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In Reply to: RE: Technics 1200 tonearm posted by Gera on June 22, 2017 at 13:13:36
I've been using a KAB modified Technics SL-1200MK5 for many years. It has the stock tonearm with optional dampener and Cardas rewire. My favorite cartridge for routine LP and 45 playback is the Concorde, for which I have four styli: D25M, 20, 30, and 40. I've also used a very high compliance Soundsmith SMMC2 and low compliance Stanton 500 (for 78 playback), a wide range that the tonearm handles beautifully. Altogether, I have about fifteen cartridges of various makes ready for use and of course the removable headshell is a huge plus in that regard.
I won't argue the point made by flood2 that a conventional headshell & 1/2" mount cartridge would allow a finer degree of alignment adjustment. I own a couple Ortofon OM bodies but I cannot find any significant improvement with them versus the Concorde. I've also experimented with different alignment schemes and keep coming back to the Concorde or using the standard Technics quick & easy method of using the white overhang gauge with conventional headshells.
Overall, two thumbs up for the Technics tonearm, particularly with the aforementioned mods.
Follow Ups:
The Technics arm is an excellent design and very well made for the price that it goes for.
With respect to my preference for the 1/2in mount bodies....It's more about the flexibility you get with the 1/2 inch mount bodies more than anything else. I know that Kevin was always a fan of the Stanton Groovemaster bodies as well as the Concorde not only for the convenience (which I won't deny!) but because he felt that the direct coupling to the arm was preferable. I wouldn't argue with him on that, except that you are dependent on the accuracy to which the arm mount was set and the accuracy of the positioning of the two arm tube mounting holes which define the total effective length. Another far less important aspect is that you are stuck with the Technics alignment which is perfectly good as a Universal alignment for all record sizes, but limiting nonetheless for anyone interested in optimising the alignment for their preferred record collection.
I love the flexibility that a removable headshell arm design gives - I designed a jig that allows me to set up cartridges for any of 4 different optimisations - one of them for 10" and 7" records only to an inner radius of 52mm. It certainly makes for an improvement in the sound quality and shows that the arm is capable of a very high standard of performance.
Regards Anthony
"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats
Got a 1200 as a hand me down, a couple years back.
Never could get the thing to outsound my venerable Thorens.
So I took it to bits. Why not.. It didn't please me in the least.
Did discover that it's mfg wasn't exemplary.. and that goofy arm was clearly for looks as it's one very heavy contraption.
Frankly I don't understand the 'lore' on these
But then some love Edsels too.
One mans' trash is another mans' treasure.. clearly.
Edits: 06/29/17
".. and that goofy arm was clearly for looks as it's one very heavy contraption"
If you couldn't get yours to sing, it is likely that you had a combination of set up faults and/or issues with the motor control. Given the platter control stability with the SL1200 is already superior to many belt drives costing far more, the majority of complaints about the sound are almost certainly down to alignment faults on the part of the user. Unless you have the right tools for the job, no turntable will sound good if you haven't got the alignment of the cartridge correct... no matter how expensive the equipment - the most expensive cartridge in the world will still sound like s@!%.
I'm puzzled by your determination of the arm being "heavy". The effective mass of the arm (12g) is lower than many arms of the period including Thoren's own arms some of which were 16g. Remember that the effective mass is determined by the inertia of the system when you have the counterweight and headshell/cartridge installed at the desired VTF. The bearing friction is also very low. The only point I would agree is that the variances with the Technics headshell and arm construction and positioning mean that most people wouldn't be getting the best out of the system because arm height and geometry would be screwed up. However, if one has the right tools and the know-how, the SL1200 handily beats very expensive "so-called" audiophile decks into a pulp!
BTW I presume if you think the arm is goofy....then you would think all non-straight arm tubes are goofy? Like the SME3009?
I can assure you that the sound from a properly set up SL1200 with stock arm is anything BUT goofy!
Regards Anthony
"Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty.." Keats
It sounds like you got one of the crappy 1200s. I was lucky and got one of the good ones.
Oh, well. Such is life!
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