Turntable assistance needed!!

[DigitalfreakNYC]

So I was recently given a turntable. It's a Technics SP-10MK2A and originally retailed for about $1500. GREAT condition...and absolutely no issues. http://www.vintagetechnics.info/turntables.htm

This particular table does not come with a tonearm and I was given two options:
THIS IS OPTION A:

It is a Micropoise Rekokut. It's obviously the older of the two tonearms. It doesn't even have a red or white stereo separation color on the attached cords but works perfectly.
THIS IS OPTION B:

I have no idea what kind of tonearm it is but it seems to be the newer of the two. It does say Audio Technica on the black part of the cartridge. However, the problem is that it doesn't have a counter-weight and the few people I've asked about getting a replacement all told me that I have to know the model # of the tonearm in order to find out which counter-weight I should get.

So here are my questions:

1) Which tonearm should I use, out of the two? Should I test both of them? Does anyone know enough about both of them to make an educated decision or does it even matter?

2) Any idea where I could get the correct counter-weight?

3) Does anyone know which make/model the 2nd one is?

Then comes the all important question:
4) What kind of cartridge should I buy? I have no idea how much use the ones they came with have gotten and I'd rather purchase a brand spankin' new one. I don't want to go insanely crazy on price but I'd be willing to spend $250 on one.

I'll be completely using it to archive vinyl to CD and probably my biggest pet peeve of vinyl is the crushing of the high's, ie when singers use "s's" or cymbals are used.

Thanks so much for bearing with the newbie posting but I know someone here will be able to help me out.

[FreddieFerric]

I'd like to help but really don't know where to begin. You would need to look into the overall difficulty of mating either arm with the table. Maybe another member could offer something more along the lines of a solution. Although I would add that without a counter weight in place, the second arm is essentially worthless to you at this stage of the game. Good luck.

[CasualKiller]

Best bet sign up here and ask them, they are old school DIY'ers and have tons of tweaking experience, maybe one of them can steer you in the right direction:

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Originally Posted by BluRayFred

I'd like to help but really don't know where to begin. You would need to look into the overall difficulty of mating either arm with the table. Maybe another member could offer something more along the lines of a solution. Although I would add that without a counter weight in place, the second arm is essentially worthless to you at this stage of the game. Good luck.

I've been using the first arm with the table and its existing cartridge for the last month so I know that will work.

Obviously the 2nd one won't work without the counterweight, which is why I'm asking if anyone recognizes it.

Thanks for the response!

[naturephoto1]

If it were me and I could afford it, I would probably get a used Rega Tonearm on Audiogon and go from there.

Rich

[FreddieFerric]

Originally Posted by DigitalfreakNYC

I've been using the first arm with the table and its existing cartridge for the last month so I know that will work.

Obviously the 2nd one won't work without the counterweight, which is why I'm asking if anyone recognizes it.

Thanks for the response!

Check out the gang at audiokarma and a few other sites that have an enthusiastic analog following. Maybe someone there might have a suggestion that gets you on the right path.

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

If it were me and I could afford it, I would probably get a used Rega Tonearm on Audiogon and go from there.

Rich

I've been told by several people that it's not really the tonearm that matters so much as the cartridge.
But even getting one of those tonearms won't solve my problem. I have two perfectly good ones sitting in front of me.

[Psychonaut]

I'll second audiokarma. Those dudes breathe this stuff.

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Originally Posted by Psychonaut

I'll second audiokarma. Those dudes breathe this stuff.

But are they friendly? I don't want to come across as a newbie and be slaughtered.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by DigitalfreakNYC

I've been told by several people that it's not really the tonearm that matters so much as the cartridge.
But even getting one of those tonearms won't solve my problem. I have two perfectly good ones sitting in front of me.

You may wish to look at the page below from Origin Live (makers of high end turntables and tonearms) recommending the investment and the relative importance of the different components in a vinyl (and other) system. Particularly see the listing for Breakdown of front end performance:

http://www.turntable-kits.com/upgrading_hi_fi_kits.htm

Rich

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

You may wish to look at the page below from Origin Live (makers of high end turntables and tonearms) recommending the investment and the relative importance of the different components in a vinyl (and other) system. Particularly see the listing for Breakdown of front end performance:

http://www.turntable-kits.com/upgrading_hi_fi_kits.htm

Rich

Again, considering no one really knows much about the arms I'm using, it stands to reason they could be very good.

They weren't something that someone was throwing out. The person I got them from works as a radio engineer.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by DigitalfreakNYC

Again, considering no one really knows much about the arms I'm using, it stands to reason they could be very good.

They weren't something that someone was throwing out. The person I got them from works as a radio engineer.

Regardless, if you look at the quote taken from the Origin Live website below it shows the recommendation as to the importance of the tonearm and the cartridge to the performance.

Breakdown of front end performance

Going into more detail, we would suggest the following breakdown in terms of contribution to vinyl front end performance. Please note that the price of a component does not does not necessarily guarantee performance. The following percentages indicate a component's contribution to the system, not necessarily its price.

Turntable = 47%
Tonearm = 30%
Cartridge = 8%
Phono stage = 15%

This information totally disagrees with the information that was provided to you by others suggesting that the cartridge is much more important. According to this breakdown, the cartridge contributes the least of the 4 components in a vinyl system by a large amount.

Rich

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by DigitalfreakNYC

But are they friendly? I don't want to come across as a newbie and be slaughtered.

Depends. They are highly opinionated, but they do know their stuff. The vast majority are really into vintage audio and there is a whole section on tunrtables. Just start a thread with the Technics Model # is the thread title and you'll get some responses.

John

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Originally Posted by John72953

Depends. They are highly opinionated, but they do know their stuff. The vast majority are really into vintage audio and there is a whole section on tunrtables. Just start a thread with the Technics Model # is the thread title and you'll get some responses.

John

Looks like I'm screwed. Says registration is disabled.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by DigitalfreakNYC

Looks like I'm screwed. Says registration is disabled.

Must be a bug in their system...weird. Once you sign up, it can take 48hrs before they authorize your registration. Be patient.

On another matter, I have to agree with Rich that you may very well find an inexpensive used Rega arm on audiogon, and this would be a much better option than either of the 2 tonearms you currently have. However, this will require a slightly higher investment, which you may not be willing to undertake. If not now, it is certainly something to consider down the road.

John