Natural Sound

The thing is, you have to document what the correct setting is, which is more than just the thickness of the LP. The cutting angle is also an issue, which is an approximation of 92 degrees since a good mastering engineer will set the actual cutting angle for lowest noise rather than simply 92 degrees.

I agree. What I’m trying to do now is to reduce the compromises. One could never account for every record unless he goes to the trouble of setting up each one and recording the settings. My first attempt is simply to set up two of the same arms and cartridges, one for thick and one for thin records. In the 20 or 30 records, I’ve listened to since I did this, the thick records sound the same because the arm cartridge set up remains the same and the thinner records all sound better. So the net result is positive. Of course it’s not perfect. It is easy though, because my table can accept for arms and one set up, no adjustment is needed. I just write the record weight on the sleeve of the record.
 
In Brinkmann I only like the balance, not the other models.

I don't have enought exposure to PC. the field coil arm seemed excellent at Mike's, I wasn't impressed with the non-FC arms. I must say all DDs look visually nice to me because of small footprint
That’s too bad. I’ve heard the balance switched back and forth with the bardo playing through the same system and speakers using the same tonearm and similar cartridges by the same manufacturer. I was going to buy the balance but was shocked by the bardo. The sound on the balance was flat and uninvolving. The bardo was lively and toe tapping. Given the similarities of platter material I can only put it down to drive mechanisms. I bought the bardo. I have a td124 and a micro seiki but the bardo is my reference.
 
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I just added a third NOS 3012R. Two arms with Ortofon cartridges for thick and thin records. The third arm has a vdH Colibrí.

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I got to admit I'm jealous of the ability that you have to easily A/B so many different variables. I have multiple arm wands for my VPI but I'm seriously thinking of permanently mounting a second / different style tonearm just for kicks.
 
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I was lucky to find a New Old Stock SME 3012R for sale. The age and colors match my other two arms. There were slight variations with some arm lift housings being black and different sized weights for the bias thread. The tonearm cable is also the same. These too changed over time. It was pretty cool to open the plastic bags and hold an arm that has not been handled since it was packed up at the factory. My guess is that it is from the late 1980s headed to the Japanese market. Everything works beautifully.

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I was lucky to find a New Old Stock SME 3012R for sale. The age and colors match my other two arms. There were slight variations with some arm lift housings being black and different sized weights for the bias thread. The tonearm cable is also the same. These too changed over time. It was pretty cool to open the plastic bags and hold an arm that has not been handled since it was packed up at the factory. My guess is that it is from the late 1980s headed to the Japanese market. Everything works beautifully.

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Nice find Peter ! :)
 
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