12-inch tonearm options

**oldius** · 13-01-2013, 20:28

Originally Posted by surayne

As it should, for over £2,000! Lovely-looking arm, I must say. It is a unipivot, isn't it?

It's a captured unipivot with carbon fibre arm tube. Sorry I didn't see the budget guide but I understand the ace space is a great arm and could be within budget 2nd hand.

**surayne** · 13-01-2013, 21:03

Originally Posted by Mr Kipling

Could you not convert an old Hadcock?

Could I? How so?

**hifi_dave** · 13-01-2013, 22:29

Originally Posted by Jonboy

Without trying to be rude i should hope it should sound very good at that price and way over budget for the op request

There's not a lot of choice for a 12 inch arm within that budget, so it's bound to be s/hand.

**surayne** · 13-01-2013, 22:37

Originally Posted by hifi_dave

There's not a lot of choice for a 12 inch arm within that budget, so it's bound to be s/hand.

Which is perfectly fine... I'm just trying to get an idea of what might be out there!

**RobbieGong** · 13-01-2013, 22:43

Micro Seiki did some lovely and rated arms. I recently bought a vintage MA 202 and it is simply superb on my Techie, comes with on the fly vta which is also a great touch to have. This arm also comes in a long version (MA 202L) I believe it is 252mm so not quite the 12inches you're after but longer than standard tonearm length - There's one here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICRO-SEIK...a#ht_779wt_958 in top order. A no brainer for an arm of this pedigree at this price, doubt you'll be dissapointed - Btw, I can vouch for the seller whom I puchased by MA 202 from.

**BTH K10A** · 14-01-2013, 06:15

Within your budget I would look for a Denon DA-308. They usually go for between £300 to £500 on ebay.

**Marco** · 14-01-2013, 07:08

Good suggestions, but what you have to watch with these vintage arms is the condition of the bearings, which sometimes are seized with age, (and the often rather piss-poor internal wiring and arm cable supplied, which can cause it's own problems)...

Therefore, don't be surprised when your vintage tonearm arrives if it needs a trip to Johnny, at Audio Origami (or Dom at NWA), before it's performing at its best, so factor that cost into the equation, or in fact if it even works at all!

Marco.

**Dominic Harper** · 14-01-2013, 08:06

I will be offering a SME 3009 to 3012 conversion in the near future. This will include ebony isolation instead of the rubber parts usually fitted, brass counterweights and solid silver int wiring. I just need to get some counterweights made and I'm good to go. New arm wands are made of stainless steel.
The donor arm does need to have detachable headshell.

**surayne** · 14-01-2013, 10:36

That's very interesting, Dom. What sort of cost are we looking at? PM me if you prefer.

I've just come across an SME309 at a decent price. How would this compare to a Jelco 750L or the other "budget" 12" arms mentioned? Should one go for a better 9" arm or a perhaps less well made 12"?

**Dominic Harper** · 14-01-2013, 10:42

PM sent

Thread: 12-inch tonearm options

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