Tonearms: Ripoff?

So what will a TW, SME, Basis, Graham, etc, give me that a Jelco or Audiomods won't?

Maybe a lot, or maybe nothing.  Your question argues your fundamental understanding of high end audio and audiophiles and sounds more than a little judgmental.  Not everyone wants, needs or can afford a "high end" (aka expensive in your parlance) tonearm.  Those who do or can may be looking for features or adjustability that are not available in less expensive tonearms. 

Cartridge/tonearm/turntable matching is a complex art.  Not every tonearm works best (or at all) with every cartridge and every turntable.  Got a Lenco L75?  If so you are probably not going to try and mount a Thomas Schick tonearm on it.

Let's say that you want to run an Ortofon SPU cartridge.  You can do that on a Jelco (it will work but it's not the best choice, IMO).  But the Audiomods?

No.  I'll use another example: I enjoy the London Decca Super Gold cartridge.  The best cartridge/tonearm combination I have heard is with the Fidelity Research FR-66.  A great tonearm.  Is it worth $3,500+ for a 25+ year old arm?  Not to me, but every one that comes available gets snapped up pretty damned quickly.

Use what works for you and leave us to do the same.  Please.

I have heard is with the Fidelity Research FR-66. A great tonearm. Is it worth $3,500+ for a 25+ year old arm? Not to me, but every one that comes available gets snapped up pretty damned quickly.  

Where the hell you can find FR-66 for $3500 ? This tonearm price tag is over $6000 nowadays. 

Greasy ol trolls...

Quote
" So what will a TW, SME, Basis, Graham, etc, give me that a Jelco or Audiomods won't?"


The Audiomod Arm is actually a very good arm regardless of price or your daft negative bs you spin on all things audio in these forums. Always the same negative content wrapped in the guise of a question. The apitamy of true ignorance, claiming to be seeking answers and knowledge in the darkness of a preconceived set of beliefs.

Experience through first hand ownership and use is king. Something many of us here have that your negative, narrow minded and pure opinion based idiocy lacks, sorely. There is a vast difference between an enquiring mind of those seeking information based on the experience and help of others and the internet troll who's threads ALL have a negative spin veiled in a question. Your not seeking answers at all , your attempting to make a statement you lack the testicular fortitude to come straight out with and lack any knowledge / experience  to back it up , .... and sadly thinking your clever and fooling members... 

A really good tone arm is a really nice investment- the bigger your record collection, the better.
The ability of the arm to properly track the cartridge is far more important than which cartridge you use. If the cartridge tracks properly then your LPs last longer- no breakup or strain when things get complex.
I've never heard a cheap tone arm really do that, although some are not bad (and are probably the ones that people say are alright when they promote older/cheaper arms).

I'm a fan of the Triplanar- nothing phases it. Tracks anything, never goes out of adjustment, One of the few that gets the deep bass right, the easiest arm to set up correctly as everything is adjustable. Has the hardest metal bearings made (which allows them to be perfectly adjusted- no slop, no damage to the bearing points; something you can't do with jeweled bearings). A damped arm tube. And so on- but its not particularly cheap. But that's OK- right now I have enough stupid rare LPs in my collection that I could easily sell it for over $100K (although it might take a while). When you have stuff thats irreplaceable, you think a lot more about doing it justice with good quality.