One turntable with two arms, or two turntables with one each - which would you prefer?
Which would you prefer, if budget allowed: one turntable with two tonearms or two turntables with one each? What would your decision criteria be?
And the corollary: one phono preamp with multiple inputs or two phono preamps?
Assume a fixed budget, but for the purposes of this question, the budget is up to the responder. Admittedly for this type of setup, there will be a sizeable investment once all components of the chain are factored in.
I'm curious to hear how people would decide for themselves the answer to this question. Or maybe you've already made this decision - what do you like about your decision or what would you differently next time?
Cheers.
@thekong I don't have a multi-armed TT, but it sure seems like the unused arms could pick up airborne vibrations and transmit them to the plinth. I always wondered why this is rarely, if ever, discussed. |
@noromance Brian, you are very kind. Hopefully you are enjoying the warm glow of tubes in great health. Perhaps i shall return in some depth…after close of fishing….. perhaps…. Jim |
wmorrow I've seen Steve at VAS change his beloved Uni-Pivot arms on his VPI. It seems easy, until .... change arm: pull out mini-din connector from the VPI junction box: that mini-din connector now dangling from delicate tonearm wires. Simply lift arm up, put down in safe location. Pick up spare arm from safe location, with alternate cartridge pre-mounted, pre-aligned. Place on the arm base spike, plug in it's mini-din connector. NOW, cartridge body height might be different, reset VTA as you mentioned. Cartridge weight likely different, it's recommended tracking force probably different, and thus anti-skate should be re-adjusted. VPI arms used to skip anti-skate, they said "put a twist in the wire" from tonearm to junction box (oh that's precise), then they started making aftermarket anti-skate devices, VPI now offers them
I have changed arms on my friend's Technics B500 base, no delicate wires involved. Changing a headshell with pre-aligned cartridge, then the same VTA/Tracking Force/Anti-Skate is needed. Second or 3rd arms, very carefully aligned, ready to go is much preferred if alternate cartridges are used. A true Mono cartridge DOES make a difference, slight or a lot, varies |
