The SME 3012 series I is certainly a different animal than the following versions and with some rewiring a fine match for the 124, availability though can be an issue.
12" Tonearms for TD-124
Finally having my TD-124 Mk ii
re-habbed as well as having a slate plinth made to accommodate both 9" and 12" arms. I'll be using my 3009 Series II and need to choose a 12" arm.
The 3009 will generally have MM carts mounted to it (V-15 iii, Jico MM-1, AT 155LC). For now, on the 12" arm I'm planning on using a DL-103r and eventually some type of Mono cart.
The Schick seems like a good choice mechanically and aesthetically so I'm currently leaning in this direction.
For some, either the SME 3012 or M2-12R might seem like an obvious choice. Have also considered the Jelco. No experience with any of the Ortofon arms.
Any insights or suggestions?
re-habbed as well as having a slate plinth made to accommodate both 9" and 12" arms. I'll be using my 3009 Series II and need to choose a 12" arm.
The 3009 will generally have MM carts mounted to it (V-15 iii, Jico MM-1, AT 155LC). For now, on the 12" arm I'm planning on using a DL-103r and eventually some type of Mono cart.
The Schick seems like a good choice mechanically and aesthetically so I'm currently leaning in this direction.
For some, either the SME 3012 or M2-12R might seem like an obvious choice. Have also considered the Jelco. No experience with any of the Ortofon arms.
Any insights or suggestions?
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- 20 posts total
I used a Schick with my TD-124 using both a Denon 103R and Miyajima mono cartridge. It works ok but I encountered some noise issues with the Schick/Thorens combination, pretty much the same thing Art Dudley described in his review of the Schick. I used the Schick for a longer time on my Galibier table where it had no noise problems at all. Honestly, though, I don't think the Schick is a particularly good sounding arm. It looks nice, it's fun to use and certainly a good value, but I found the sound quality to be below the other arms I have owned. These others include a 12" Moerch DP-6, Triplanar VII-Improved, and a 12" Siggwan. I used each of these arms on both the Thorens and the Galibier, and I would rank the Schick below each of them. Also, the type of headshell used on the Schick has a major effect on its sound. |
Pani, Schick tonearm works great ONLY with low compliance cartridges, i have tried several modern MC of higher compliance (zyx, audio-technica) on my Schick and all of them sounded much better on technics EPA-100 tonearm from my arsenal. But low compliance cartridges works really great on Schick. The best result for me was vibtage Argent MC500HS cartridge + UltraCraft AS3PL headshell + Schick Tonearm. Also limited edition Ortofon SPU SPIRIT model. I was not happy about SPU Classic GMmk2, but it's just cartridge limitations, not the tonearm. Thomas Schick told me once that cartridge compliance must be under 22cu for optimal performance @10Hz i believe. The lowe compliance it better. As you can see on the puctures linked here http://www.hi-fi.ru/auction/detail/1026676 i even mounted my Technics EPS 100cMK3 MM on Schick and i was surpriced the sound was great, however it was retipped (and suspension repaired) by Axel in Germany. |
Many thanks to all of the fine folks that have made suggestions. The SME M2-12R and Ortofon RS-309D are now both serious contenders. I may have to reconsider my plinth orientation, however. It was initially my plan to copy OMA's TD-124 by mounting the 12" arm at the rear of the table and the 9" 3009/ll in the standard arm board spot. Aesthetically, it looks better to me this way, but functionally it might not be as convenient. |
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