Swapping tonearms?????

[loaded]

I'm ready to pull the trigger on a Kenwood KD770D. Everything looks great except... I don't like the straight tonearm. How realistic and costly would it be to swap it with an "S" type tonearm. To avoid the obvious questions, I want to do this since I've heard the curved arms are better for listening and straight arms track better but chew up records faster. And, this is propably my main motivation, I think a curved tonearm looks so much cooler. Also, I'm the type of guy that likes to tweak my things and really make them mine. New to the turntable game, but I'm a quick study. Thanks all.

 

[mashaffer]

I think your premiss is incorrect (at least in the general sense). A post in the turntable section might get you more expert input. A properly designed straight arm should perform at least as well as the equivalent curved one. If it is some specialized DJ tone arm then you may have a point.

As to mounting a new tone arm all I can say is that the precision required scares me enough that I have never attempted it, but then I am known to be able to screw up a cross brace on a set of garage shelves.

mike

 

[CallMeJoe]

There is nothing at all wrong with that tonearm. It appears to be of decent design with an appropriate headshell offset, not a DJ-style short straight arm. I seriously doubt you will improve the sound or tracking of that turntable with a swap to a generic s-type tonearm.

 

[hifi_nut]

and straight arms track better but chew up records faster.

Man, what a contradiction.
If they track better, how do they chew up records faster?

Here are some serious records chewers, that according to your statement should be avoided like the plague:

 

[Ed in SoDak]

Arms and tables which are sold separately generally use a standard post arrangement for mounting.

Most TTs that have an integrated arm, especially those with a return mechanism, are not typically interchangeable. Some may offer a choice within their own line that use their proprietary mount. A few do follow the standard for separates.

All else being equal, either method can place the stylus at the same point with the same angles and geometry. All that matters is the pivot and head angle. However you get from one to the other is moot.

An S-curved path will be slightly longer, so arm mass might be higher for otherwise equal materials. Maybe it helps with resonance?

Myself, I prefer straight arms.

-Ed

 

[jaymanaa]

Man, what a contradiction.
If they track better, how do they chew up records faster?

Here are some serious records chewers, that according to your statement should be avoided like the plague:

Dang George, no wonder my rekkids only last a few plays.