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Developing A List Of Tonearm Candidates For A SOTA Turntable

So this month i sent my SME V off to a new home, and that leaves my SOTA armless. My other table has a schroder CB-1L on it and I have run either an Ortofon Verismo or Transfiguration Proteus on it. I did put both those same cartridges on the SME on the SOTA and it always had a disappointing presentation of harmonics and texture. A monochromatic sound could be the best description I have. Time for another arm.

The SOTA armboard restricts the type of arm that can be installed. The arm types that have a VTA tower and separate pivot point take up too much real estate to fit. So fitting something like a Wheaton, Reed, or Durand does not seem possible. I wondered about elevating the arm board so its level with the top plate, but I am not sure if there is enough room for the want to pivot without removing the dust cover. It is a possibility, but I wonder how it effects the travel of the suspension. and if there are unintended consequences. I have yet to read about any SOTA owners doing this.

So I am trying to put together a list of candidates. I do know some folks appreciate the Origin Live arms, but I am not very well versed in their lineup. I have wondered about the Groovemaster arms also. I have looked at the Moerch, but its kind of a fiddly thing. The point is the table is on the sidelines at the moment because there is no arm in place. I typically shop the used market, but I can be patient and wait for the right arm to come along. The benefit of having more than one table i guess. 

Anyone else have any suggestions. Appreciate your thoughts and experiences.

neonknight
wrm57
991 posts
 

FWIW, I had a Clearaudio Universal arm on an Innovation Wood for a few years. It was a delight to use and did nothing seriously wrong but I never cottoned to it all that much, always finding it a touch lean or metallic. I had a Phantom II on the same two-armed table and preferred it, even before an upgrade to Supreme. I also preferred the Triplanar VII uii I had an another turntable.

Ortofon just released a new line of arms that look very nice and supposedly have some upgrades over their discontinued Jelco-made arms (which actually sound pretty darn good, especially for the money), although I’m not certain exactly what, other than an improved bayonet mounting collar. They look more substantial. Not especially purist, though, with removable headshell and DIN connector, so quite unlike your Schroeder.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,262 posts
 

@neonknight  I have a method and it takes me only 10 minutes to change cartridges once they are set up for the first time. All it requires is a WallySkater and a stylus force gauge. Each cartridge gets its own mounting plate. They are set up initially with a SmarTractor and the plates are marked with a fine Sharpie so I can return them to the exact same position every time. The VTA scale reading is recorded for each cartridge. Azimuth stays the same throughout. I must add that the WallySkater is a must with magnetic anti skate mechanisms. I set all modern styluses like your Replicant 100 to 11%. 

The Enterprise is a well designed arm. The only thing I do not care for is the anti skate mechanism. I personally think the Kuzma is a better arm even if it is ugly as sin. Check out the Clearaudio Magnify arm. I am very tempted to try this one. It is a brilliant design with all the features I demand in an arm. Like the CB it is deceptively simple. It will fit on the SOTA like an Italian driving glove. The Universal is probably too heavy for the SOTA.  

j-wall's avatar
j-wall
355 posts
 

@wrm57 thanks for the experience with the Clearaudio Universal. I'm with @neonknight that you really don't hear much about the Universal. I run one now and am very happy with it due to the flexibility of cartridges and weights it can take to change compliance and just all of the features Clearaudio has for keeping a customer with upgrades.

I've always wondered how people view the Universal. I'm having an itch and was curious about testing out a different arm on my Ovation. Kuzma 9" or just be happy with the Universal. 

 

lewm
12,624 posts
 

Mijo, you mean it fits like OJ’s glove?

dover
2,199 posts
 

Mijo, you mean it fits like OJ’s glove?

Yes, but it will murder the sound.

From all reports the Magnify has stability issues on flexible floors. Been a bit of a disaster.

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