GrooveMaster II Tonearms

[F456GTM]

Leif,

What loudspeakers do you use in your system?

Cheers,

Horacio

 

[wbass]

I was not talking about fancy plinths. Just compare the simple computer controlled router work, done in approximately two hours, in the photo I posted and the work done by Russ Collinson video or Carl Ellis, hundred percent hand crafted to perfection, sealed and lacquered plinths.

But the point is that you are satisfied with yours and that is what counts.

Cheers,

Sorry, I missed that you were talking about the Moldovan plinths, which I've not seen in person and seem solid and a bargain.

 

[F456GTM]

As I mentioned in a previous post the Moldova plinths are better than Acoustand, I had them both. The only problem it had was the position of the tonearm cut out.
I have no idea why people have this thing about why the arm should be central in its bed plate, SME designed the arm for this very situation so the correct mounting distance can be set.

It amazes me people mount the arm straight instead of pointing towards the spindle just so they don’t have to slide the arm forwards and they can mount it central.

Igor Smic of Moldova is a fantastic chap, he offered to send me another plinth at no charge but it did not sound right to me so I sold it.

He and his wife are incredible people, highly recommended.

 

[F456GTM]

Timestep tonearm [T609/610/612]. Identical to the Groovemaster. What's the story?

Timestep Tonearm T-609 T-610 T-612

For Sound HiFi often sold more SME tonearms that any other retailer in the world. However times change and they wanted a modern tonearm that would work well with the low compliance cartridges now in use. They also wanted lower bearing friction, silver wire as standard and absolutely no...

www.soundhifi.com

 

[wbass]

Per Hugo at Ammonite Audio (from whom I bought my Groovemaster 12-J), they're identical, yes. Here's an excerpt from an email exchange with Hugo. This is from a couple years ago.

"I am now the official UK dealer for both Groovemaster and Timestep tonearms, which will both be appearing alongside each other in my shop, priced the same. [...] I will be re-naming the Timestep arms, to avoid confusion. They will in future simply be known as Groovemaster-J tonearms, with the J denoting Jelco geometry, mounting and alignment. "