View Full Version : Advice regarding tonearm for Technics SL1200 mk2.
Hi, I need your advice regarding the tonearm for the above model. I am thinking about Jelco 750 or Audiomods toneararm for technics with micrometer.
Please give me your wise advice or suggest any other tonearm. thanks
Bigman80
10-09-2018, 08:07
Hi, I need your advice regarding the tonearm for the above model. I am thinking about Jelco 750 or Audiomods toneararm for technics with micrometer.
Please give me your wise advice or suggest any other tonearm. thanksI've heard an Audiomods, It was good. Never heard a Jelco. Always seems to be one for sale somewhere.
The Audiomods doesn't have azimuth adjustment IIRC. That would bother me.
Sent from my VKY-L09 using Tapatalk
Vrajbasi
10-09-2018, 08:56
I have heard the cheaper and dearer Audionote arm on the technics against the audio mods both times I was very impressed, I think they are fairly priced for Audio Note at least and perform very well. The Audio Mods was a little faster while the Audio Note seemed deeper and a richness in the midrange together with a great bass. I have also heard a Kondo wired Sme Series IV out perform a Kondo wired Series V on the technics.
Thanks for your suggestions, My budget is roughly £600, so i am not looking at SME iv.
Hi,
Just curious.. What cartridge/s do you plan to use?
Regards
Currently i am using ortofon blue and in the future probably denon 103 or 110. thanks
Personally, I am not a fan of Rega based arms on the Technics.
I find that the arm lift lever is awkwardly placed.
Ammonite Audio
13-09-2018, 11:36
Personally, I am not a fan of Rega based arms on the Technics.
I find that the arm lift lever is awkwardly placed.
Also the arm’s lowest height is limited by the Rega’s arm rest, which projects over the Technics’ top plate, so perhaps not the easiest arm in terms of VTA adjustment on these decks. The same applies SME 309, IV and V arms.
It means the only option left is Jelco tonearm or i am missing something..
Spectral Morn
13-09-2018, 13:40
If the cartridge is average in body height and you are using a standard platter mat, then SME, Rega, Origin Live etc will all fit ok and sound good. I have tried all of these and the Jelco on a Technics 1200/1210.
Some don't like Rega derived arms on Technics 1200/1210 but I think they sound very good on them.
moodybuilder
13-09-2018, 16:06
I also like rega derived arms on the techie, I currently us a rb300 fully modded by jonnie from AO, and I have tried and owned several other arms but keep coming back to this one
walpurgis
13-09-2018, 16:59
Why does nobody mention that when set at the correct height on a Techie, Rega arms are an ergonomic pain in the arse? The arm lifter lever ends up too low and has to be scrabbled for, like this.
http://i63.tinypic.com/novolh.jpg
Wakefield Turntables
13-09-2018, 19:03
My first "proper" arm on my modded 1210 was the Michel Technoarm "A" which is the predates the Audiomods arm. I HATED it as a combination with my 1210, you did indeed have the dreaded problems with the arm lift but for me the arm just simply didn't gel. I later solved this problem by using a SME V.
I used a Mission 774 on mine before fitting a Fidelity Research 64FX to it.
Why does nobody mention that when set at the correct height on a Techie, Rega arms are an ergonomic pain in the arse? The arm lifter lever ends up too low and has to be scrabbled for, like this.
http://i63.tinypic.com/novolh.jpgHugo mentioned it a couple of posts earlier, well 4 actually [emoji6]
Edit: and cageyh mentioned it just before that too........ That better Kevin ? [emoji23]
Hugo mentioned it a couple of posts earlier, well 4 actually [emoji6]
In response to my post...
Why does nobody read threads properly? :eyebrows:
In response to my post...
Why does nobody read threads properly? :eyebrows:Oops I forgot you'd said it too, but seeing as I was scrolling from bottom to top on my phone I didn't get to your post when I saw Hugo's so I quoted his thinking that was where I'd read it earlier [emoji23]
So Rega arms or modified Rega arms by Audiomods, AO and Michelle Techno arms are not made for the Technics. What other tonearms shall i start looking? Thanks
walpurgis
14-09-2018, 07:55
Currently i am using ortofon blue and in the future probably denon 103 or 110. thanks
If you plan to use the Denon cartridges, you'd probably find the original standard Technics arm perfectly adequate, there's nothing actually wrong with it. It's probably worth trying out before considering arm changes. Just fit a heavyweight headshell.
The standard arm is like the rest of the turntable, it works very slickly and easily. You are less likely to get this with alternatives.
Thanks Geoff. I was thinking the same. What headshell would you recommend?
walpurgis
14-09-2018, 08:24
This Ortofon looks suitably rigid. Not tried one though. Whatever you buy, make sure it has elongated bolt slots for overhang adjustment as the arm does not provide this facility.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ortofon-LH-2000-Headshell-Turntable-Quality-Audio-Technica-MM-MC-Cartridge/232697613556?epid=28016553410&hash=item362ddbccf4:g:DEoAAOSwcGBaqRWE
And if you don't already have one, the Technics overhang gauge can be handy too. They are usually supplied with the turntables, but can be bought separately. It saves a whole lot of set-up messing around. Another good reason for sticking with the original arm.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TECHNICS-OVERHANG-GAUGE-SL-1200-SL-1210MK2-3-5-GENUINE-NEW-SFK0135-01/123350332334?epid=2254400975&hash=item1cb840b3ae:g:d14AAOSw1uRZt77P
.
Thanks Geoff. I have the overhang gauge..
