Arming a 1210

[julesd68]

I'm intrigued to see what the Technics can do and have landed a 1210 mk2, which I'm going to collect in a couple of weeks. :)

Am rather excited - it has the Mike New bearing, Timestep PSU and Isonoe feet. But, I will need a tonearm + cable!

What would you recommend? I have a budget of roughly £600. Needs to be a good match with my Garrott P77i MM cartridge which is medium compliance.

I would ideally like an arm that can contribute to a nicely defined bass, as that's perhaps not the strongest point of my Tannoys.

I do have my Kuzma Stogi but not sure what kind of a match it will be for the 1210.

I understand that the obvious choice is the Jelco 750D but am keen to explore what lies beyond that …

There are some nice arms available from HK / Japan ebay dealers like Micro Seiki & Fidelity Research. The Audiomods looks a solid option with its on-the-fly VTA and drop-in fitting. SME or Origin Live? Unipivot?

The only arm which has really caught my eye is the Fidelity Research FR-14 which I could import from Japan. Here's the specs -

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/fidelity-research/fr-14.shtml

Can anyone tell me if this will fit / suit the Technics?

Thanks in advance!

[Audio Al]

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/tone-arms-headshells/521-the-wand-tone-arm.html

:eyebrows:

[synsei]

It depends what you are looking for Jules. If pin point accuracy does it for you then you will need one of these:

http://realitypod.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/SniperRifle2.jpg

Be wary though because armed with this your Techie will never miss, therefore it is best to stay out of its line of sight when listening to your fave choons... :D

[RobbieGong]

Hi Jules, Your link takes us straight to Google only :scratch: The wand might be good but it's one ugly arm IMO of course. I'd go with one of the better vintage jap arms as they both suit and compliment the Techie. There are a number of rated Micro Seiki arms for instance, some with 'on the fly' vta that would be perfect. It isn't that hard to find one that isn't abused, there's wear and tear to look out for with anything used but you can tell a good one from a bad one. The Seiki MA 202 I have is case in point, a classic arm for a mere £200 on da 'bay Japan and it is superb, 'on the fly' too and no issues whatsoever. £600 should see you find a beaut of a high end vintage ;)

[julesd68]

Always a problem linking to Vinyl Engine - don't know why!!

Here's the FR-14 spec -

Effective length 245
O/H - 15
O/S - 21.5
Pivot to spindle 230
Arm mass - 14

Can anyone make sense of this for me?

[Stratmangler]

I can vouch for the 750D - it's a lovely arm, and a fine match with the SL12xx :)

[julesd68]

Hi Chris,

The 750D looks a safe bet - have you or anyone else heard any other arms on the 1210? Just wondering what I would have to pay to get something significantly "better" ... :eyebrows:

[Stratmangler]

Other than my tweaked up RB250 I've not heard any other arms on the Techie.
The Jelco is a better arm.

[zenmaster]

How about Trans Fi Terminator.

http://www.trans-fi.com/t3proorderformpricing.htm

It's certainly "outside the box". It's a unique and well built/well engineered piece of equipment. You can request prices on factory "B" stock.

[daytona600]

audiomods good choice & looks very smart on a techie

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6799

[WOStantonCS100]

How about Trans Fi Terminator.

http://www.trans-fi.com/t3proorderformpricing.htm

It's certainly "outside the box". It's a unique and well built/well engineered piece of equipment. You can request prices on factory "B" stock.

I've been using one of these on my 1200 for 2 years(?) now and several carts. Luv it. Luv it. Luv it.

[DiveDeepDog]

I've just put a Nima on my mates 1210, sounds good to me.

Although my own new purchase (tabriz) might sound better, the Nima has a really nice quality feel. I wonder if the Nima is built in house, and the Tabriz by Jelco?

That's meant as a compliment, rather than a knock at Roksan:-)

Mark

[Thermionic Idler]

Audio Origami do a tweaked RB250, available here:

http://www.peakhifi.co.uk/cgi-bin/ecom.cgi?Command=ShowProduct&db_pid=424

but how it would compare with the Jelco, no idea.

[julesd68]

Thanks for the input chaps - I had my heart set on an SME IV but when the deal fell through I decided to see how my Kuzma sounds on the 1210 before making a bigger investment! Collecting the 1210 next Saturday so will report back how I get on. Cheers.

[RobbieGong]

Thanks for the input chaps - I had my heart set on an SME IV but when the deal fell through I decided to see how my Kuzma sounds on the 1210 before making a bigger investment! Collecting the 1210 next Saturday so will report back how I get on. Cheers.

Looking forward to that one J and some pics please ! :)

[julesd68]

Of course old boy!

And you never know - there might be some other "show and tell" next week. :eyebrows:

[walpurgis]

Hi Julian. Buy an SME mount, get a good Mission 774 (1st version by John Bicht) off eBay, put some quality wiring on it and it'll sound marvellous with ANY cartridge, 'cos you can fluid damp to suit low or high compliance. I've got one on my hefty Toshiba SR-370 DD TT, so it'd work just as well on the Techie. Mine's got your old MC25 FL in it by the way. Works amazingly well (drop by for a listen)!

