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Top 5 Tonearms Newer or Vintage Under 2500 That Will Beat anything above/below 2.5k?

From all your tonearm experiences trials errors comparisons etc is there a Top 5 tonearm list that are known for their musical superlatives in all music ranges and genres? including finer detail nuances feeling, 3d sound but also deep bass and midbass, basspunch. Airy highs. And importantly long hours listening without fatigue.
The criteria also to be met are easy setups for all angles vta vfa azimuth anti skating etc 
The Tonearm must also the ability to use more than just one or two cartridge compatibility.

Probable Turntables to be Used: Garrard 301/401, Lenco, Linn, Thorens 124, Technics 1100 1200 10 or 15. 

Heres the list i compiled of ToneArms to pick from.
Feel free to mention others.

  • Tw Raven, D Talea, Graham 2.2/phantom, Moerch, Origin Live, Vpi, 
  • AudioMods

  • Clear Audio, Stax, Rega, Technics 500/1000, Sumiko, Alphason, Black Widow, One unipivot, Saec, Clear Audio, Basis Vector, Triplanar

  • Origin Silver, Rega 9, Linn Ittok, Project, Technics 500/1000,
  •  Alphason, Audio Technica, Dynavector 507

    Grace, Mission, Grado, Ortofon, EMT, Thorens Tp,
  • ESL, Sme 3012, Sme 3009, Sme V, IV,

  • Schroeder, Kuzma, Eminent, Ikeda, Breuer, 
    Stax, Kenwood 007 arm, Sonys top Arm, Artemis
vinny55
vinny55 OP
259 posts
 
Thank you all. Have any of you tried Graham and Raven?
terry9
2,210 posts
 
Trans-Fi Terminator. I suspect the greatest bargain in audio at $1K. Uses standard parts and clever engineering instead of intricate machining.

Air bearing, adjustable, repeatable, made to mod. What's not to like?
dorkwad
534 posts
 
Had an Origin Live Silver II arm that was very nice sounding, a Trans-Fi Terminator with all the upgrades that was even better, and now have Pete Riggle Woody that sounds extremely fine.  It lists for almost double what a TF costs new, however and the TF is about $300 more than the OL-S at list prices.  Very hard to find a TF used as apparently most owners are keeping them.  Used all 3 with several different cartridges--Soundsmith Level 2 Shelter 501 Mk II, Music Maker III, Benz Micro Ruby 3, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood.  All 4 cartridges sounded good with each arm, but were a little better with the TF vs. the OL.  The Benz was the best sounding of the lot.  The Woody is also next to impossible to find on the used market as their owners love this arm.  Probably NO easier to adjust arm in every parameter--most of the key adjustments are on the fly with it.  No tools needed to adjust anything--just your fingers.  Not quite as fancy as a Reed, but very close in sound.  I have a heavily modified Lenco with most of the Jean Nantais upgrades.
audiotomb's avatar
audiotomb
1,112 posts
 
A used Triplaner MkVII
audiotomb's avatar
audiotomb
1,112 posts
 
Good luck finding a Durand Talea for $2,500

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