Why support local business.. Who gives a toss about the middle class??

Nailed it - it can transform records you thought you knew inside out.

Maybe an actual set of loudspeakers too 😅 Why would you go to such length upgrading an sl1200, and your speakers are small Dali.

Because it's a great arm. ;^)

Charles Ludwig Where did you get a V15 type V? They’re a rare sight these days.

@@AceTechHD most likely used or NOS.. He got a brand new Jico (Japan) stylus for it..

Thanks Gary - The upgrade speaks for itself, it's a giant step up for me personally. Who would consider an S Curve the one of the best in the world, and relative to what? Height adjustment is possible pretty easily, I just didn't go into it in the video.

@@ButteryDigs There are no absolutes, of course. But in general a lot of audiophiles agree that the SL1200 tonearm is excellent. I say, if you've got the wherewithall to do this, go for it. I just don't see the reason for fixing something (especially when it's so good) that ain't broke (as we Yanks say). I have to say, too, though, that I don't like how this upgrade interferes with the intended aesthetics of the turntable (it doesn't look right).

@@garykuhlmann8149 Theres nothing special about a SL 1200 tone arm. Technics is lauded mostly for thier DC motor configuration and base . You could do alot better than a technics tonearm entering into the high end segment . Also most high end arms are straight arms.

@@dednside5229 Agreed. I love the aesthetics of the SL-1200 arm but many people agree that it's the weakest aspect of the MK2.

@@olaniyi570 Those new technics that cost ten grand with external power supplies look the buissness but are 10k$ I bet thier awesome but I'd rather have a kenwood l-07d restored for that kind of money.

A separate pre amp would be preferred but your MM/MC phono stage will do a good job for you. No need to go out and spend your Euros on a new amp. Relax and enjoy your music. I’ve had this same decision to make, glad now I didn’t go out shopping. Good luck.

@@jimbojet8728 many thanks.. I did it. Sounds super.. unfortunately merciless with outrageous pressing 😅

@@smaltoAnto Several years ago I had an AS700. I 'upgraded' with an Ifi and Project. They did nothing to improve the sound. I had to go to Valab, Perreaux, and Allnic to get a better phono stage.

Whereabouts are you? This sounds great!

Mike Cole Charlotte NC

@@Localbandography Wow I am jealous. This could possibly be amazing! I really wish I got to see Can in their heydey, unfortunately I was not born. Enjoy!

Have you auditioned a Wand? Have you compared/contrasted with the same cart on a different arm? Do you seriously think the material of a tonearm can't contribute to an electrical signal generated by a little thingie (ie the stylus) bouncing up and down? Or that "absolutely no contribution to that signal" might be something desirable and something an ultra-rigid material might be able to help with? What about the unipivot design, do you think that's irrelevant too? How about the ease of adjustment and cart replacement (for those kinds of people who are always swapping carts) i.e. unclip cable, lift arm off pivot, bang done. How about the single one-piece alignment and set-up tool it comes with? How about the simplicity and effectiveness of the antiskate system and adjustable weight? There's a lot more to this arm than "it's carbon fibre so it must just be a gimmick". Disclosure: I've run a 10-inch Wand for 7 years and can't imagine wanting to upgrade unless it was to go way above the $10K setup level.

@@gospelofrye6881 No a tonearm can not contribute to the electrical signal. The best it can do is not add bad things . Once it leaves the cartridge the signal is as a pure as it can get. Your tonearm should not bounce up and down. If you are playing warped records a linear track would be a good investment because nothing I have seen tracks a warp better than linear. And nothing keeps the tonearm more perfectly tangent than linear. The tonearm is not under stress at all. If someone likes to swap cartridges easily that's a convenience feature. That has nothing to do with sound. The cartridge is the star and workhorse of the show. Happy you are happy with your wand but its not improving your sound. I agree. Don't upgrade your tonearm. It won't help your sound. How rigid does a tonearm have to be before its rigid enough. 4 times less distortion when the distortion was effectively zero does nothing. The reason this tonearm can compete with the 10,000 dollar tonearm is that one doesn't sound any better than yours. You failed to make your case how a tonearm upgrade can contribute to the sound over the existing steel tonearm on the 1200. What is that beautiful hollow tube of carbon doing for the sound? The original stainless steel. The only reason a tonearm is going to vibrate is if the music being played in the room is vibrating it. My answer is put the turntable in a place where it will be isolated from environmental sound in the room. Doing that eliminates the need for expensive plinth's, platters, exotic mattes, esoteric tonearm materials, and isolation feet.

@@emailatomic "No a tonearm can not contribute to the electrical signal." LOL. "Your tonearm should not bounce up and down." Maybe re-read the comment. I said the stylus bounces up and down. You just seem mad that the Wand is made of carbon fibre... because you have a CF guitar? Is that right? The stuff is twice as stiff/rigid as steel, why do you think it's not a suitable or interesting alternative in an application that, as you say, requires minimal vibration?

