12-inch tonearm options

[surayne]

Having heard an SME3012 over the weekend, I've decided to go for a 12-incher for my Lenco L75 build. The budget will be around £500.

The only new-ish options I've come across are the Jelco 750L and the rebuilt Ortofon tonearms made by a German guy called Alfred Gerd in Spain (more info here). I've got a 9-inch Jelco at the moment and it's great, but I would like something different... The Schick and Apparition arms look interesting but have long lead times and are out of budget new.

What else would be available around this budget, new or used? Does anyone have any experience of the rebuilt Gerd tonearms?

 

[ridley]

Nottingham analogue, £500 should get you a 12" ace space arm.

unipivot without a lot of fuss to set up & very good sound.

Simon.

 

[paulf-2007]

have pm'd you

 

[rahman]

you should really try to think of the arm and cart as a whole and then select the arm which will best suit the carts you're likely to be using. e.g heavy mass for low-compliance carts.

 

[Guest]

What if any are the benefits of a 12 incher over a 9 inch . Budding porn stars need not reply .

 

[bmtell]

Slight reduction in tracking error.

Edit: it of info from SME.

http://www.sme.ltd.uk/content/Series-V12-1515.shtml

 

[meninblack]

Weren't they originally developed to play 16" records? Is there any technical advantage, or is it a cost/snobbery thing? :?

Edit: just saw post above. :doh:

 

[rahman]

What if any are the benefits of a 12 incher over a 9 inch . Budding porn stars need not reply .

besides the technical advantages of reduced tracking error, people tend to, subjectively, report greater ease to the presentation. whether this is due to increased length (or other factor, such as increased mass) is hard to say.

EDIT: Fremer's take on the pros/cons of 12": http://www.stereophile.com/content/sme-model-2012-turntable-amp-312s-tonearm-page-2 (and following page).

 

[Beobloke]

There's a new 12" version of the DesignBuildListen Wand coming if you really want a twelve incher, however they also a mounting kit allowing a 9" Wand to drop straight into a Lenco.

I think all of Origin Live's arms are also now available in 12" variants.

 

[uncl_nigel]

If i can judge from my Ittoks, the feel of the "same" arm is much more reassuring with the 12" version. That said, I have left the 12" Ittok unused for over two years now - the SME V is, I must admit, enough to keep me satisfied.

Fremer in Stereophile is definitely not a fan of longer arms.

 

[stevied]

:dunno:12 inch all a big con