Two arms

Posted by: Mick P on 14 March 2003

Chaps

I have noticed that some people have two arms fitted on a turntable.

Is there is reason for this ?

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 14 March 2003 by Simon Jenkins
Mick,

The usual reason is to easily run two cartridges. I have heard of a custom made deck with two arms, one with a standard Lyra Helikon (I think) for modern LP's and the other arm with a mono Lyra for old mono jazz lp's.

Can't think of any other reason for doing this. Also not sure how much difference it makes using a modern mono cartridge to play a mono LP to using a modern stereo cartridge to play it.

Simon
Posted on: 14 March 2003 by Rico
Mick

it's all to do with overcompensation, really. At a young age, said deck owners were described as "relatively 'armless".

Alternately, could be two arms on a Technics SL1200 - a new form of multi-tracked acratchin'. Cool

"all that scratchin's makin' me itch".

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio
Posted on: 14 March 2003 by Jean-Marc
Simon,
quote:
Also not sure how much difference it makes using a modern mono cartridge to play a mono LP to using a modern stereo cartridge to play it.


The difference is huge.
Playing an older record in mono (eg playing horizontal modulation only) is almost mandatory if you want to avoid noises.
And usually, mono cartridge have a slightly bigger tip to accomodate with larger grooves found on older LPs/45s.

Cheers
JM
Posted on: 14 March 2003 by Simon Jenkins
Thanks JM. I wondered what the reason was.

As I don't own any old mono lp's I shan't be rushing out to buy a mono cartridge though !

Simon
Posted on: 14 March 2003 by Jean-Marc
quote:
As I don't own any old mono lp's I shan't be rushing out to buy a mono cartridge though !


Especially a 2000 EUROS Lyra !! Big Grin

Playing old records (LPs and 78s) is a great hobby by itself: once you have sorted out which kind of cartridge to use, then you have to mess with different EQs as pre-1955/1956 records usually don't comply to now-standard RIAA curve!

Pheewww
JM