Recommend me best unipivot so I can you use my DECCA carts?

[Wakefield Turntables]

I want to add a second tonearm to my Garrard 301 and I want to start using my DECCA carts. I have space for a 9" arm, maybe 10" at a push, any ideas?

[Barry]

Hadcock obviously.

A 'leftfield' suggestion would be the Audio & Design M9BA (later known as the Keith Monks M9BA) arm. There are however H&S risks to be born in mind regarding the use of mercury in the signal path, but the adventurous could always get the detachable arm wand(s) rewired by Audo Origami, with the signal leads taken out to an external plug and socket as in the Mission 773 arm.

[walpurgis]

If you have sufficient plinth depth, the Decca International arm. The original deep stem version with the metal detachable headshell (not the later plastic one). The deep stem houses an opposing magnet cushion for the arm to 'float' upon. Seems an odd thing, but it works very well with Decca's own carts!

http://i63.tinypic.com/2jaj7k7.jpg

These are very rare though!

(should have kept mine)

[drSM]

never heard a Decca
unipivots seem to be the choice arms for them
Does enyone know if they would work in a Graham 1.5 arm? ( unipivot and damped)
thats in case i ever get one

[Wakefield Turntables]

Thanks for the help so far lads.

[hifi_dave]

Nottingham Analogue of any vintage. All designed using various Decca cartridges.

[walpurgis]

The Decca International is a fluid damped unipivot and of course was designed and developed specifically for use with Decca cartridges.

[topoxforddoc]

Andrew,

My advice is to find something within your budget, that allow a refurb with J7. Many people use Hadcocks (like me), but a Nottingham Analogue, Decca or Keith Monks would also be fine. Others which would work include Audiocraft AC3000 or its variants, a Schroeder (I've tried mine in a Schroeder). Not sure about a Nima, but that might work. Some used Mayware Formula 4 arms back in the day, but the effective mass on the Mayware is quite low - it was better suited to higher compliance cartridges such as the AKG P8 etc.

I paid about £160 to get my Hadcock checked and rewired back in 2013. As this was intended solely to run Deccas, I had J7 wire both earth leads into one cartridge tag.

Charlie

[louie3]

Graham 1.5...depends on which Decca...the lighter bodies will work ok. Jubilee, not so much.

[Jag]

After trying a few unipivot tonearms including a Naim Aro, Hadcock 242SE, Mayware Formula 1V and V etc I thought the Nottingham Analogue Ace Anna 10" arm to be a very good tonearm indeed. I had a both a 12" and 10" Ace Anna on my Mentor Reference turntable but sold that combination. The 10" Aca Anna I kept after I tried it on a Pink Triangle Anniversary turntable where it really sang with a Miyabi 47 Labs cartridge and a Lyra Titan i plus others. Not sure that I would sell it because it is a lovely tonearm with a no nonsense simplicity of design and definitely can recommend it. I forgot about the Moerch UP4 or the DP6 (not a unipivot), both very good tonearms.

[ianlenco]

I've got a Nottingham Analogue doing nothing if you'd like to try it. There are mounting issues as it comes with rather a large base!

http://i.imgur.com/0HrUagPh.jpg#gWPQG

[paulf-2007]

A super gold threw a wobbly on my Stax but with a blob of plumbers mate between it and the headshell it worked fine.

[Wakefield Turntables]

OK, so I have a DECCA II which I intend getting refurbed and using with my SME adapter on the 3012 I own. I also have a DECCA maroon, supplied by Charlie of this forum.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I've got a Nottingham Analogue doing nothing if you'd like to try it. There are mounting issues as it comes with rather a large base!

http://i.imgur.com/0HrUagPh.jpg#gWPQG

That is a very kind offer. I may take you up on that at some point. Need to do a little research with respects how much mounting space and distance I have on the 301 plinth. ;)

[ianlenco]

It's not going anywhere so take your time, us Yorkshire boys, even exiles like me, have to stick together :)

[walpurgis]

Not a unipivot, but the Mission 774 works brilliantly with the Mk.V Deccas. A combination I've used many times.

[Barry]

So does the Infinity 'Black Widow'. This is a knife-edge bearing design, but has the optional employment of a damping dashpot.

I have also had success with using both the Decca Mk.V and Mk.VI on an SME 3009, also fitted with the FD200 daming dashpot.

Which model Decca do you have Andy?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Barry, see post #13.

[Barry]

Barry, see post #13.

Sorry didn't see that.

I have used Mk. III and Mk. IV 'heads' (of which your Mk.II is one) successfully in a Decca ffss 'Super' arm. You can also use this and the earlier Decca Professional arm with Mk. V and later cartridges if you use a special adapter, but the latter is rare as hens teeth.

I have, like you, also used a Decca Mk.III in an SME arm with the D3 adapter, though I also used the SME damping dashpot. Couldn't really discern any difference in performance however between the SME 3009 or the 3012.

For your Decca 'Maroon' (which is essentially the same as a Mk.V), the choice of suitable arms is wide, as other Members have suggested.

[alphaGT]

Graham 1.5...depends on which Decca...the lighter bodies will work ok. Jubilee, not so much.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170326/08ca2e66e84476ec3a066e33727f036b.jpg

I've got to admit I've always had a bit of lust for the Graham....



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