Tonearm...which one?

[waynej4]

Hi All,

I'd like some advice regarding tonearms. Looking to spend between £500-600. I have a shortlist of the following and my thoughts....

Hadcock GH242 - Not heard this, has good reviews and a reputation of being fragile (?).

Origin Live Silver - Again,not heard it and has good reviews. Looks like a customised Rega to me (is it worth so much more?!!).

I currently have a Rega RB300 on a technics deck. I have tried the SME3009 and did not like it, so have not given a thought to any in the SME range.

Some have mentioned the Schroders, but slightly out of my price range!!

Any thoughts on what would be an ideal arm on the Garrard 301?

[Shian7]

If it were my money I'd be looking for the Hadcock. Which strangely enough, is exactly what I will be looking for in the near future .

The Origin Live looks like a modified Rega because thats exactly what it is!

Mike.

[colin.hepburn]

Hi Wayne
you may be interested in this arm some of the members here have one its befo an interesting arm an air bearing job take a look http://www.trans-fi.com/evolutiontonearm.htm

[Ianm2]

hadcock, its not fragile, just looks a bit less substantial, had one, great arm.

[skippingjack]

I can't comment on the hadcock as I haven't heard one, but the I use an origin live silver mark 2 with my sp10 and have been very impressed with it (plus there's not all of the mucking about that seems to be par for the course with unipivots).

Despite looking similar as far as I am aware the only thing that the mk2 silver shares with the rega arms is the tonearm lift.

If you're anywhere near some decent hi-fi dealers I would try and audition both. I don't know what sort of plinth your using for the garrard but if you can knock somw cheap armboards I would and just see which you like best.

On a different note, second hand might be worth a punt. I haven't tried any of these myself but the Zeta, mission mechanic and alphason HR100 would all hit your budget. Just a quick thought what about a roksan artemiz? It's a unipivot with rega mounting dimensions, get it secondhand try it and if you disliked just chuck it back on ebay and get your money back.

Anyway rambling missive over, hope it's useful.

Alex

[waynej4]

Hi All,

thanks for the feedback. It looks like there are a few other options out there to look into, namely Alphason, Roksan and the air bearing arm.

Not sure about the air one though. Is it a practical solution, e.g. is it not noisy? and more work involved regarding connecting a pump, switching it on prior to using the turntable, or am I just being lazy?! I remember reading the review for this in Hi-Fi World and it got 4/5 globes.

At the moment I am leaning towards the Hadcock.The feedback on this forum regarding this arm seems very positive, and I read the 6moons review which seems to indicate it is an ideal partner for non-suspended chassis.

But I'm fickle, so can be easily swayed!!

[Gerry]

I'm not so keen on the Haddock. Never got it to sing and found it fiddly.
I like uni-pivots and use Grace G940s.
For that money there is the SME 309 to consider.
Also Fidelity Research FR-64fx....fantastic arm.


Regards

[Black Stuart]

Waynej4,
why not look on German Ebay and buy a Kenwood KD series TT that comes with an excellant gimbal arm - around E400-450 (£277-312).

Keep the arm and sell me the deck. You could'nt find a gimbal arm that is as easy to set-up as this one. It's a medium mass arm and will except loads of different catridges as well.

[Shian7]

Possibility of a cheap(ish) Hadcock here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...79#description

Cheers,
Mike.

[david counter]

thanks to Gerry I've had my eyes opened to what's available,
there are some really nice arms around,
to me Fidelity research and Grace in particular stand out,

I've had a Hadcock, an early 228, I couldn't get on with it, seemed very fragile and I don't think I ever had it set up properly, don't know what they're like now, they do have quite a following