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Top 5 Tonearms Newer or Vintage Under 2500 That Will Beat anything above/below 2.5k?

From all your tonearm experiences trials errors comparisons etc is there a Top 5 tonearm list that are known for their musical superlatives in all music ranges and genres? including finer detail nuances feeling, 3d sound but also deep bass and midbass, basspunch. Airy highs. And importantly long hours listening without fatigue.
The criteria also to be met are easy setups for all angles vta vfa azimuth anti skating etc 
The Tonearm must also the ability to use more than just one or two cartridge compatibility.

Probable Turntables to be Used: Garrard 301/401, Lenco, Linn, Thorens 124, Technics 1100 1200 10 or 15. 

Heres the list i compiled of ToneArms to pick from.
Feel free to mention others.

  • Tw Raven, D Talea, Graham 2.2/phantom, Moerch, Origin Live, Vpi, 
  • AudioMods

  • Clear Audio, Stax, Rega, Technics 500/1000, Sumiko, Alphason, Black Widow, One unipivot, Saec, Clear Audio, Basis Vector, Triplanar

  • Origin Silver, Rega 9, Linn Ittok, Project, Technics 500/1000,
  •  Alphason, Audio Technica, Dynavector 507

    Grace, Mission, Grado, Ortofon, EMT, Thorens Tp,
  • ESL, Sme 3012, Sme 3009, Sme V, IV,

  • Schroeder, Kuzma, Eminent, Ikeda, Breuer, 
    Stax, Kenwood 007 arm, Sonys top Arm, Artemis
vinny55
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 

As noted by Nandric, he and I are "long" on SME 3012R, with five or so examples between us.  There are a fair number still available, mostly from Japanese sellers.  This is a really versatile arm-- working well with both high and low-compliance cartridges.  Some consider it superior to the SME IV & V-- particularly in terms of LF precision without bloat.

The Trans-Fi is also fine, though I find that its low vertical mass occasionally presents a tracking problem with some cartridges.

From what I've heard from a few friends with Reed, it's a really enjoyable listening experience, but colored in a euphonic way.  

I keep a new-production Kuzma 4PT on the same Luxman PD444 as the 3012R.  These arms are close in overall quality, but the 4PT may be slightly richer than life.  

nandric's avatar
nandric
3,263 posts
 

Considering the (very) attractive price as well so much praise

for the Trans-Fi I am wondering if those ''intensive care connections''

have something to do with sceptical attitude by buyers ?

Chakster, Despite the fact that dgarretson also seems to swear

by (your) PD 444 I wan't part from my SL 1000,mkII with Obsidan

plinth. BTW I also own Kuzma's Stabi Reference.

terry9
931 posts
 
@dgarretson 

About the low vertical mass of the Trans-Fi, I use two work-arounds: first, instead of using mounting nuts on the top of the wand, I have a disc of brass alloy C770 (quite hard, half copper, quarter nickel, quarter zinc) with holes tapped for stainless screws. That adds 5 grams, IIRC. Second, I add brass weights by fitting them into the arm wand holes. Lets my Koetsu track well at 2.1 grams or so.
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 

@terry9 

Thanks.  I machined similar weights and agree with you that they work well.  I felt it was more appropriate to comment on the Trans-Fi as supplied, as the OP is a newbie.  It's a great tonearm and relatively simple to modify. 

terry9
931 posts
 
Quite right on both counts.
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