Vpi Jmw Memorial 12.5 Tonearm

exurbia · 12th June 2007, 02:51 PM

I am looking for a new tonearm, the VPI 12.5/12.7 has caught my eye. Has anyone on the forum had any experience with this arm ? i have heard so many good things about unipivots, yet i've never used one, let alone heard one in action.

If you have a particular favourite, then i'd like to know more about it, not neccessarily a unipivot. As this will be my last tonearm purchase (hopefully) i have allowed myself a rather generous (in my view) budget. I don't want to spend more than the cost of a Triplanar on Audiogon. Sora Audio to be sure.

YNWOAN · 12th June 2007, 05:10 PM

If you are considering the VPI you should also look at the Graham Phantom - I use a Naim ARO myself but you may well not be prepared to live with it's many ergonomic and setup issues.

Winchester · 14th June 2007, 11:10 AM

Hi
I used to have a Linn with an Ittok LVII, then last year I got a VPI Scout, which everyone was raving about. This has the shorter JMW9 unipivot arm. I use a Koetsu Black with this, and the sound is top-class. It's different to the warm Linn sound, but more realistic, I feel. This combination has a dynamic punchy sound with lots of detail, and all the enthusiastic talk about this table/arm was justified, in my opinion. It took a while to get used to the slight wobble when moving the arm into position for playing, but when the stylus tip is in contact with the vinyl, it's rock steady. So, if the 12.5 arm is at least as good, I'd say it's well worth putting on your shortlist. You don't mention which table you have, so I don't know if it would necessarily work with a JMW arm, either sonically or from the point of view of fitting it.

Another unipivot with a good reputation is a Hadcock, especially the recent models (GH242, if I remember correctly). Hadcocks are different in that instead of a point bearing fitting into a cup, it has a rounded tip which fits into four small ballbearings in a housing. I haven't used one, but the general opinion seem to be that they give a fluid, slightly warmer sound than "point" unipivots.
Have a look on;

http://www.tnt-audio.com

Hope this helps
Best Wishes

12th June 2007, 02:51 PM	#1
exurbia diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Perth	Vpi Jmw Memorial 12.5 Tonearm I am looking for a new tonearm, the VPI 12.5/12.7 has caught my eye. Has anyone on the forum had any experience with this arm ? i have heard so many good things about unipivots, yet i've never used one, let alone heard one in action. If you have a particular favourite, then i'd like to know more about it, not neccessarily a unipivot. As this will be my last tonearm purchase (hopefully) i have allowed myself a rather generous (in my view) budget. I don't want to spend more than the cost of a Triplanar on Audiogon. Sora Audio to be sure.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Linear tracking tonearm vs. Pivoting tonearm	Don Nebel	Analogue Source	1	4th November 2007 10:49 PM
What is this tonearm?	IZHAKKATZ	Analogue Source	3	23rd July 2007 09:13 PM
WTB or WTT for...a Tonearm	mpmarino	Swap Meet	6	8th July 2006 12:36 PM
The Max Rochlin Memorial Cable - FYI	swede	Analogue Source	33	4th September 2002 12:34 PM
What to do for a tonearm?	DrewP	Analogue Source	4	22nd May 2002 05:51 AM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

12th June 2007, 05:10 PM	#2
YNWOAN diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007	If you are considering the VPI you should also look at the Graham Phantom - I use a Naim ARO myself but you may well not be prepared to live with it's many ergonomic and setup issues.

14th June 2007, 11:10 AM	#3
Winchester diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	Hi I used to have a Linn with an Ittok LVII, then last year I got a VPI Scout, which everyone was raving about. This has the shorter JMW9 unipivot arm. I use a Koetsu Black with this, and the sound is top-class. It's different to the warm Linn sound, but more realistic, I feel. This combination has a dynamic punchy sound with lots of detail, and all the enthusiastic talk about this table/arm was justified, in my opinion. It took a while to get used to the slight wobble when moving the arm into position for playing, but when the stylus tip is in contact with the vinyl, it's rock steady. So, if the 12.5 arm is at least as good, I'd say it's well worth putting on your shortlist. You don't mention which table you have, so I don't know if it would necessarily work with a JMW arm, either sonically or from the point of view of fitting it. Another unipivot with a good reputation is a Hadcock, especially the recent models (GH242, if I remember correctly). Hadcocks are different in that instead of a point bearing fitting into a cup, it has a rounded tip which fits into four small ballbearings in a housing. I haven't used one, but the general opinion seem to be that they give a fluid, slightly warmer sound than "point" unipivots. Have a look on; http://www.tnt-audio.com Hope this helps Best Wishes

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)