Toshiba SR-370 DD arm pairing

[Bigman80]

Hi everyone,

I recently tried to sell my TT in order to buy a TT from Grant (struth), a very stunning THORENS 160. Unfortunately I couldn't raise the funds needed to buy a tonearm for it so I ended up selling my turntable and now have nothing.

I noticed this for sale and though "this could be brilliant to put a tonearm on"

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160125/e1ce31dff8941f38c19efc36a0e033e2.jpg

I noticed it has a SME cut out from the factory and I've investigated a little so here are my questions for any enlightened members....

I have a Goldring 2100 cartridge that I refuse to part with. I love it. Will an SME be able to handle it ??

I can get a sme to rega conversion plate for £25 so should I put one of these on....http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160125/8a085a6599fb96eb23b956ecf0a043c4.jpg

This is the Origin Live Alliance Tonearm. Follows the same geometry as a Rega so should be easy enough to fit as long as the thread protrudes through the base enough to tighten.

I've read that mission 774 tonearm a work well on here but they are very light and I'm not willing to part with my cartridge.

Any suggestions are welcomed.

Budget of £300 to keep things in relativity.

Thanks

Oli

[walpurgis]

Oli, I use an SR-370 most of the time and it has a Mission 774 mounted on it, it's a fabulous combination. Buy the turntable, it's excellent and you can obtain or easily make arm mounts to fit it for just about any arm.. The Mission 774 (original version) bolts straight on and will work with any cartridge and sound superb! The 774 will work with ultra high compliance cartridges like ADCs or low compliance items like Deccas and MCs. I've used all of them! You just adjust the silicone fluid damping to suit. Dead easy.

Here's a picture of mine with an £850 ZYX on the arm! And it sounds amazing!

http://i64.tinypic.com/2ry1z10.jpg

By the way, the 774 runs circles around any Rega or Rega derived arm I've used.

[Bigman80]

Oli, I use an SR-370 most of the time and it has a Mission 774 mounted on it, it's a fabulous combination. Buy the turntable, it's excellent and you can obtain or easily make arm mounts to fit it for just about any arm.. The Mission 774 (original version) bolts straight on and will work with any cartridge and sound superb! The 774 will work with ultra high compliance cartridges like ADCs or low compliance items like Deccas and MCs. I've used all of them! You just adjust the silicone fluid damping to suit. Dead easy.

Here's a picture of mine with an £850 ZYX on the arm! And it sounds amazing!

http://i64.tinypic.com/2ry1z10.jpg

By the way, the 774 runs circles around any Rega or Rega derived arm I've used.


Ok, Thats pretty definitive !

Ive bought the turntable and its winging its way to me, now for an arm.......

There is an original 774 on ebay USA for £300 with a sagging counterweight....i presume i should leave this one ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Just-ReWired-Original-MISSION-774-Fluid-Damped-Low-Mass-Tonearm-Very-Good-Cond-/141874709064?hash=item2108644248:g:WgAAAOSwUdlWgKY 7

[walpurgis]

The 774 offered in the US looks basically OK. The price may seem a bit dear, but they've been going up in value and decent examples are not exactly easy to find.

There are alternative counterweights on eBay and there should be a way to cure the sag on original items. I have one with this issue and I'm experimenting with ways to fix it. It's caused by the sorbothane ring insert either compressing or detaching and it should be easy enough to sort (for me). The missing damping paddles are not a problem. I make my own if need be. They're just bent rod.

To be honest. There are few arms at a sensible price which will outperform the 774. I compared mine to the SME 3009, Ittok and modified Regas I had and it was very much better in musicality, openness and control. In comparison, the SME sounded a bit bright and breezy and slack, but not too unpleasant. The Ittok was noticeably coarser at the top end and the Regas were just dull and two dimensional.

[struth]

SLACK? How dare you:eyebrows:

[walpurgis]

SLACK? How dare you:eyebrows:

Ah. But it wasn't a 3009 II. So not applicable. :ner:

[Bigman80]

The 774 offered in the US looks basically OK. The price may seem a bit dear, but they've been going up in value and decent examples are not exactly easy to find.

