Recommend me a new 12" tonearm

[Oldpinkman]

I won't see him till February (maybe late February) but I'll ask. His focus on overseas, and consequent lack of UK dealers does him no favours, and leaves me feeling a lonely loony on a forum like this.

I know he is more likely to have spare "soiled" F5's than brand spanking new F3's (the arm in the picture). Compliance isn't an issue - apart from the variable effective mass on FX3 and F5, just add weight at the headshell if you have a low compliance cartridge. If you need a mass loading I could probably get grumpy to supply a headshell weight too. Remind me after the tax returns are in.

[The Barbarian]

If i were to buy a 12" it would deffo be a SME '3012R'

[Barry]

I would rather have the SME M2-12R

http://www.sme.ltd.uk/content/Series-M212R-1536.shtml

[The Barbarian]

I totally dislike the aesthetics of that arm

[anubisgrau]

depends how much you want to part with.

the best overall player for me is kuzma stogi 4P, i think it's 10.5" but nevertheless absolute cutting edge performance, musical, forensic, detailed, full of grip, transients, energy dynamics. not sure how much it is in the UK.

you are almost there with stogi S12 VTA.

also plain stogi S12 sounds great but i dislike handling. even 9" is too wobbly for me. one has to be really careful with it.

another great 12" arm is reed, not sure which one i listened but i guess they all work. a beautifully voiced, almost lyrical in presentation.

[Barry]

I totally dislike the aesthetics of that arm

They're no worse than that of the 3012R.

[The Barbarian]

They're no worse than that of the 3012R.

Your having a laugh right?

[Barry]

Your having a laugh right?

No!


SME 3012R arm

vs.


SME M2-12R arm

[The Barbarian]

You been on the Vino or summert Barry?

[Barry]

You been on the Vino or summert Barry?

Not yet!