Suggestion to change technics tonearm

[mindarelus]

Hi guys,
what are the best options to replace the technics tonearm. Easy to mod, and not cost too much.
Thanks.

[Clive197]

The answer most on here will give you is the Jelco 750D. Bloody good arm that invites fettling with different headshells and tonearm interconnects.
Personally I prefer the better arms from Origin Live but these are significantly more expensive.

[RobbieGong]

Hi guys,
what are the best options to replace the technics tonearm. Easy to mod, and not cost too much.
Thanks.

What's your budget ? as that will assist responses

[mindarelus]

I guess Jelco 750D is fine as my budget will allow it, but what I'm concerned is that the effective tonearm mass is 20g, which is far too much than the stock arm.. and my high compliance cartridges won't work properly.
Also, this means to forget about Ortofon 2m Black right, since it is high compliance cartridge.

[mindarelus]

I wouldn't change the stock tonearm, but I made a mistake, to loosen the top pillar of the tonearm bearings, and there is no way to bring it back to the factory settings - it's too sensitive, 0.5 microns as I know, so it's impossible to recalibrate.
Pity, because I did rewired the tonearm..

[RobbieGong]

I guess Jelco 750D is fine as my budget will allow it, but what I'm concerned is that the effective tonearm mass is 20g, which is far too much than the stock arm.. and my high compliance cartridges won't work properly.
Also, this means to forget about Ortofon 2m Black right, since it is high compliance cartridge.

I'm sure there are people using the 2M Black with the Jelco 750D and getting good results.

I had great results with the 2MB on my arm which I believe is medium mass.

[mindarelus]

Do I need to buy cables for the Jelco? because I found one that looks like without tonearm cables

[Dubster68]

I'm sure there are people using the 2M Black with the Jelco 750D and getting good results.

I had great results with the 2MBon my arm which I believe is medium mass.
I am getting great results with a Jelco 750 and a 2M Black cart. Very happy my end. With amazing sounds.

[Hammer]

Hope the jelco arms work with a 2mblack!!!just purchased an Isokinetic silver melody 750 and 2m black just waiting for a silver cable to arrive to set them up

[blackstar]

Playing with different headshells, different counterweights and damping makes the Jelco an incredibly versatile tonearm.

[1200reasons]

The effective mass of the SA750D is disouted at best, thanks to horrible communication from jelco. They tend to say


SA-750D Effective mass(with HS-25 headshell) is calculated as follows.
13.48g without cartridge.
19.23g with cartridge(6.5g)



So the effective mass is 13.48g when using a 12g headshell. The technics headshell is 7g if you want to reduce mass. That's my understanding at least. one grsm of mass at the headshell equals approx 1 gram of effective mass

To follow up a question from Dimitar that's yet to be answered I think.

My understanding is that the sa750 comes with internal wiring but the wiring terminates at a DIN socket at the base of the tonearm. The user must buy a DIN -> RCA cable in order to connect it to the amplifier

Is this correct?

[mindarelus]

I think I wouldn't use the stock Jelco wiring.

[Dubster68]

The effective mass of the SA750D is disouted at best, thanks to horrible communication from jelco. They tend to say



So the effective mass is 13.48g when using a 12g headshell. The technics headshell is 7g if you want to reduce mass. That's my understanding at least. one grsm of mass at the headshell equals approx 1 gram of effective mass

To follow up a question from Dimitar that's yet to be answered I think.

My understanding is that the sa750 comes with internal wiring but the wiring terminates at a DIN socket at the base of the tonearm. The user must buy a DIN -> RCA cable in order to connect it to the amplifier

Is this correct?
Yes you will need to add a Din to RCA cable as well Hugo

[mindarelus]

After a lot of thinking I decided I could get the Technics M5G tonearm. One question - will it fit my MK2 tonearm base without any problems?

[Zoidburg]

I've changed the arm on my 1200 mk2 to a Jelco 750D. Cant fault it at all, as others have said its incredibly versatile and has a lovely feel when using it. I cant comment on changing to different standard arm but I doubt you would be unhappy with a 750D.

[Spectral Morn]

Do I need to buy cables for the Jelco? because I found one that looks like without tonearm cables

You do but don't buy the Jelco one, it isn't the most transparent cable.

[CageyH]

After a lot of thinking I decided I could get the Technics M5G tonearm. One question - will it fit my MK2 tonearm base without any problems?

The Jelco will be better....

[mindarelus]

It is much more expensive. M5G is better than MK2 arms. And I will rewire it with Cardas cables. It will be fine, and I will not lose the easy settings on the technics (anti-skate, height, easy replacement of headshells and so on).
I only bother are they compatible, because on the m5g the antiscating is from 0 to 6...