Geoff.

[julesd68]

Hi Geoff - well I'm actually going to be getting an SME mount with the 1210 so if the Kuzma doesn't work out I will definitely give the 774 a try before reaching much deeper into the pockets ...

Just googled your Toshiba deck and looks a very fine and solid beast indeed. Would love to hear it - hope we can arrange a visit sometime soon!

[MartinT]

The Jelco 750D is an excellent arm and should be your default unless you have a far higher budget or want to go out on a limb and try something really different. I can tell you from experience that the 750D sounds better than an SME IV - I used to have one and it's a remarkable piece of engineering, but the Jelco is better for less money.

You'll want one of Hugo's (Shuggie) collars, too.

[walpurgis]

Just googled your Toshiba deck and looks a very fine and solid beast indeed. Would love to hear it - hope we can arrange a visit sometime soon!

This is funny. I just Googled 'Toshiba SR-370' too out of curiosity and guess what, two of the first handful of images are of my TT with the Mission arm on. Also, my beautiful Pioneer PL-61 is shown further down the page.

[MartinT]

If I Google the Dynavector arm I often see my images ;)

[julesd68]

I can tell you from experience that the 750D sounds better than an SME IV

Good to know Martin - I had the chance to get the SME for around £550, so seemed like a good opportunity at the time. Must say, it does look great on the 1210 ..

[Tarzan]

The Jelco 750D is an excellent arm and should be your default unless you have a far higher budget or want to go out on a limb and try something really different. I can tell you from experience that the 750D sounds better than an SME IV - I used to have one and it's a remarkable piece of engineering, but the Jelco is better for less money.

You'll want one of Hugo's (Shuggie) collars, too.

Martin, this is interesting could you expand on this a little?:)

[MartinT]

Which bit, Andy?

[Tarzan]

Which bit, Andy?


Why and how did it sound better, what cartridge, etc.:)

[MartinT]

The SME IV is a very dry, damped arm with slightly recessed midrange but awesome bass. It sounded very good in an original Roksan Xerxes but not so good in any Technics that I've heard (the V, strangely, doesn't have quite the potent bass of the IV). The 750D is a very well balanced arm with detailed and highly revealing midrange and better mass potential (especially with good headshell choice) for tracking MC cartridges. To my ears, it is the more musical of the two arms.

I've heard lots of cartridges in both arms and certainly the AT OC9 (no longer a favourite as the AT 33PTG is so much better). The best cartridge I've heard on the Jelco is the Ortofon SPU headshell/cartridge.

[audiopile]

Listening to a DL-103/Cartridgeman Isolator/OL Alliance arm/SL-1200 right now. So far have tried a Pany 451 Strain gauge ,Grado MCX and now the Denon on this combo. Very pleased with all. Will try a Ortofon 2M Blue without the Cartridgeman Isolator in the next week or two. Arm is mounted on a Origin Live arm board/plate - arm was a drop in ( as it should be) and everything was logical in terms of set up. Also used a Rega RB-250/OL VTA adjustor with the Pany strain gauge for awhile and that also was pretty fuss free and effective.

[Tarzan]

The SME IV is a very dry, damped arm with slightly recessed midrange but awesome bass. It sounded very good in an original Roksan Xerxes but not so good in any Technics that I've heard (the V, strangely, doesn't have quite the potent bass of the IV). The 750D is a very well balanced arm with detailed and highly revealing midrange and better mass potential (especially with good headshell choice) for tracking MC cartridges. To my ears, it is the more musical of the two arms.

I've heard lots of cartridges in both arms and certainly the AT OC9 (no longer a favourite as the AT 33PTG is so much better). The best cartridge I've heard on the Jelco is the Ortofon SPU headshell/cartridge.

Thanks Martin, l have briefly tried my SME V on my Techie, it did sound and looked cool, but l thought a tad...mmmm uninvolving, asa result the SME is still under the bed doing nought, so may look into Jelco as l would love to use the DL103 l have and love, or go in a different direction with the SME V.......:scratch:

[Tarzan]

Or that Audionote arm looks good......:)

[julesd68]

Very interesting. I should have my Kuzma operational on the 1210 early next week I hope - will report back ...

[julesd68]

Listening to a DL-103/Cartridgeman Isolator/OL Alliance arm/SL-1200 right now. So far have tried a Pany 451 Strain gauge ,Grado MCX and now the Denon on this combo. Very pleased with all.

The chap I'm buying my 1210 from was using a OL Encounter mk3c on it - he thought it was an awesome match ...

[MartinT]

Which Kuzma arm is it, Julian?

[julesd68]

It's the Stogi ...

[MartinT]

Ah thanks, nice solid looking arm, that.