OriginLive modified Rega Arms vs. Ekos/Aro, etc.

Posted by: Top Cat on 29 November 2000

Hi.

I have a (lightly modified) LP12/Lingo/Akito/
ESCo-rebuilt Asaka MC, but would like to upgrade from the (limiting) Akito arm.

I initially considered an Ekos or Aro, but they are kinda pricy new and I'm not sure about the wisdom of buying a superarm s/h. In any case, they're like hens' teeth.

I got thinking about the OriginLive modifications that they do on RB250/300/900s, and wondered if anyone has experience of any of these modified arms, especially on the LP12. The website, at www.originlive.com, claims their modified RB250 to blow away the unmodified RB900, which (by my reckoning) would make it worthy of consideration.

And a lot cheaper

Any thoughts, friends?

John

Posted on: 30 November 2000 by Rico

quote:
From memory, the Ittoks headshell is bolted onto the arm tube, the arm tube is bolted onto the bearing assembly,

Oh bloody hell, I was thinking that the TikTok LVII was glued also! Anyone got a spare tube of Supafix?

Rico - musichead

Posted on: 30 November 2000 by Former member

the first mission arms were designed by john bicht (something like that, sorry) who went on to work for versa dynamics. is this the one with the tiny headshell block you screwed into?

i have only been through 4 in 20 years these are; acos lustre, hadcock, ittok and now an aro. no problems with any of them but i am mechanically sympathetic (my car and bike tyres last a long time). my advice is to buy an aro, then you will be able to gaze at your naim mouse mat will real lust.
ashley

Posted on: 30 November 2000 by Former member

The Mission Mechanic was not the model I had in mind, allthough I have heard one on a Xerxes and was very impressed.

The arm I'm refering to is pictured in John Gilleran's pic - a little beauty.

Its wothth remembering that rigidity is not necessarily compromised by a join - Linn claim that the glue used on the Ekos results in rigidity equel to that of a one-piece design like the Rega/SME

Next time I spot a vintage LP12/774/773 in Loot I may well be tempted.... (stop grinning Rico!)

Rob.

Posted on: 01 December 2000 by Andrew L. Weekes

I use an Ittok on an LP12 and it will be a significant upgrade from your Akito.

It may have more joints than a hippies ashtray, but it still produces great music. (*)

Don't forget at one time this would have been used as the front-end for a top level active system.

Andy.

(*) Didn't realise this joke has been made already!

Andrew L. Weekes
alweekes@audiophile.com

Posted on: 01 December 2000 by Rockingdoc

I have a fully Origin-Lived RB300 and a good condition Ittok. I have tried swapping and the Rega only works in my Townsend Rock and the Ittok only works in my LP12. It might interest you that in my systems the Rega works better with a moving magnet cart (Goldring 1042), and the Linn with a moving coil(Ortofon Rohmann)
Malcolm