WELL-TEMPERED: The Bill Firebaugh interview

J. Gordon Holt writes …..  Bill Firebaugh’s first product, the outrageous-looking Well-Tempered (tone) Arm, established him as one of audio’s most innovative designers. At the 1985 Winter CES, he showed a prototype companion product—the Well-Tempered Turntable—and was producing production units by January 1987. He discusses here the WTT’s unusual design features. (Readers should note that, […]

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ORIGIN LIVE: Encounter on a Linn LP12 (updated in the light of a conversation with Mark Baker)

 From the archives I received an email  from Mark Baker (Origin Live) expressing disappointment re my observations re his entry level arm’s performance on a Linn LP12 as shown below. I phoned him, out of courtesy, to discuss this with him. I envisaged a bruising encounter (don’t ask!) but it turned out be cordial. As […]

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Quill

FIDELITY RESEARCH TONEARMS: Overrated nostalgia or … timeless classics?

I’m trying to get a handle on what’s up with these arms. It seems there isn’t alot of info available outside of the most desireable FR-64 and -66 series, though the FR-14s seem to command a bit higher prices. From what I can find: The -24, -34, -54 and -64 were contemporaries, with the -34 […]

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INFINITY TONEARMS: What happened?

Good afternoon. I am curious about Infinity tone arms. Is there any info you can offer please? Certainly. The first arms that the company sold were actually Infinity branded versions of the Forrmula 4 Tonearms but in the late 70’s it introduced a pivoted arm of it’s own manufacture that featured a carbon fibre arm […]

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ALPHASON: What happened?

Apparently … Made the HR100S and HR100s MCS arms in the late 80’s early 90’s, it’s a medium compliance unit featuring a ultra rigid design machined from titanium right from the bearing to headshell as a one piece, features a ceramic gimbal bearings and was designed by Mike Knowles, the Xenon was a slightly cheaper […]

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ALPHASON: Titanium tubed arms – HR100S or a Xenon?

I’d always fancied one of Alphason’s titanium tubed arms like the HR100S or a Xenon. The HR100S tends to be quite expensive (too much for a punt anyway) and I can’t say I’ve ever really heard one at its best as they mostly tend to have been wired with the horrible vdH cable throughout. A […]

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AUDIO INSIDER

TONE ARMS: Effective Mass and Resonant Frequency

Gentlemen. I have recently upgraded my Goldring 1042 moving magnet (MM) cartridge to a MC and was originally considering Denon DL-103R or Audio-Technica AT-OC9ML/II. After deeper investigation into Arm Effective Mass and Resonant Frequency due reports that the Denon only being suitable for med to high mass arms I found that my Roksan Tabriz (standard […]

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THE FUNK FIRM: Houdini Cartridge Decoupler

It is as if The Funk Firm Houdini helps your cartridge escape the intrusion of the tonearm, then. Granted, some might have selected their current arm/cartridge combination precisely because of how they sound together. Yet for those considering upgrading either or both items, I suggest you try the Houdini first because it will improve the sound of […]

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HELIUS DESIGNS: In conversation with Howard Popeck – part three

Geoffrey – what is your response to the statement ‘How many channels do you think it takes to make a music listener happy; One. Mono’s fine. I’ve never heard anybody bitch about Louis Armstrong, saying, “I would enjoy it if it were only stereo” Now this question is interesting from several perspectives and I’m going […]

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THORENS FOR SALE

FIRST … Please read the important statement at the foot of this page. Thank you. —//— 125 MK3 … https://www.subito.it/audio-video/thorens-126-mk-iii-bari-474901929.htm 318 … https://www.subito.it/audio-video/giradischi-thorens-td318-con-autostop-avellino-474901050.htm PC 650 … https://bazar.bg/obiava-39453253/thorens-pc-650-m-3-head-stereo-cassette-deck 316 … https://www.marktplaats.nl/v/audio-tv-en-foto/platenspelers/m1937024708-te-koop-thorens-td-316 804 … https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/thorens-804-cb14-vedette-1223997426/ 320 MK2 … https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/thorens-td-320-mk-ll-1224107256/ 126 LID … https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/thorens-td126-plexigplas-ruckwand-1223962172/ 318 … https://www.ricardo.ch/de/a/thorens-td-318-mk-iii-plattenspieler-turntable-1224096330/ 124 … https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649944536-thorens-td-124-mk-i/ 104 … https://www.subito.it/audio-video/giradischi-thorens-td-104-mk2-shure-m75he-type2-bari-474794220.htm MM 005 … https://www.olx.pt/d/anuncio/pr-amplificador-thorens-mm-005-IDHc408.html TD […]

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JOHN MICHELL EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

FIRST … Please read the important statement at the foot of this page. Thank you. —//— PRISMA … https://www.springair.de/de/michell-prisma/transrotor-ac-mit-sme-3009/iii/h75777 MYCRO … https://elektro.bazos.cz/inzerat/163755010/gramofon-michell-model-mycro.php GYRODEC … https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649943686-michell-gyrodec-turntable-nos/ FOCUS 1 … https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649942867-ja-michell-focus-one-turntable-with-grace-rubin-cartridge/ GYRODEC … https://audio-video-tv.hyperinzerce.cz/zesilovace/inzerat/98446812344993588681-michell-gyrodec-two-rega-arms-nabidka-barcelona GYRO SE … https://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/moreinfo.php?prod_title=Michell_Gyro_SE&p=turntable&prod_id=109210&offset= TECHNOARM https://pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/michell-technoarm.276036/ ORBE SE … https://www.hansaudio.nl/product/michell-orbe-se/ ALECTO … http://www.heathcoteaudio.co.uk/product.php?type=solid%20state&head=Solid%20State ALECTO … https://www.2dehands.be/v/audio-tv-en-foto/versterkers-en-ontvangers/m1883857723-michell-alecto ALECTO … https://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/moreinfo.php?prod_title=MICHELL_ALECTO&p=integrated_amplifier&prod_id=102759&offset= ALECTO PAIR … https://www.heathcoteaudio.co.uk/product.php?type=solid%20state&head=Solid%20State […]

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SME: What model of the SME 309 to choose and how to set a price for tonearms

I have decided to buy a SME 309 or V for my Thorens TD124 project. I would be prefer the V, but 2nd hand prices are 1100+ GBP and that would be to stretch my budget to much as I also need a new phonostage. Reason for not considering the IV is that it is […]

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FIDELITY RESEARCH: What happened?

We asked around and from Singapore (thank you Mr. Tan) e received the following: Legendary Japanese producer of tonearms and pickups founded in 1964 by a former factory manager at Grace by the name of Osamu (Isamu) Ikeda, and introduced it’s first product in the form of the Fidelity Research FR-1 moving coil cartridge in […]

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MICHELL ENGINEERING: Orbe versus old Pink Triangle PT2, LFD Audio copper reference, SME 4 – and more

Hello. I am using an Orbe with and Audio Origami breathed-on Zeta arm with a Benz Glider plus an LFD Audio copper reference arm cable. I also have a PT2 which is in need of quite a bit of tlc – I mean to get it working properly – would you expect it to be […]

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HELIUS DESIGNS: Servicing their tone arms; the policy defined

They say: Helius has produced over 15 different models of tonearm over the last 23 years and still regularly services all models, regardless of age and condition.   Where parts are missing we can usually make replacements A standard service involves stripping down the arm, cleaning, checking and re-polishing bearing needles and cups, reworking solder joints, […]

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