There are alternative counterweights on eBay and there should be a way to cure the sag on original items. I have one with this issue and I'm experimenting with ways to fix it. It's caused by the sorbothane ring insert either compressing or detaching and it should be easy enough to sort (for me). The missing damping paddles are not a problem. I make my own if need be. They're just bent rod.

To be honest. There are few arms at a sensible price which will outperform the 774. I compared mine to the SME 3009, Ittok and modified Regas I had and it was very much better in musicality, openness and control. In comparison, the SME sounded a bit bright and breezy and slack, but not too unpleasant. The Ittok was noticeably coarser at the top end and the Regas were just dull and two dimensional.


SLACK? How dare you:eyebrows:


Ok, im basically sold on a Mission 774, How does the SME 3009 II unimproved rate in your expert opinions ?

[walpurgis]

The SME is OK, but won't compete with the 774. Seeing as the SME is likely to cost at least as much or more, I know where my money would be going. I've had several examples of various older SMEs and three Missions (which I've still got).

(I've also got two Decca arms, four Lencos a Linn LV-V and a Helios, but I know which would come out tops --- the 774)

[Bigman80]

The SME is OK, but won't compete with the 774. Seeing as the SME is likely to cost at least as much or more, I know where my money would be going. I've had several examples of various older SMEs and three Missions (which I've still got).

(I've also got two Decca arms, four Lencos a Linn LV-V and a Helios, but I know which would come out tops --- the 774)


Understood and accepted as wisdom,

I'll persue the 774 then, waiting for a reply about one at the minute so fingers crossed.

[struth]

The mk2 improved detachable headshell is a very good arm and with a extra weight on the back handles most carts well. Not tried a 774 but they get a good name. Trouble is they have shot up in price and you are lucky if you can get a good example for under 300 now. I like the detachable heads tbh as it makes fitting and swapping carts a doddle. With the 774 you need to swap the arm tube or wand i think. Dont think you would have issues with good examples of either tbh

[walpurgis]

What cartridge were you planning to use?

[Bigman80]

The mk2 improved detachable headshell is a very good arm and with a extra weight on the back handles most carts well. Not tried a 774 but they get a good name. Trouble is they have shot up in price and you are lucky if you can get a good example for under 300 now. I like the detachable heads tbh as it makes fitting and swapping carts a doddle. With the 774 you need to swap the arm tube or wand i think. Dont think you would have issues with good examples of either tbh

Thanks Grant, I looked at a SME and had the chance to buy a series 2 for £220 but didn't fancy it. I've gone with the Mission and picked one up today. [emoji106]

[Bigman80]

What cartridge were you planning to use?

I'm going to use my Goldring 2100 hopefully. It's the most expensive cart I've ever bought and I love how it sounds. Also don't have any funds to change it lmao

[Bigman80]

Some pics of my arm.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/74d4ea298dd4b24e0b65f9eb6ac62990.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/a9128487f27839b4fb84557a5419fa1e.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/80403a1e2f428e91558fe024851c906b.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/cba65f9cee5f28ec48201ea743355f92.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/dc3ec8e68e18d5750ad30181d2b4e60e.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/1adb46ac8ec64f6ac8c99072f07058f8.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/28fad499b5fc32f40ae062972b8114ec.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/258055dae7f0b8b88679354fc03b716c.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/0c35f21d0c48fd0e8c4bf851f70831c3.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/77e7584fc3cd36f19126e6020112685c.jpg

[walpurgis]

Looks OK.

[Bigman80]

Looks OK.

It looks a lot better in the flesh to be honest. Doesn't seem to photograph well. I'll give it a clean up before I mount it. [emoji106] also need to have the TT here lol

[Bigman80]

Oli, I use an SR-370 most of the time and it has a Mission 774 mounted on it, it's a fabulous combination. Buy the turntable, it's excellent and you can obtain or easily make arm mounts to fit it for just about any arm.. The Mission 774 (original version) bolts straight on and will work with any cartridge and sound superb! The 774 will work with ultra high compliance cartridges like ADCs or low compliance items like Deccas and MCs. I've used all of them! You just adjust the silicone fluid damping to suit. Dead easy.

