Whats your favourite tonearm?

[stevied]

Not necessarily the "best", or most expensive, but the one you have always liked, and/or seems to follow you from table to table?

 

[rockmeister]

I have a soft spot for Jelcos. Certainly the engineering seems outstanding at their price point, but if I had to buy just one arm, I'd still go for the SME M2 series. I don't tend to have anything that cost lots, so this is the nicest arm I ever found that I could afford.

 

[BD Audio]

Dare I say it depends on the cartridge. For solid engineering I loved my old SME312S, it was a joy to use even when boozing. The new AN arm is a perfect match for my IO cart, I've never got on with full blown unipivots, all that wibbly cueing.... :nerves:

 

[SergeAuckland]

SME 3009 improved. I've had both fixed and detachable headshell versions in the past and still have the detachable one on my 401. An old favourite that gives me pleasure every time I use it just for its looks anf feel.

For sheer engineering elegance, the one on my AEG TRS9000 takes a lot of beating.I don't know anothef arm that has an electrically applied bias compensator that's only active whern the arm is down and the turntable rotating.

S

 

[rabski]

My Well Tempered.

I can't say it's followed me from turntable to turntable, as it's part of the WT deck. Quite possibly it could be removed/transferred, but I have no desire to try this as it would involve tears and leave me with a useless TT.

It does near nothing. The suspension is insane, as is the damping. Ralph Steadman at his most mad could not have come up with anything more bizarre. Yet the damned thing works. It seems immune from everything, and any cartridge I have managed to bolt onto it (inevitably requiring re-soldering of cartridge tags onto possibly the thinnest wire known) manages to perform at seemingly its best.

In some ways, it (like the rest of the WT) is a spiteful bastard that repays love and attention by breaking.

I love it.

 

[BD Audio]

SME 3009 improved. I've had both fixed and detachable headshell versions in the past and still have the detachable one on my 401. An old favourite that gives me pleasure every time I use it just for its looks anf feel.

I have an older version here at the moment for my Thorens project, heavy weight and outrigger, detachable headshell. It's very good considering the arm lead is corroded and the age of the thing (1965 I believe). Bearing seems to be in great condition, it's nice and shiny. I'm well impressed.

 

[Tarzan]

SME V for me, when being a junior audiophile l made it a mission to some day own one, the looks are just stunning to me and are tireless, then you have the legendary engineering and great sound quality too, l just love the sound/looks of the arm( it even makes my Techie look quite nice.)

 

[oldius]

I adore my Nottingham Analogue Ace Anna. Very simple, sensible engineering and once it's set up it stays that way, despite being a uni pivot.

 

[Last Order]

 

[Tarzan]

Oh and that Audionote AN1 looks interesting too...........

 

[Blurboy]

My first Linn was fitted with the obligatory Ittok LVII and really enjoyed the results but I fitted a Zeta and to me it was better and I now have another after a long search for one. I think my SME V is astonishing in it's engineering and the sound from my tt is fabulous but the Zeta is and was the one I hunkered for so that's the one that gets my vote.

 

[Popey]

I'm still very fond of my Ittok LVIII, though I do sometimes miss the Mission 774 that it replaced. It has a unique look and sounded pretty good too.

I have a hankering for a SME V, for similar reasons to Tarzan, though that will have to wait until I get around to replacing my deck. That's a while away though...

 

[russ abbott - royds broth]

Probably only had 10 arms or so over the years.

Would have to say Fidelity Research or orion helius.

 

[Guest]

The best system I've ever heard had an SME V in it so it would be one of those I guess...

 

[Gizza]

Helius Orion - The first system that I heard that had the wow factor had one of these on a Pink Triangle T/T using an Audionote IO into an Audionote transformer. Also the Mission 774 that I used on first a Thorens 160S then Linn Sondek with a Lentek Entre mc cart, gave some great results.

 

[speedysteve]

Fidelity Research FR64s.

Makes most other arms seem flimsy

A 66s would trump it though.

 

[meridian man]

RB250

 

[sonyboy0444]

My SME V (on my third) which has seen off quite a few other much touted arms , but would love to try the V-12.

 

[take5]

30 years ago I had an LP12 with a Grace arm. I really loved that set up.

I always lusted after a change to an Ittok, but never got around to it.

So, when I got back into Hi Fi and Turntables a few years ago, I bought an LP12 with Ittok. I didnt like it. Illusions shattered. Oh yes.

I then had a Voyd with SME 5 and that was really great. Probably my best so far. Then an Orbe with SME 4. That was nice too. I liked both of those arms.

Now I have an older SME 3012 and I really like the sounds coming out of that.

I do find it difficult to say what component is good or bad in a given set up.

So...Crap arm/good arm/crap cartridge/good cartridge/crap turntable/good turntable.

Who knows?

But I also have one waiting to be used, and I think/hope that it is going to be "the one".

Its an Audio Origami 12" PU7. I do like the way it looks and feels, so my mind is receptive to it being my favourite.