan?
 
Countdown said:
Isn’t compliance typically measured at 10HZ? Do they do it differently in Japan?
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Yes and yes.

Seen conversion factors from 1.2-1.8 multiplier for 100Hz to get 10Hz and I’ve read there is no correlation.

Thanks for letting me make a post that is absolutely no help, but slightly informative.

Folks with test records could do the audio community posting actual measured resonance frequency for known tonearm mass for all those 100Hz measurements. If I had the gear and could get all those nice spendy Japanese cartridges, I might do a few. Without I just use a tonearm designed to span a wide range of compliance cartridges and work well with all of them.
 
I have one other question. What’s the easiest way to set your mounting distance from the center spindle? Is it just a ruler? Or is there something you can download online?
 
Most tonearms have a mounting template that fits on the spindle and one uses that to find the arc of correct distance for the mounting hole. Select a position on the arc that is aesthetically pleasing, arm parallel to side of table when parked might be a guideline.
 
Usually comes with owners manual so find one online and maybe you can print to exact size.

What tonearm, makes a difference. So we can wait and see.

Could make one, spindle is a hole punch to pivot distance is a nail hole in template to reach down from platter level and you can put an arc at the right distance.
 
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