Opinions on Ortofon TA-110 9"

[OneyedK]

I keep an eye open for a new tonearm for my SL-1200mkII.
More effective mass is a big plus for me.

So I stumbled upon the Ortofon TA-110 9" tonearm.
http://www.ortofon.com/ta-110-p-433-n-3448

Question is, is it as good as they say?

Or is it just an overpriced rebadged Jelco SA-250?
http://www.jelco-ichikawa.co.jp/products/tonearm.html

And am I better off with a Jelco SA-750D?
Or am I missing (current production) alternatives?

Thanks for your responses!

[Barry]

You could ask Marco, though I think the arm he uses is the Ortofon AS-212.

[Ammonite Audio]

I keep an eye open for a new tonearm for my SL-1200mkII.
More effective mass is a big plus for me.

So I stumbled upon the Ortofon TA-110 9" tonearm.
http://www.ortofon.com/ta-110-p-433-n-3448

Question is, is it as good as they say?

Or is it just an overpriced rebadged Jelco SA-250?
http://www.jelco-ichikawa.co.jp/products/tonearm.html

And am I better off with a Jelco SA-750D?
Or am I missing (current production) alternatives?

Thanks for your responses!

It is rather more than a rebadged Jelco SA-250. The bearing housing looks superficially similar to the SA-250's but as far as I can tell it has more in common with the SA-750, and certainly the arm tube is different from both of the Jelcos. You would have to hear the Ortofon for yourself to decide whether it's worth a considerable amount more than a Jelco. My opinion is that there are plenty of rather good alternative tonearm choices out there, and even the SME 309 isn't a great deal more than the TA-110. As ever, it does depend on context, type of turntable, cartridge preferences etc.

Marco's AS-212 has nothing in common with the Jelco-derived arms.

[Slawts]

I have the TA210 the 12" version and it works very well insofar as I feel no urge to upgrade/change/play about with.

I find being able to remove the headshell convenient for attaching and swapping over cartridges and have bought a second headshell. It's a neutral performer and you hear more of what the cartridge is like than anything else.

I suppose like most Ortofon product it's not trendy nor constructed using ancient methods handed down to virgins by Tibetan monks. It just works.

Steve

[Slawts]

Just as an addendum, Adam Smith wrote a positive review of the TA110 when he was at HiFi World and as an owner of the Jelco SA750. He didn't think it was an overpriced version of the Jelco.

[OneyedK]

All positive comments! Thanks!

Guess I'll have to bite the bullet and start looking for a suitable armboard...