12" Tonearm What Have You Heard & Recommend?

I have an SME 312 that I bought about a year ago (but haven't mounted/listened to it yet). It came off a JR Transrotor and was branded as such. It looks very well made and has a removable headshell, which I appreciate for ease of cartridge mounting/removal.

I am currently using an Ikeda IT407 which is a great tonearm and probably the best built/most atractive arm around (the quality is phenomenal) and looks so different than most of today's arms, many of which look like kits to some degree or another. The Ikeda also has a removable headshell. I'm using it with a Benz Ruby 3H and it does the job.

I think you'd be happy with either one, but certainly the Ikeda is a superior arm for the money, since you can buy one for around $2700 vs the $2200 for the SME. I bought my used 312 for $650, so at that price it is no contest.

Deccas prefer fluid-damped unipivots, fluid damping practically a necessity, so add the VPI JMW 12.5 to the list. On a heavy Lenco idler-wheel 'table, the combination of JMW 10.5 with the Decca is simply the most awesome sound I have ever heard: slam of Decca added to slam of idler-wheel drive for unheard-of speed, bass and detail. Others trying this combo have reported similar impressions. You'll get similar results from your Garrard, and have a blast.

Do search on relative merits/demerits of lonmger and shorter arms here on at the Asylum.Certain principles of physic say 12 should be better and others thaty a 10 or 9 inch is bter.Know that Stereophiles Fremmer prefers the priciples of shorter arms.A number of factors like rigidity (everything being equal otherwise),azimuth etc come into play.There are two camps but interesting reading when choosing.I have a 12" VPI Memorial and am going to swap decks amd get one of their 9" arms though must admit the biggest difference is tht I'll lose VTA on the fly but there are differences.
Regards
Chazzbo

Dear Jomoinc: In Theory the long tonearms has, at least, and advantange over the short ones: lower tracking error. Now, this lower tracking error is reflected in an improvement in the quality sound reproduction?, not necessary, because the better quality sound reproduction depends not only of the tracking error but of many other factors like: tonearm design, tonearm build quality, what materials were used for build the tonearm, with which cartridge, etc.
In my experience the short and long tonearms can perform at the same level and usually I can't say if I really can hear the " lower tracking error " improvement. It is really difficult ( at least for me ) and complex to be absolutely precise on this subject.

More important than this is that the tonearm characteristics could match well with the phono cartridge.

I agree with Bigbucks5 about the Ikeda tonearms: great ones!!! and you can choose between short or long one. I am sure that the Ikeda will be a very good match with the Decca London that is a medium/heavy weight and low compliance cartridge.
I don't have any experience with the Decca cartridges in my system but I use my Ikeda tonearm with a " marvelous " Ikeda REX9 cartridge ( that is and MC cartridge with out cantilever ( like Decca ), low compliance and heavy weight. ) and these couple is something that any one that are inerested in the music sound reproduction at home must to hear it !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never been close to a real live event that when I hear through the REX9, nothing come close to this experience.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Try a Fidelity FR-66s. I just acquired one and the sound is as good or better than anything else i've heard.

I have an Audio Note IO-2v mounted on it and it makes a great combo.