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Tonearms: Ripoff?

If you search for tonearm recommendations you'll find an overwhelming amount of praise for $1k and less products. Audiomods and Jelco are the two most mentioned.

The Audiomods is just some guy making Rega-based tonearms in a workshop. Just some guy is putting out tonearms that compete with tonearms that cost many times the price -- from the likes of SME, Clearaudio, VPI, Graham, etc.

So the question is -- are tonearms just a scam? How is it that everyone loves Audiomods and Jelco to death and never talks about / dismisses high end tonearms? Is it because there's no real difference between one of these low-cost tonearms and the high end ones? Is an Audiomods Series V ** really ** the equivalent of a SME V? Some guy in a workshop equals the famed precision of SME? Is that once you have the math and materials worked out all tonearms are essentially the same? Or is it that most owners of record players online are dumpster-diving for vintage gear and simply can't afford to listen to better?

So, what's going on?
madavid0
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
What defines high end? Is it simply a price point or something more complex?
Intention, more than anything else. It certainly isn't price.
tzh21y
1,377 posts
 
For me, its diminishing returns. I am sure the Tri-Planar on the 1200G is fantastic, but on my humble system, the stock arm is really good on the 1200G, especially with MM cartridges. I doubt my system could resolve the subtle details that a great arm such as a Triplanar or Graham, Fidelity Research, Reed, Moerch could and so on. I have heard great arms and I’m pretty sure they make a difference in the subtle details which in high end IS a big deal. The only thing is when you start to get to these levels, everything makes a huge difference, your isolation makes a big difference, like, you better have the system in the basement or slab on grade and so on. lol
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
I doubt my system could resolve the subtle details that a great arm such as a Triplanar or Graham, Fidelity Research, Reed, Moerch could and so on.
One thing the Triplanar gets right is the bass, which so many other arms do not. You don't have to have resolution for that- just enough bass response.
fleschler
766 posts
 
Tom Port of Better Records recommends the Triplanar and uses one.  My SME IV also has great bass, probably not as good as the Triplanar though.
ishis
6 posts
 
Went from a  MG-1.1 Air bearing Linear Tracking Tonearm to a THALES Simplicity II...same Lyra Skala cartridge.

Won't be going back anytime soon!!! lol
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