Recommend me a decent arm with detachable headshell

[Lee Henley]

I'm looking at arms with detachable head shells so that I can get me a mono cart such as the Ortofon SPU, budget would be up to £1000, my deck is a Notts Analogue space deck



Many thanks

Lee

[belloire]

jelco sa-750d is a good start, or perhaps a Isokinetik Silver Melody SM750 Tonearm, though i haven't used one.

the ortofons are a step up, but go over your budget unless you can find one 2nd hand. also the acoustic solid wtb211, again it would be 2nd hand but great arm.

a slight tangent is a transfi terminator. not the conventional removable headshell type, so the spu wouldn't work, but you can get multiiple 'wands' that are simple to change, and they work very, very well on a space deck (soulman of this parish has the very same)

[Ammonite Audio]

You can fit a longer arm than 9" on a Spacedeck, so the 10" Jelco SA-750E would be my choice, and hard to better at the price. It would work nicely with your existing cartridge too.

[take5]

Lee, I have a Fidelity Research 64fx that I may sell.

Immaculate condition and works perfectly. I have the 'normal" counterweight, as well as the "heavy" one. So you can change cartridges to your hearts content .

Well below your budget, allowing you to source an armboard for your T/T

I used this at Scalford in 2014 on my Oracle, with the Snells. You may well have heard it.

Get in touch if its of interest.

[topdogya]

Lee,
A Jelco SA-750 is a very good start, a Isokinetik Silver Melody SM750 Tonearm is one very big jump up the ladder fot not a lot more money, and boy do they sound good

[User211]

Morch DP6. Detachable arm wands... rather than headshells. Very easy to change and very cartridge versatile.

Been happy with mine for years with absolutely no desire to replace it with anything. Bloody good sign it is very good IMHO.

[DSJR]

Can a Morch be used with an SPU though? No doubts at all on the quality available from it though

To go with a retro cartridge, you could consider a vintage SME and have Audio Origami fettle it. Notts Analogue should be able to supply an SME compatible pod I think if that was of interest.

If you go with a Jelco, you may not need the base at all, as NAS supply collets that the pillar will snugly slide into.

[Barry]

Since the Ortofon is integrated into its own headshell, there is no provision for overhang adjustment, unless either an Ortofon arm is used or an SME arm. An Ortofon, presumabley because it will be designed to be used with the Ortofon cartridge, or an SME because the overhang can be adjusted with the sliding bedplate.

[tim_bissell]

How about a Helius Designs Aurora - available in 9" and 10" with or without a detachable headshell. The finish is a lot better than the 80s arms if my Scorpio 4 is anything to go by.

-- Tim

[Marco]

Hi Lee,

For an Ortofon SPU, don't rule out vintage arms, as long as they're in good condition. In that respect, consider something such as a Denon DA-307: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/DENON-DA-307-tonearm-with-tonearm-Dynamic-damping-tonearm-with-box-VG-/291526286232?hash=item43e0521b98

Those Denon arms (and others like them) were very well-engineered, intended for DL-103s, and so would work a treat with an SPU :)

I've bought before from the Japanese seller in question and can vouch for his excellent products and professionalism.

Marco.

[walpurgis]

Hi Lee,

For an Ortofon SPU, don't rule out vintage arms, as long as they're in good condition. In that respect, consider something such as a Denon DA-307: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/DENON-DA-307-tonearm-with-tonearm-Dynamic-damping-tonearm-with-box-VG-/291526286232?hash=item43e0521b98

Those Denon arms (and others like them) were very well-engineered, intended for DL-103s, and so would work a treat with an SPU :)

I've bought before from the Japanese seller in question and can vouch for his excellent products and professionalism.

Marco.

I owned one of those Denon arms Marco and as you suggest, they are well suited to the SPU, as long as a base that accommodates overhang adjustment is used. It's an unusual arm design and very well made. It's good for use with lower compliance vintage cartridges and MCs that have perhaps less damping than most modern carts. I used mine with a Decca Mk.IV and my vintage SPU to great effect.

[Marco]

Nice one, Geoff. I think a lot of folk would be shocked at how good some of these vintage arms sound, which are often overlooked, favouring instead something new that may not be as good.


I owned one of those Denon arms Marco and as you suggest, they are well suited to the SPU, as long as a base that accommodates overhang adjustment is used.

Remember that there will be some available adjustment in the (detachable) headshell used. That, along with ensuring that the partnering armboard has been drilled with the correct pivot to spindle distance (stated by Denon), with which to position the arm, and you'll be fine :)

Marco.

[Lee Henley]

Many thanks to all that have posted so far, its given me an idea as to whats out there that is decent, Im off to the National Audio Show at the weekend and will have a look round

[Marco]

No worries, Lee. My best advice would be not to just think new! ;)

Marco.

[User211]

Can a Morch be used with an SPU though? No doubts at all on the quality available from it though.

Absolutely right - no. Duff post - apologies.

[belloire]

Lee only says 'such as an spu'. i don't think he has one, so the Morch is still vaild

[Lee Henley]

Lee only says 'such as an spu'. i don't think he has one, so the Morch is still vaild

Your right I don't have one, but at some point I will get one

[StanleyB]

I do have a spare Micro Seiki 505 MKI if all else fails. But it is quite a technical arm to set up with its myriad of adjustment options. So not for the faint hearted if you are of that disposition.