Why Do 12" Tonearms Cost So Much More Than 9"?
For example, the Tri-Planar 12" arm is $3600 more than the 9" version. SME tonearms are similarly priced.
Is it really that much more costly to develop the longer tonearms?
Is it really that much more costly to develop the longer tonearms?
Showing 4 responses by elliottbnewcombjr
Being horrified by prices of 12" arms, and deciding, if I'm going long, I'm going LONG, JVC long arm 7082, terrific if rubber fixed, is actually only 11-1/8" Many 11-5/8" ... After searching, I found a 12.5" arm, love the simple physics, looks, price. No returns, from Russia, no "yeah, good choice" from anyone, put myself thru the wringer for months, finally decided to risk it (along with Square Trade Warranty). Not for the feint of heart, these guys don't believe in Din connectors, so you need to solder the tiny wires to the junction box they supply. The smallest delicate wires I have ever seen, Litz, silk coating, I thought a few strands, actually 37 strands, I still cannot believe it. I put it off, was going to find and pay someone, then "only thing we have to fear is fear itself", so I got my 30 power shop light and did it. I learned here how much more important alignment is for long arms, so I upped my tools and inspected my work repeatedly like someone else did it. I'm very glad I did it, only cost $850. plus tax and shipping, now they sell it for $950. https://www.ebay.com/itm/tonearm-tonarm-12-long-NewArtVinyl-BLACK-BIRD12-5-CARBON/233512433389?hash=item365e6cf6ed:g:CUMAAOSw86ZeXTqK text was english, now Russian, web site, english translation via Google http://newartvinyl.ru/ One thing about a long arm, for me, is that there is enough space between the arm base and the TT edge to locate this very nice auto-lift https://www.amazon.com/gp/your-account/order-history/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_od?ie=UTF8&ij=&opt=ab&ref_=&search=112-9890941-6780204 no room for one for my 9" arm. |
lewm my first thread here was asking about long arms https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/tt-12-tonearm-who-tried-and-ended-up-preferring-12-arm-2 then I asked specifically about the Blackbird 12.5 https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/12-1-2-arm-newartvinyl-black-bird-yea-or-nay and about the 9" arm I found https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/tonearm-acos-lustre-gst-801-yea-nay ....................................... chakster was involved, as I said, no one said 'good idea', chakster said NO, the only thing they make in Russia is military weapons. That definitely slowed me down. Next, Vlad, the Russian in Canada that sold me and Bill our large JVC Plinths, said he never recommends anything he is not personally familiar with. Months, nothing else excited me, finally I had to risk it. I discussed the specifics with Square Trade before I bought it and their 3 year warranty. Those tiny wires were quite a trial, now quite an accomplishment. If they would pre-wire to a din or mini-din connector, they would sell a lot more of them. Stubborn, they say they tried several, but like the sound without a din connector. I love this arm, very glad I risked it. |
Ikeda long only +10%, True, not much more at all compared to others in the thread. If you think the 9" is worth 7K. I love the look/design of the Ikeda arm, just have no way I can part with $7,500. I am thinking, wed is my 72nd birthday, in 3 years I will be 75, that would be quite a prize, let's see if I inherit some money I don't know about! Even then, found money, $7,500? |