Dubster68
14-09-2018, 19:24
The standard arm once modified is a pretty good. Loads of features other arms dont have. Get it rewired and damped internally with a shrink wrap to the outside of the tube I think you will be happy. A lot of people always slag it off but its mostly hearsay most of the time by people who have never used it. Yes a lot better is out there but to be honest you are not gaining by changing to a Rega arm. Trust me I have been there twice. Unless you are going to spend a lot of money on a tonearm its a cheap mod that I think you will be happy with.
Also the Ortofon headshell is good for the price.
Hi Mick, I already rewired it with cardas and changed the RCA cable as well. It sound great. i was just curious to change it to the other arm. probably will shrink the outside tube. thanks for the advice Mick.
Cycleallday
15-09-2018, 08:24
It means the only option left is Jelco tonearm or i am missing something..
The audiomods is not rega based - it does use a highly modified rega arm tube but everything else is made by jeff himself so ignore any coments regarding comparisons with rega arms.
My version five is currently fitted with a Dynovector Karat Mk2 but sounds great with a slightly warmer AT33 EV
Mel
Dubster68
15-09-2018, 17:41
The audiomods is not rega based - it does use a highly modified rega arm tube but everything else is made by jeff himself so ignore any coments regarding comparisons with rega arms.
My version five is currently fitted with a Dynovector Karat Mk2 but sounds great with a slightly warmer AT33 EV
Mel
In my comments I was referring to a standard Rega arm:D
moodybuilder
16-09-2018, 15:13
There's lots of choices Not just a jelco there's sme 3009s, fidelity research 54, Hadcock, mission 747 all of which are capable enough all down to personnel choice and rega although not overly popular on here, but the best arm I've heard on a techie was funk firms fx arm.
I am a fan of the Funk Firm arms, but with a budget of £600, you will be lucky to find one.
moodybuilder
16-09-2018, 19:47
I know you won't get one for that price, I was just stating a rega derived arm (fxr) that works well very well on a technics
Mine is a Technics based FXR, and I was lucky to find one within the OPs budget. ;)
moodybuilder
17-09-2018, 15:41
So yours is the technics arm with the upgraded bearing and the fx arm tube, I've seen and heard one of these and yes they work really well on the technics well worth looking for don't see many about though, mind you you don't see many funk arms for sale at all,
moodybuilder
17-09-2018, 16:12
There's a f5 on eBay finishes in 4 hrs for £350 never heard one on a technics but might be worth a punt
Mine is a Technics based FXR, and I was lucky to find one within the OPs budget. ;)
I just wondering how it looks. Can you upload some pics. thanks
There are some pictures here - https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?44567-A-new-cartridge-chez-Cagey&highlight=Fx-1200
moodybuilder
19-09-2018, 05:38
Also if you would like to see more pics just go to images in Google and put funk firm fxr technics sl1200, lots of images they are great arms, be lucky to find one second hand, good luck with what ever you decide.
Also if you would like to see more pics just go to images in Google and put funk firm fxr technics sl1200, lots of images they are great arms, be lucky to find one second hand, good luck with what ever you decide.
Thanks Phil.
There were not many FX1200s made, and I think mine is the only one that has been upgraded from the Carbon arm tube to the latest FXR arm tube.
Something like an F5 would be interesting to try as you can tune the arm for a wide range of different cartridges.
There were not many FX1200s made, and I think mine is the only one that has been upgraded from the Carbon arm tube to the latest FXR arm tube.
Something like an F5 would be interesting to try as you can tune the arm for a wide range of different cartridges.
What is the difference between F5 and FXR tonearms.
moodybuilder
19-09-2018, 17:58
CageyH whats the new arm tube made of i thought they were still carbon fibre.
Bikram the f5 which one is one ebay is the arm that comes on the LSD turntable, tit is completly different to the fxr as its completly made by funk firm not derived from any other arm there are many reviews on google about both arms, if you did get a F5 id love to know how it performs on the sl1200.
also i dont know what mat your using on your sl1200 but theresa acromat for the 1200 on sale on here for the very reasonable cost of 20gbp
CageyH whats the new arm tube made of i thought they were still carbon fibre.
Bikram the f5 which one is one ebay is the arm that comes on the LSD turntable, tit is completly different to the fxr as its completly made by funk firm not derived from any other arm there are many reviews on google about both arms, if you did get a F5 id love to know how it performs on the sl1200.
also i dont know what mat your using on your sl1200 but theresa acromat for the 1200 on sale on here for the very reasonable cost of 20gbp
I am using resomat at the moment.
CageyH whats the new arm tube made of i thought they were still carbon fibre.
Bikram the f5 which one is one ebay is the arm that comes on the LSD turntable, tit is completly different to the fxr as its completly made by funk firm not derived from any other arm there are many reviews on google about both arms, if you did get a F5 id love to know how it performs on the sl1200.
also i dont know what mat your using on your sl1200 but theresa acromat for the 1200 on sale on here for the very reasonable cost of 20gbp
I think it is metallic on the outside with carbon on the inside.
Aluminium tube with a carbon fibre X brace which runs the length of the arm I believe.
moodybuilder
24-09-2018, 05:55
Ok thank you, heard several with the cabon tube very good all of them.
Lordlidder
01-01-2019, 20:11
From personal experience i would keep saving,sell anything not needed,starve yourself if required to save money.( Hell even sell a kidney!!!) and just buy an sme 309 . If the lower quality option is taken you will probably wish to upgrade in the future.....why bother? Life's too short for hi fi regret! Regards Ben
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.