New arm for TW Acustic Raven one


Some advice ladies and gentlemen. I have used the Raven one, the earliest model by the company, since 2008 I believe. I have been using the Ortofon 309D tonearm for most of that time, a good partnership I think. It was recommended this by Thomas the tables designer, if I couldn't afford the Phantom, which I couldn't.

The Ortofon wasn't new when I bought it, now it is failing and the company no longer support maintenance on their arms. So what arm to get now.? I have retired, so am on a tight budget, putting most arms including TW Acustic's own, out of my reach. One answer would be to find a second hand Ortofon, but any other suggestions please, preferably one I can find second hand? Thanks

david12

Showing 4 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

what are your priorities?

fixed cartridge or removable headshell?

9", anything longer, definitely want 12"?

seems you want/need a 3 hole surface mounted plate like my Mission and my Blackbird which they refer to as ’linn/jelco’,

your 309D’s mounting details from this site. effective length 329mm nearly 13"

 

Ortofon RS-309D Technical data: (12”)

Effective mass (without headshell) - 4.0 g

Effective length (distance between the stylus and pivot point) - 329 mm

Recommended Mounting distance between the pivot point and turntable center: Ortofon Denmark - 314 mm for conventional cartridges and (SPU G) and 316.6 mm p-to-s for Baerwald alignment Geometry. Ortofon Japan recommends a 311 mm p-to-s.

Offset angle - 19 degrees

Overhang - 15 mm

Tracking force adjusting range (direct reading) - 0-5 g

Height adjustment range - 42-57 mm

Diameter of the armbase mounting hole - 34-36 mm

Diameter of the center shaft - 16 mm

Fixing holes PCD - dia. 50 mm

Size/Thread - dia. 3.2 mm (dia. 3 mm x 20 mm and dia. 3 mm wood screw)

1 x Digital scale DS-1 included

1 x Headshell SH-4 Black included, headshell weight 9.4 g, screws weight 2 g

1 x Tonearm cable included

1 x Mounting template included

How much are you able to do yourself? i.e. enlarge the diameter of the hole in your existing mounting plate? tap new threaded holes in the mounting plate?

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I can only recommend what I personally know about. I wanted a long arm, also keep cost down, found, waited, couldn’t forget about it, took a chance and love this 12.5" effective arm. $1,100. usd plus .....

http://newartvinyl.ru/board/detali_proigryvatelja/tonarm_black_bird12_5_5pin/7-1-0-53

Buying anything from Russia now seems wrong, yet I doubt these guys are responsible for Putin’s immoral aggression.

It’s not removable headshell, but it’s removable mounting plate is much easier than most fixed arms. Overhang and null points adjustments very easy.

They will make a spacer below the base plate if needed for any additional height. I needed 3/8" thick to get high enough for my JVC TT81 spinner which is high above my deck.

Note: I highly recommend the above 5 pin DIN connector above the deck. They also make it with the litz wires un-soldered, also above the deck (my early version). You need a junction box for that, and soldering skills. Go DIN!

http://newartvinyl.ru/board/detali_proigryvatelja/tonarm_black_bird12_5_carbon/7-1-0-41

 

 

 

 

 

I have the 9" Mission version of this 12" Jelco (Jelco made it for Mission). They use Linn/Jelco mount. Removable headshell

 

vinylengine

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/jelco/sa-750l.shtml

Some have surface mounted screws. The one above looks to have threaded holes for machine screws from below. My Mission came like that, I drilled my holes all the way thru and used wood screws from the top into my wood deck.