@@gospelofrye6881 Voodoo. Steel is strong enough and is resistant the vibration. Carbon fiber is not resistant to vibration. And the steel isn’t even under zero stress so why do you believe you need something twice as strong? There is nothing wrong with buying aesthetics. In your description you clearly love the look of your new tonearm and you feel very proud of it. The tonearm on the 1200 Has quality wiring and that wiring only has to deliver that signal for one foot. So there’s no signal loss. You have once again failed to make a case your tone arm is adding sonic benefit. Obviously I don’t hate carbon fiber. Carbon fiber esp. attractive woven carbon fiber is carries resonance. Most of my guitar Is made of a less attractive carbon fiber that is more rigid. But the surface of my guitar how’s the woven carbon fiber to resonate. The reverse side has a strengthening array of the stiffer stronger less bendy carbon fiber. But even on my guitar.I accept that much of that is just voodoo. I like that my guitar neck is not likely to ever warp. I like the aesthetics of it . Because it’s carbon fiber it has a neat looking distinctive resonator hole, just like your tonearm has an interesting elliptical shape long it’s late. Does it play better than a wood guitar. Better than most not as good as some. Does it help me to play better? Not really but it doesn’t get in the way of my playing better. Many much cheaper guitars Would allow me to perform equally well moving my hand up and down the neck. The frets Allow me to play clean, but so with many cheaper guitars . You have a beautifully designed artisan tonearm. But the player of the record is the cartridge. That is your Stradivarius. The tonearm mostly just has to stay out of the way of the cartridge doing its job and add nothing to or take away nothing from the performance. If I maestro decides to buy a nice case to protect And match the aesthetics of his Stradivarius. It only makes sense. Maybe he favors using some sort of an anti slip three finger leftie glove to Give him a more confident grip.The glove is the level we’re talking at here. It doesn’t really change his mastery and drying the ball over the strings and fingering the fretboard. But if the maestro thinks its good practice I might argue Doesn’t that glove come with the cost of some dexterity. And he might argue maybe, but it gives me more confidence because of my dodgy pinky finger. He answered my objection And I’m not going to talk him out of purchasing of love words using one. He is after all the maestro.

​@@emailatomic Yeah you should probably stick to guitars, that's clearly your wheelhouse.

I know - I was at first too, but after a bit of googling beforehand and some practice and being very patient and slow I am pretty confident with it, also have to trust that Simon who designed it knows what he is doing!

Thanks for the tip Mike, looking forward to giving it a go this weekend with no Anti Skate and some adjustments! I wonder if there's some kind of third party arm lifter? Most probably not as it's such a unique design. What cartridge are you using on it?

@@ButteryDigs Yeah I chatted with Simon regarding the anti skate and it was his opinion that in many cases this arm does not need it. Anti-skate seems like one of those overstated audiophile aspects and is difficult to set as it changes throughout the side of the LP. I use a Denon 301 mk2 LOMC. It is a little more compliant than yours I believe but I really like the sound of it, balanced, detailed, with rich midrange and great bass. I will look to the Hana SL when my Denon eventually dies (think Simon is the local distributor). But yeah my biggest issue is wanting a lifter. I explored third party options but most just lift the record up at the end of a side and I am not sure they would cope with the sheer size of the Wand haha. Such a great tonearm though. I agree. Giant Killer.

@@mikecole4924 Absolutely, and I can't justify upgrading The Wand just for a lifter, especially when the rest of my system is still pretty modest at this point, but always an option in the future. Looking forward to having a tweak in regard to the anti-skate and will report back. Where in NZ are you based? If you are in Wellington by any chance I'd love to catch-up and see the Denon in action.

@@ButteryDigs Sorry James I am up in West Auckland, but if you are ever up and have some time drop me a line (maybe instagram) and you could come and have a listen. What are you loading the Hana at? My 301 has the same internal impedance (30 ohms I believe). I found it got a bit more lively and full sounding when I upped the loading to 1000 ohms (my options on my phono stage are 100 or 1000 - so couldn't dial it in any more than that). From Michael Fremer's review of the Hana I think it will be pretty similar to the Denon, just with a slightly better stylus profile (the Denon is a special elliptical).

Without anti skating the stylus will hug the inside of the groove. This can obviously cause tracking and wear problems. I don't see how any tt could do without it. So how come your arm is (apparently) hardly pulled towards the spindle?

They are the single best upgrade to a Teccie. I use them on two of my 1200s, and Maglev feet on the third.

Must be an Antipodean thing!

Don't knock the hustle daddy-o.

I'm lyin' alone with my head on the phone Thinkin' of you till it hurts I know you're hurt too, but what else can we do Tormented and torn apart I wish I could carry your smile in my heart For times when my life seems so low It would make me believe what tomorrow could bring When today doesn't really know Doesn't really know

I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you I know you were right believing for so long I'm all out of love, what am I without you I can't be too late to say that I was so wrong.

Yes, and the stock arm is very good, but you can take the whole arm assembly out in 1 piece and use later or sell it to someone who needs it. So why not play around with a carbon fibre arm?