Here's a picture of mine with an £850 ZYX on the arm! And it sounds amazing!

http://i64.tinypic.com/2ry1z10.jpg

By the way, the 774 runs circles around any Rega or Rega derived arm I've used.

What did you make the stem from for the arm rest ?

[walpurgis]

I pinched it from an old dust bug. It had a flat base that was perfect.

[Bigman80]

That's Genius.

[walpurgis]

That's Genius.

Adjustable for height too. 'Cos the dustbug was. It was an obvious bit of adaptation actually. :)

[Bigman80]

Have a groovemaster. Wonder I I could adapt it ?????

[Bigman80]

I'm nearly ready for cartridge installation

Just waiting for the cartridge lol. Also waiting on new feet (smashed to pieces on arrival) bolts to secure the arm plate and an arm rest.

Just had a look and I may need to replace the cartridge tags too.

Here are some pics.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/f9eb793641fd05a3cc1a4e5ee1c985ca.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/6fb92591e73da2435ff80cbad80ea80e.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/fccfca11b70cad53e234952d94e1662a.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/3254b63de9b2856c9b67ee06f4ffe3ac.jpg
Added new Klotz MC5000 cable
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/62483e97a2afe04e78aeacee41c33943.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/e32864492f52fb68207d72ac8bb327a2.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/51aeca986c004d4928f31b1c4aa86579.jpg

Used a bit of tape to secure the cable temporarily

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/9b4041e78170d40fd14bc213c0dd90d4.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/0d19fd4e4b0f47e6f21e208c6202678e.jpg

Gave the insides a cleAn

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/971db2cdd5f3f25bfc18b34773df6a1f.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/29f58f2f1f1e068709826a96a5ab7026.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/a1d73d9900f679cb81a07e13cbf9a6a8.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/03b5770ea1241279fc6f7095e676fdb6.jpg

Speed is nice and stable, left it running for 1.5hours last night and needed the slightest adjustment so pleased with that.

Have to give a special mention to Walpurgis who has been my encyclopaedia of both TT and arm.

Cheers pal.

[walpurgis]

You're welcome mate!

I see you've got a neat exit from the back of the base for the arm cable and clamped it. Looks good.

[Bigman80]

Really quite pleased with how it's gone so far. Removed the old RCA sockets and used that gap to route out of. Edged the cables in (not forced) and they are nice and secure. Was very nervous soldering the bad plate lol turned out of though I think. Need to test it with sound to be sure.

[walpurgis]

Really quite pleased with how it's gone so far. Removed the old RCA sockets and used that gap to route out of. Edged the cables in (not forced) and they are nice and secure. Was very nervous soldering the bad plate lol turned out of though I think. Need to test it with sound to be sure.

That's going to sound very nice Oli. Even with the 'stand in' M75EJ2. Come on......Get some vinyl spinning! :)

[Bigman80]

I can't wait lol. Postman can't come quick enough !!!!!

[walpurgis]

I can't wait lol. Postman can't come quick enough !!!!!

Ah. Yes, I'd forgotten you only just ordered the cartridge.

[Bigman80]

Too much fence sitting on whether I was going to drill the head ! Also waiting for feet. Ordered these to stack as you suggested

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160128/bbebb84efb34b31d6dd370f2b2f50b19.jpg

Hope to have all the parts on and fully running soon.

[Bigman80]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160129/bb55e842cc19422a9926794ba39f25a8.jpg

Bollocks.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160129/aca8f2b7809330957f01f8b59e4d757e.jpg

[dmckean]

Damn.

[Bigman80]

Yup

[Bigman80]

Put the spare wand on and only then did I notice how poor the rewiring job is. To be truthful, I hadn't noticed it had been rewired. So the tags are poor. Corroded and not even soldered. I put them on the cartridge anyway just to check for sound. I had sound but it's poor. Bassy, dull and lifeless but I'm not judging the cartridge or arm just yet as I need to change the tags. Also have a lot of hum so as soon as I get some new tags on I'll do some more investigation.