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Tonearm recommendation

Hello all,
Recently procured a Feickert Blackbird w/ the Jelco 12 inch tonearm.
The table is really good, and its a keeper. The Jelco is also very good, but not as good as my Fidelity Research FR66s. So the Jelco will eventually hit Ebay, and the question remains do I keep the FR66s or sell that and buy something modern in the 5-6 K range. My only point of reference is my old JMW-10 on my Aries MK1, so I don't know how the FR66s would compare to a modern arm. So I'd like to rely on the collective knowledge and experience of this group for a recommendation.

Keep the FR66s, or go modern in the 5-6K range, say a Moerch DP8 or maybe an SME.

Any and all thoughts and opinions are of course much appreciated.

Cheers,      Crazy Bill
wrm0325
salectric
747 posts
 
Analog Instruments Siggwan is a 12" unipivot well-suited to your cartridges.
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rauliruegas
12,786 posts
 
Dear halcro: """  The Market Place is never wrong. """

not really because what exist over the audio market is a high ignorance level and this is normal because customers ( like me. ), as in any kind of market , go for " the today fashion " with out ask before why that audio item is " a fashion " and a must to have.

All of us bought and buy " mistakes/errors " audio items and IMHO we have to learn from each one " mistakes ", as a fact that is an important part in our audio/music learning ladder. Of course exist audio people that does not cares about and are sticky till they " die ". Nothing wrong with that.

Now that you mentioned, I remember that DaVnci tonearm that was launched with huge shouts and trumpets and every one gone for it and everyone was satisfied with.
But things were that in that high price audio item you was/are not abble to make changes on azymuth that's is always a necesity in any cartridge for it can shows at its best.

The manufacturer explained why was/is not convenient  in its design  and if I remember was because a compromise with the rigidity or something like this.

Time latter when customers ans reviewers ask for that azymuth tonearm facility they changed and not only that but even ( against their rigidity argument. ) designed with removable headshell.

If I remember you was one of those satisfied customers.

DaVinci learned  ( as I said. ) from their own " mistakes " for not do it again.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.






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rauliruegas
12,786 posts
 
Dear jmwick: I'm not against but I don't be in favor of long tonearms that on playing status has more disadvantages that " theoretical " advantages. However I heard 5-6 times the " normal " Kuzma 4point and as its TTs is not only a very good design but very good performer that helps the cartridge to performs at high quality levels.

IMHO this is a today very good example of tonearm engineering that as I said works as a cartridge " slave " and not the other way around as the 66 and smilar items.

Btw, that Proteus is a " cartridge ".


Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,368 posts
 
I love my VPI 3D arm....easy to install..has every adjustment for your cartridge, is non resonant...what more could you ask
fleib
1,124 posts
 

The arm and cart work as a team and for the Rosewood and 103r you probably can't better the FR66s. If you want a mono cart, I suspect the same goes for the Miyajima Zero.  With a removable headshell it would be relatively easy to switch carts.

I was under the impression the Blackbird could accommodate 2 arms. I don't know what's involved, but that might be an option to add a lighter arm?

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