Tone arm suggestions for a Garrard 401

kensell21

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2013
1
0
231
Hi all,

I been told there's room on my plinth for a second arm. Only room for a 9" maybe 10" arm.

ATM I have a 12" 750L Jelco arm. With the possible carts Denon 103 with ESC mods. Benz Micro Wood SL, Benz Micro Ace Mono, also a Ortofon 78 cart for a recent gift from my dad of his 200 or so collection of shellac

My initial thinking was to have the mono cart on the second arm.. With a maybe a occasional change over 78 play..

But...

Someone suggested that I should have both carts on the best arm I can afford? So the question arises, should I buy the same arm for both carts?? Doesn't sound the most cost effective way does it....

As I have another deck, a Gyrodec currently with a SME IV, someone said perhaps keep the mono cart on the Garrard and just play stereo on the Gyrodec... But that seems rather restrictive. This refutes the suggestion earlier to have the best arm possible... Then doesn't that mean I should have the best deck I can afford rather than two decks? then that begs the question which goes, then should I sell both and get the best deck I can afford for the carts I own??? It would never end..

ATM I'd still like to keep the Garrard but I'm not sure about the Gyrodec..
I could take the SME IV off the gyro and use it as a second arm on the Garrard..

My budget for a arm might depend on whether I go for a second arm or one main one.. I have already been offered a Graham 2.2 with a second wand...

Someone suggested to get a Dynavector arm which will be easy to change carts quickly.

Any suggestions to help me think this through would be great..

thanks...
 

audioarcher

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2012
1,396
51
970
Seattle area
I think it depends on how often you listen to mono and 78's. If it's quite often then having three arms would be much less hassle. Even with multiple arm wands on the Graham you will have to readjust VTF and VTA for each different wand/cart combo. On the other hand if you would rather have max performance for the cart you use most it would be better to consolidate and buy the best stuff you can.
 

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