Tonearm Porn

Wilson Benesch arm


I have most of a cetech arm here, i'll try to sort out a pic soon.

 

ooh, that WB arm is a bit sexual. Never heard anyone rave about it sonically though.

Isn't that new Basis Vector unipivot supposed to be the dogs danglies?

DT

 

I had one of these many years ago.

Odyssey RP1-XG designed by John Gordon

 

Crappy pic of the cetech arm. It was sold as a DIY unipivot with no base- When I bought it they hadn't finalised the design- I used a hacked up rega rb250 mount with a long bolt up through the centre, with a centrepunched dimple for the pin in the arm to sit on. It worked well=)

 

I like the Odyssey - something almost Nemo esque about it.

So all those experts, what's this?

 

Easy. A Fidelity Research arm, most likely the FR-66S.

 

Markus, that's nothing to be proud of

How about

 

I'll leave that to others more qualified than me ...

 

a nimbus 3000?

 

Sorry - thanks for correction (was misled by this http://www.sakurasystems.com/products/rsa-1.html) - never seen the Tsurube - thanks!

Lots of other tonearms here if you have a dig around:

http://www.topclassaudio.com/web/eng/used_product.jsp

 

No problem. Sakura are the 47 Labs world distributor, but some of their products (the Konus speakers, the RS Labs arm, etc) are by other manufacturers, even though they are often used in full 47 Labs setups.

The Tsurube is new, and, AFAICT, not yet easy to get hold of outside Japan, likewise the new 47 Labs turntable, which, despite being shown at audio shows over the last couple of years, seems not to be available yet. MAX would know for sure.

-- Ian

 

You are fooling anyone my friend

Sorry Chris. Not one of the Nimbi (?)

 

A 60s Ortofon of some description with the bizarre counterweight and spring arrangement. One of the expensive high-end Japanese companies currently reworks or clones these I believe, is it Shindu?

Tony.

PS that 47 labs thing is mental on so many levels I can barely figure out how it works - well cool!

 

Markus and Tony really need to get out more.

Yes it's an Orfofon RF297 (late '60's early '70's)- surprisingly collectable and found on early EMT's.

 

Indeed. The Shindo Meursault 773 tone arm is modelled on the RF 297. However, the bearing is different (I knew from looking at the bearing housing that it was an Ortofon).

 

I plan to.

 

Pah, this is part-time geeking, you don't want to get me started on vinyl!

Tony.

 

Hi,

Graham Robin




Mission 774



Syrinx PU2



SCIDB

 

Ah the Graham Robin - the last really bad review I can remember.

Little known fact is that Mr Graham started out designing an arm for McIntosh of all people - who also commissioned a cartridge from Goldbug. But Mrs Goldbug's cultured hands were not required for that one.

 

The Mission 774 was the first high quality arm I ever owned - must be 25 years ago and I would have been 16
Ran it first on an old JVC QLA7 direct drive which looked very similar to the Denon DP2500. My grandfather and I butchered it to take the 774 and the matching 773.

I also ran a PU2 Gold with the dreaded 'mass ring' - capable of excellent sound but a swine to set up as it lacked dynamic balance. The slightest move of he arm board from true would create massive side force on the cartridge.

Now for something different. A truly awful arm and probably 'the worst pick-up arm in the world' to twist the well known SME slogan.

The truly ghastly SMEIII. Unfortunately I was reacquainted with one recently as it came free with a Micro: