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New tonearm for Oracle Delphi

I have an old Oracle Delphi w Eminent technology 2 air bearing tonearm.  Works well.

I want to improve my sound.   

My question - does it make sense to upgrade the arm only to SME V, Schroeder, Kuzma or similar excellent arm.  Or should I sell the Oracle ET2 setup and buy a new table w arm like Technics SL-1200G or VPI Dragon or similar.

My main question about this - how do you figure out the best arm for an old table.  Nothing says the best tonearm from reviews will work best on my table.  I want to hear it.  Do dealers offer home loans of arm for evaluation?  Mounting plate???  Maybe trying to use arms on an existing turntable is unrealistic?

Budget - max $ 10k.

dcaudio
slaw's avatar
slaw
26,459 posts
 

You may want to inquire at Oracle about tonearm choices if interested in changing. Your tt may benefit from re-calibration and/or any current updates. The ET-2 arm is upgradeable.

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,688 posts
 

I would add to Steve excellent input of contact the OEM of reaching out to Brian Berdan of Audio Element in Pasadena, CA. His Dad Brooks ( RIP ) rightfully famous for developing modifications that greatly improved the original and follow on Oracle TT. Brian runs a very nice shop and likely knows what current arms work well including arm board support.

best in music to you

jim

 

dcaudio OP
104 posts
 

What I really want to do is take the table to a nearby dealer and try another arm or preferable a couple of arms on the table.  For a multi thousand purchase of a new arm - I would like to know what I am going to get after it is purchased.  Are there dealers that would take the time to let a customer test drive the arm in their table before purchase in their store or provide home loan.?

dcaudio OP
104 posts
 

Also Audio Element recommends the Triplanar arm for the Oracle Delphi , as SME V are no longer sold separately.

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