What does one consider to be the perfect elegant looking tonearm

[Vrajbasi]

Tonearms are interesting they can be a thing of beauty some can look rather clumsy and rather bulky. The same 3012r for me will always be a classic beauty as is the Ikeda 407 especially the new version. What are ones thoughts on this matter

[smangus]

Always liked the look of the Moerch ones especially the DP6, they look graceful, never heard one though.

[Vrajbasi]

Always liked the look of the Moerch ones especially the DP6, they look graceful, never heard one though.

I agree lovely sounding and looking tonearms especially the DP8

[AJSki2fly]

I rather like the look of the Reed 3P in gold


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[Beobloke]

SME 3009 S2 Improved with the fixed headshell. Just stunning, IMHO.

[walpurgis]

SME 3009 S2 Improved with the fixed headshell. Just stunning, IMHO.

Ha. You beat me to it! :)

[Vrajbasi]

I rather like the look of the Reed 3P in gold


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Nice arm I like the 5t even more for its technical look

[Vrajbasi]

Ha. You beat me to it! :)

Sme certainly was ahead of the game

[Ian7633]

I've always liked the look of the Linn Itok in a chunky but very well engineered way. The Alphason HR100 is a very elegant looking arm.

[walpurgis]

The Stax UA-7 is very elegant, but doesn't quite have the beauty of the SME.

[Frazeur1]

I have always loved the Naim Aro, maybe not so much elegant, but sleek and simple. I also have a fondness for the Well Tempered arms just for their quirkiness, but wonderful sound.

[Vrajbasi]

I like the chunky look. of the SAT tonearm a Sme series V on steroids also like the look of the Primary control tonearms for the opposite reasons. I also like the look of the Durand Tosca

[flapland]

The Audiomods Series V in matt finish is a lovely looking thing.

[topoxforddoc]

Thales Simplicity - elegant engineering masterpiece

[Audio Al]

Graham Phantom is my arm of choice :eyebrows:

[struth]

Artemis Labs TA-1

[Pigmy Pony]

Dynavector DV 507. Elegant it ain't, but I never claimed to have good taste.

[Jac Hawk]

SME 3009 has to be the one

[karma67]

lol this is the one time you wont hear geoff mention a mission 774 :lol:

[Barry]

If we are considering aesthetics alone and independant of audio performance qualities, then I would propose the Infinity 'Black Widow'

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IB4AAOSwFTVdPUtf/s-l1600.jpg

and the Audio & Design M9BA mercury contact unipivot

https://www.stereophile.com/images/styles/600_wide/public/967tone.promo_.jpg




Other arms which 'look right' to my eyes (and are arguably better performers) are those made by Breuer (especially the Type 8 Mk.III)

https://theartofsound.net/images/barrydhunt/013-4_zpsdfcefe68.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/mGi5A9xaSj4sROu5Bqd6Ce8lkMlucuBIzlLUuFQbnDr956Eags puoRWUWdEH_n0XlCbYJ0-MEoiwSVcu4Pzw4G1fqBR9uIt5M5vCs6Ohx8Qe5ykdLNUjpFwwp ppH8DkK0Q1uY2cTzkgQV66w_32QJQ_qtMREGypQMtw

and the Brinkmann arms (obviously influenced by the Breuer designs)

http://www.audioreference.co.nz/sites/www.audioreference.co.nz/files/imagecache/380wide/productimages/Brinkmann%2011%20tonearm.jpg

I like the look of all the SME 3000 series arms (with sole the exception of the III and IIIS) as well as the SME M2-12R

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/21-q1l4UE-L._AC_.jpg

and the Ortofon RMG309i

https://i.imgur.com/Jvl11Va.jpg

[Vrajbasi]

Davinci Vertu and gradezza

[martinjohn308]

I’ve had an Aro on my Stiletto LP 12 such a simplistic looking arm.

Regards,

Martin

[Barry]

Davinci Vertu and gradezza

https://www.dagogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/DaVinciAudioGrandezza-4.jpg

Good looking, but in general I dislike the use of wood in tonearms.

[Pigmy Pony]

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/21-q1l4UE-L._AC_.jpg[/img]
and the Ortofon RMG309i

https://i.imgur.com/Jvl11Va.jpg

I really like that Ortofon. Very nice. My current t/t was demo'ed with this arm and SPU. Looked great, sounded great (to my ears) but unfortunately out of my reach.

[struth]

https://www.dagogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ArtemisTA1-2.jpg:eyebrows:

[alcarmichael]

This:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200618/387144b1d9bbab14dc5e0fedb8f868b6.jpg


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[Haselsh1]

Alphason HR100S MCS.

[antonio]

https://www.dagogo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ArtemisTA1-2.jpg:eyebrows:

That's a very nice looking arm Grant, are you keeping us in suspense on what it is?

[struth]

That's a very nice looking arm Grant, are you keeping us in suspense on what it is?

ha, i mentioned it earlier ..sorry its an Artemis Labs TA-1

[Ammonite Audio]

This:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200618/387144b1d9bbab14dc5e0fedb8f868b6.jpg


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All things being well and before long, there should be a rather elegant s-shaped variant of this 9" tonearm, with a more compact counterweight that will be compatible with the lids of most turntables.

[paulf-2007]

The Stax UA-7 is very elegant, but doesn't quite have the beauty of the SME.
Stax UA-70 has longer legs

[PeteT]

This Micro Seiki MA505 is rather stylish IMO...
And still sounds great 42 years after purchase. [emoji4]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200622/88a024e67378a1cab3606f6a30b3acfc.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200622/c6f7b12f139b175f99f085d200d1e1ae.jpg

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[Beobloke]

This:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200618/387144b1d9bbab14dc5e0fedb8f868b6.jpg


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No, sorry. It’s a great arm but it just looks wrong!!

[Barry]

It not only looks wrong (obviously based on the EMT 997 12" arm), but doesn't have the vertical bearings arranged to be at right angles to the stylus cantilever.

(But it took SME a couple of decades to correct that mistake, if only to repeat it with the M2 series.)

[alcarmichael]

No, sorry. It’s a great arm but it just looks wrong!!

That’s your opinion. I love the look of it. [emoji6]


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[walpurgis]

That’s your opinion.

Mine too I'm afraid.

(well actually no, I'm not afraid of anything :))

[alcarmichael]

Not even Trump supporters?

[337alant]

Another vote for the Micro Sieki MA-505

https://live.staticflickr.com/1734/42632446682_a9df838eed_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/27Xhr7b)20180607_220656 (https://flic.kr/p/27Xhr7b) by Alan Towell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan

[PeteT]

Another vote for the Micro Sieki MA-505

https://live.staticflickr.com/1734/42632446682_a9df838eed_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/27Xhr7b)20180607_220656 (https://flic.kr/p/27Xhr7b) by Alan Towell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

AlanThe same but not quite... Have to say I love mine with the Denon 304 (just retipped at Expert Stylus). Is that an extra wieght you're using..?

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[337alant]

The same but not quite... Have to say I love mine with the Denon 304 (just retipped at Expert Stylus). Is that an extra wieght you're using..?

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Pete
Yeah with the Ortofon headshell, spacer and Denon DL103r I couldnt balance it out so I added extra weight
Its only stainless steel washers superglued together, I will have to get round to getting a weight made

Alan

[Columbo]

Paul McCartney's, apparently.

Now that's an arm - to lust after:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200628/627e44621123ed79487e9368e1956b9d.jpg