Turntable replacement tonearm

[Priapulus]

I'd like to replace the tonearm on my Acoustic Research "The Turntable": budget about $500- $1,000. I can handle the machining/installing, but have no idea which arm to get. Someone suggested the SME M2 - 9 tonearm:

www.smetonearms.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=79

Is there an egroup/list specializing in turntables & rebuilding where I should ask?

Thanks... 

[lionear]

If you use a moving magnet cartridge that tracks well, then you can pretty much use any arm. I'd strongly recommend getting one that allows you do to VTA adjustments because that can make a huge difference to the sound. I'm sure all the SME arms allow for that. However, a number of arms (like early versions of the Rega RB-300) did not.

Arms need to be matched to cartridges. MC cartridges need relatively heavy effective mass arms while MM cartridges can have very low effective mass arms.

I just saw this:
www.ebay.com/itm/SME-Series-III-w-all-the-papers-barely-used-taken-from-Thorens-TD126-MkIII-great-/171195899241
and I'd grab it right away.

I found the SME III to be superior to the 3009. Faster and more neutral. Very low effective mass which meant it could sail through warps. However, you need a high-compliance (MM) cartridge. A friend who used a Koetsu Rosewood on an Alphason arm was very envious of how cleanly the SME tracked even the most demanding tracks on a test LP.

I would not use the putty between cartridge and arm. I'd mount the cartridge directly.

[Priapulus]

> I just saw this:
> www.ebay.com/itm/SME-Series-III-w-all-the-papers-barely-used-taken-from-Thorens-TD126-MkIII-great-/171195899241 and I'd grab it right away.

Thanks for the heads up, I bought it!

Any recommendations for a cartridge, up to $500? I have an XSP-1. I guess that tonearm really wants a high compliance '70s MM cartridge, like the Shure V15 III.

[lionear]

Wow! That was quick. Congratulations!

I used to own the Benz Micro MC-20E but I think this has been discontinued. That was a fantastic cartridge.

My suggestion is to also check out Clearaudio. www.needledoctor.com/Clearaudio-Concept-V2-MM-Phono-Cartridge?sc=2&category=367
I have heard one of their MC cartridges and the soundstage and dynamics are incredible.

PS: I'd suggest getting a good interconnect cable to run between the SME and your preamp. If I remember correctly, the stock SME cable wasn't very good. There's no need to change the internal arm wiring.

[sidvicious]

That SME 3009 that was suggested is an excellent Arm, but out of the $1000 price range. Clear Audio makes excellent arms as well. If you want to go cheap and still good everyone uses Rega's Arms and the bearings are good starting price, Rb-303, $595. If you are concerned with VTA you would have to make some adjustment to the arm board there was a Rega VTA adjuster (by another company, but you had to un-screw the arm and turn the dial at had one on my previous Rega P3-24. The only problem with any of these is getting the correct arm-board or if you are willing you could make one. The one on ebay is good as well. The arm you are looking at is very good as well and it looks to be better than the Rega one and the one on ebay, look at specs and tolerences before making the decision.