Category Archives: tonearms
Hadcock GH 242 Export
One of the most popular tonearms that most audiophiles have never heard of, many hundreds of thousands of Hadcocks have been sold since its inception over half a century ago, in over one hundred countries. It is a classic unipivot
Hadcock GH 242 Export
One of the most popular tonearms that most audiophiles have never heard of, many hundreds of thousands of Hadcocks have been sold since its inception over half a century ago, in over one hundred countries. It is a classic unipivot
Michell TecnoArm
If, as LeCorbusier said, “design is intelligence made visible”, then Roy Gandy, creator of the Rega RB300, is not short of a braincell or two. This tonearm, first launched in summer 1983, is a seminal design. You can criticise its
Michell TecnoArm
If, as LeCorbusier said, “design is intelligence made visible”, then Roy Gandy, creator of the Rega RB300, is not short of a braincell or two. This tonearm, first launched in summer 1983, is a seminal design. You can criticise its
SME M2
Aside from the Rega RB300, the SME 3009 is the best selling tonearm in history. It began production in the early nineteen sixties, and was still in production at the turn of the new millennium, clocking in four decades of faithful service. Its
Origin Live Onyx
Introduced in 1983 to wide acclaim, the Rega RB300 was arguably the world’s first truly modern tonearm – sporting a straight pipe, tapered tube with integral headshell, high quality bearings and a small tungsten counterweight for just £90. Its brilliance was such
Origin Live Onyx
Introduced in 1983 to wide acclaim, the Rega RB300 was arguably the world’s first truly modern tonearm – sporting a straight pipe, tapered tube with integral headshell, high quality bearings and a small tungsten counterweight for just £90. Its brilliance was such
Rega R200
For a short period in the late nineteen seventies, this was the best value tonearm money could buy. Thoroughly conventional, it was basically a cost-cut Acos Lustre arm without its height adjustment facility. The latter of course was a silkily
Audio Origami PU7
It’s amazing how many long lost hi-fi products have started reappearing on the market of late, reinvented and/or remanufactured. One of the first to start this trend was Glasgow-based company Audio Origami nearly a decade ago, which brought back the
Audio Origami PU7
It’s amazing how many long lost hi-fi products have started reappearing on the market of late, reinvented and/or remanufactured. One of the first to start this trend was Glasgow-based company Audio Origami nearly a decade ago, which brought back the
SME Series IV
Just when it looked like vinyl was reaching its final hour, along came the SME Series V in 1986. The Steyning company had long used the tagline, “the best pickup arm in the world”, but if we’re frank it had
SME Series IV
Just when it looked like vinyl was reaching its final hour, along came the SME Series V in 1986. The Steyning company had long used the tagline, “the best pickup arm in the world”, but if we’re frank it had
Design Build Listen Wand
A wonderful country for sure, but not the first place you would associate with hi-fi pickup arms. But then New Zealand is full of surprises, and the Design Build Listen Wand tonearm is one of them. Designer Simon Brown has come up
Design Build Listen Wand
A wonderful country for sure, but not the first place you would associate with hi-fi pickup arms. But then New Zealand is full of surprises, and the Design Build Listen Wand tonearm is one of them. Designer Simon Brown has come up
Linn Basik LV X
By 1979 Linn had a problem, although admittedly it was a nice problem to have. The trouble was that the £298 Sondek LP12 turntable was truly taking off – sales were going through the roof – but not everyone could
Linn Basik LV X
By 1979 Linn had a problem, although admittedly it was a nice problem to have. The trouble was that the £298 Sondek LP12 turntable was truly taking off – sales were going through the roof – but not everyone could
SME 3009S2
The ‘Scale Model Equipment Company Ltd’ was formed in 1946 to make parts for the model engineering trade, and by the fifties it was manufacturing bits for aircraft instruments and business machines. But it wasn’t until 1959 that SME’s first
SME 3009S2
The ‘Scale Model Equipment Company Ltd’ was formed in 1946 to make parts for the model engineering trade, and by the fifties it was manufacturing bits for aircraft instruments and business machines. But it wasn’t until 1959 that SME’s first
Linn Ekos
1987 was a good year for tonearm fans. Just like London buses, after you’d waited seemingly ages, not one but two – then three – came along at he same time. First was the SME Series V, about which much
Naim ARO
Reputedly made ‘hand in glove’ for the Linn Sondek LP12 turntable and Troika cartridge, the ARO is one of the quirkiest performance-focused tonearms yet made. The story starts back in 1987 when Naim Audio was pulling back on its special relationship with Linn Products; Linn
Syrinx PU2
The tale begins at the end of the nineteen seventies, with the arrival of Linn’s Ittok LVII tonearm. It put the cat amongst the pigeons in an analogue landscape dominated by the SME 3009S2, which appeared on virtually every turntable motor unit at
Syrinx PU2
The tale begins at the end of the nineteen seventies, with the arrival of Linn’s Ittok LVII tonearm. It put the cat amongst the pigeons in an analogue landscape dominated by the SME 3009S2, which appeared on virtually every turntable motor unit at
SME Series III
SME’s name precedes the brand itself. Everyone in the audiophile world knows it’s a superb company, with a fantastic heritage behind it. The quality of any SME product is assured, and it has never made a duffer. Or has it?
SME Series III
SME’s name precedes the brand itself. Everyone in the audiophile world knows it’s a superb company, with a fantastic heritage behind it. The quality of any SME product is assured, and it has never made a duffer. Or has it?
Jelco SA-750D
Based in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo, the Jelco Ichikawa Jewel Company is one of Japan’s many small scale precision engineering companies. It has been manufacturing since 1920, and by the nineteen seventies had naturally turned its hand to turntable parts
Jelco SA-750D
Based in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo, the Jelco Ichikawa Jewel Company is one of Japan’s many small scale precision engineering companies. It has been manufacturing since 1920, and by the nineteen seventies had naturally turned its hand to turntable parts
Linn Ittok LVIII
By many people’s reckoning the Linn Ittok was the world’s first super-arm. Originally manufactured for Linn by the Denon Parts Company of Japan (no relation to the electronics brand), it was designed by a Mr Ito to Linn’s specification back in
Linn Ittok LVIII
By many people’s reckoning the Linn Ittok was the world’s first super-arm. Originally manufactured for Linn by the Denon Parts Company of Japan (no relation to the electronics brand), it was designed by a Mr Ito to Linn’s specification back in
Dynavector DV505
When a small Japanese engineering outfit called Dynavector launched the DV505, it rocked the hi-fi world. Rather than the usual sales spiel, the company released its extensive engineering research findings into tonearm geometry and resonance characteristics. It didn’t take the world long
Dynavector DV505
When a small Japanese engineering outfit called Dynavector launched the DV505, it rocked the hi-fi world. Rather than the usual sales spiel, the company released its extensive engineering research findings into tonearm geometry and resonance characteristics. It didn’t take the world long
Rega RB300
Until August 1983, the best budget tonearm in the world was the Rega R200. An S-shaped, Japanese sourced variant of the mid-price Lustre GST-1, it gave excellent results for its £46 selling price. But then along came an arm with
Rega RB300
Until August 1983, the best budget tonearm in the world was the Rega R200. An S-shaped, Japanese sourced variant of the mid-price Lustre GST-1, it gave excellent results for its £46 selling price. But then along came an arm with
zStereo 