DIY tone arm vs rega?

c3conv · 12th September 2008, 04:44 PM

Has anyone diy tonearm outperform rega's tonearm? I am hopping there are some who has done a great job.

graeme uk · 12th September 2008, 05:38 PM

My upside down ladegaard style air bearign arm took about a day to make, cost about £30 and beats the hell out of any rega arm, probably better than any rega based arm at all no matter how modified.

In fact, ill even go as far as to say it probably beats any pivoting arm at all.

I have no evicence to back this up except a couple of reviews of an identical arm which were very favourable. They said it was up there with £5000 arms!

I do know for definate that it is in a different universe to a stock rega arm though as thats what i had before.

Beating a rega arm isnt hard

This arm is what i built first. It very easily outshone the rega.
http://www.aiko.com/roscoe/airbearingarm.html

Then i saw this version so i built one of these, much better than the first version
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-TERMINATOR...d=p3286.c0.m14

graeme uk · 12th September 2008, 05:39 PM

I seriously have no idea why anyone bothers with pivoting arms anymore, ill never go back.

I may try a schroeder (sp) clone one day though.

c3conv · 13th September 2008, 01:43 AM

WOW, heavenly sent. Can you please post some close up pictures on how you did the 2nd arm. I can get a lot of spare aluminum. Any specific type of aluminum?

graeme uk · 13th September 2008, 08:47 AM

Everything you need to know is in the first link

If theres antything specific you want to ask then go ahead.

Nanook · 14th September 2008, 08:16 AM

but beating an SME is a little tougher. I haven't managed that yet, but I have hit one in the ball park for very little money.

The upside down air bearing arm looks pretty good...

graeme uk · 14th September 2008, 10:24 AM

Depends what SME your talking about

http://www.trans-fi.com/terminatortonearm.htm

webby · 14th September 2008, 12:32 PM

Hi Graeme,
I have built one of the original Ladegaard arm like you, but how did you make the Upside down version. I cant work it out from the pictures? where did you buy the materials from and did you use the same pump?
Cheers
Ian

Quote:

Originally posted by graeme uk
My upside down ladegaard style air bearign arm took about a day to make, cost about £30 and beats the hell out of any rega arm, probably better than any rega based arm at all no matter how modified.

In fact, ill even go as far as to say it probably beats any pivoting arm at all.

I have no evicence to back this up except a couple of reviews of an identical arm which were very favourable. They said it was up there with £5000 arms!

I do know for definate that it is in a different universe to a stock rega arm though as thats what i had before.

Beating a rega arm isnt hard

This arm is what i built first. It very easily outshone the rega.
http://www.aiko.com/roscoe/airbearingarm.html

Then i saw this version so i built one of these, much better than the first version
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-TERMINATOR...d=p3286.c0.m14

graeme uk · 14th September 2008, 02:48 PM

Yep, same pump.

Most of the materials were from B&Q, with a bit of plastic from the local suppliers. Mine is a bit simpler than that one.

What cant you work out? Its exactly the same as the normal ladegaard, just upside down. The mounting area looks comlicated but all it is is a way to adjust height and level, theres plenty of ways to do that.

graeme uk · 14th September 2008, 02:50 PM

here's mine.

The whole TT is just a lash up at the moment though, will be remade properly soon.

12th September 2008, 04:44 PM	#1
c3conv diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2008	DIY tone arm vs rega? Has anyone diy tonearm outperform rega's tonearm? I am hopping there are some who has done a great job.

14th September 2008, 08:16 AM	#6
Nanook diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chinook Country.Alberta	beating a Rega is easy... but beating an SME is a little tougher. I haven't managed that yet, but I have hit one in the ball park for very little money. The upside down air bearing arm looks pretty good... __________________ stew ☮ -"watch out where the Huskies go and don't you eat that yellow snow"--Nanook died of starvation 8 mos after the movie was made

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12th September 2008, 05:38 PM	#2
graeme uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: essex	My upside down ladegaard style air bearign arm took about a day to make, cost about £30 and beats the hell out of any rega arm, probably better than any rega based arm at all no matter how modified. In fact, ill even go as far as to say it probably beats any pivoting arm at all. I have no evicence to back this up except a couple of reviews of an identical arm which were very favourable. They said it was up there with £5000 arms! I do know for definate that it is in a different universe to a stock rega arm though as thats what i had before. Beating a rega arm isnt hard This arm is what i built first. It very easily outshone the rega. http://www.aiko.com/roscoe/airbearingarm.html Then i saw this version so i built one of these, much better than the first version http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-TERMINATOR...d=p3286.c0.m14

12th September 2008, 05:39 PM	#3
graeme uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: essex	I seriously have no idea why anyone bothers with pivoting arms anymore, ill never go back. I may try a schroeder (sp) clone one day though.

13th September 2008, 01:43 AM	#4
c3conv diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2008	WOW, heavenly sent. Can you please post some close up pictures on how you did the 2nd arm. I can get a lot of spare aluminum. Any specific type of aluminum?

13th September 2008, 08:47 AM	#5
graeme uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: essex	Everything you need to know is in the first link If theres antything specific you want to ask then go ahead.

14th September 2008, 10:24 AM	#7
graeme uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: essex	Depends what SME your talking about http://www.trans-fi.com/terminatortonearm.htm

14th September 2008, 02:48 PM	#9
graeme uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: essex	Yep, same pump. Most of the materials were from B&Q, with a bit of plastic from the local suppliers. Mine is a bit simpler than that one. What cant you work out? Its exactly the same as the normal ladegaard, just upside down. The mounting area looks comlicated but all it is is a way to adjust height and level, theres plenty of ways to do that.

14th September 2008, 02:50 PM	#10
graeme uk diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: essex	here's mine. The whole TT is just a lash up at the moment though, will be remade properly soon.

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