The other thing that bothers me, is will I be able to tell any difference between MK2 and M5G tonearms if I rewire both.. Interestingly, but the price of M5G is much moreeee.. only for better OFC wiring? There should be something more, or at least I think so...

[CageyH]

It is much more expensive. M5G is better than MK2 arms. And I will rewire it with Cardas cables. It will be fine, and I will not lose the easy settings on the technics (anti-skate, height, easy replacement of headshells and so on).
I only bother are they compatible, because on the m5g the antiscating is from 0 to 6...

One of the improvements of the M5G arms is the wiring. If you are going to rewire it, why not just do the Mk.2?

[Dubster68]

After a lot of thinking I decided I could get the Technics M5G tonearm. One question - will it fit my MK2 tonearm base without any problems?
The answer to your question yes it will fit. I upgraded the wiring on my Technics mk2 arm. It was straight through Isokinetik litz cable from the head shell to the RCA plugs. I then shrink wrapped the arm tube and with all this it was a very good upgrade on the standard arm (Still debating selling or keeping it:scratch:). Moving up to the Jelco made a big difference again as it has an internal oil damper and in general its a lot better built. I love the Jelco with the 2M carts as it sings very well.

[mindarelus]

One of the improvements of the M5G arms is the wiring. If you are going to rewire it, why not just do the Mk.2?

I just edited my post. That's what I am wondering right now.

[1200reasons]

M5G is better than MK2 arm

To my understanding there are only 3 differences between the m5g arm and mk2 arm- matte finish rather than shiny (purely aesthetic), wiring upgraded from regular copper to OFC, the addition of a horizontal control weight, which is designed to be used in DJing and bypassed completely for home use.

The only "hifi" upgrade over the mk2 arm is the wiring. If you ever plan to use the KABUSA fluid damper you have to completely remove the horizontal control knob

With regards to screwing up the bearings on tonearm change- to my understanding there's no need to touch the bearings- just a few screws

[mindarelus]

To my understanding there are only 3 differences between the m5g arm and mk2 arm- matte finish rather than shiny (purely aesthetic), wiring upgraded from regular copper to OFC, the addition of a horizontal control weight, which is designed to be used in DJing and bypassed completely for home use.

The only "hifi" upgrade over the mk2 arm is the wiring. If you ever plan to use the KABUSA fluid damper you have to completely remove the horizontal control knob

With regards to screwing up the bearings on tonearm change- to my understanding there's no need to touch the bearings- just a few screws

It looks like it's also made from different material (titanium instead of aluminium) which is why it looks different. And this may also contribute to better sound performace. Although I'm not sure, that's why I ask which will be better:

1. M5G stock arm with no rewire
2. MK2 rewired with Cardas Tonearm Rewire kit.

Option 1 is more expensive than option 2. So the question is 1 or 2?

[chiz]

To my understanding there are only 3 differences between the m5g arm and mk2 arm- matte finish rather than shiny (purely aesthetic), wiring upgraded from regular copper to OFC, the addition of a horizontal control weight, which is designed to be used in DJing and bypassed completely for home use.

The only "hifi" upgrade over the mk2 arm is the wiring. If you ever plan to use the KABUSA fluid damper you have to completely remove the horizontal control knob

With regards to screwing up the bearings on tonearm change- to my understanding there's no need to touch the bearings- just a few screws
Yep, three screws to mount the arm although you do have to remove the feet, rubber base and resin insert to get to those three screws.

Another difference between the mk2 and 5g arms is the anti-skate range.

[mindarelus]

Another difference between the mk2 and 5g arms is the anti-skate range.

This is in case I change the entire arm with its base. I'm changing only the tonearm. Strange, no one knows if it offers any benefits besides the better cables inside?

[1200reasons]

I'm of the impression that the tonearm wands are the same- just with a different finish, but I'm not certain. They've got the same effective mass, for what it's worth.

No benefits aside from the wires, to my knowledge. Never done a side-by-side comparison. Perhaps contact KAB

[RickeyM]

I wouldn't change the stock tonearm, but I made a mistake, to loosen the top pillar of the tonearm bearings, and there is no way to bring it back to the factory settings - it's too sensitive, 0.5 microns as I know, so it's impossible to recalibrate.
Pity, because I did rewired the tonearm..

Can you post a pic or two of what you've done? With the knowledge base around here, I'd be surprised if someone could not help you get it squared away.

[mindarelus]

Can you post a pic or two of what you've done? With the knowledge base around here, I'd be surprised if someone could not help you get it squared away.

The bearings screws are factory calibrated. After this they are not supposed to be touched. I didn't know that. Now suspension of the arm feels different, it's like something is applying pressure, and something is not normal. I can feel it and hear it.
So the solution to me is change the tonearm, and I wonder between two options, since Jelco is too expensive for me at the moment.