tonearm upgrade for L70

[jimmydoug]

just picked up a L70 with a trashed tonearm- does anyone have a suggestion for a replacement arm that would "drop in" to the existing hole in the top plate?  Some of the AT arms seem to have the correct spindle to pivot distance but I am worried about the arm height.  Thanks for any suggestions 
Jim

[gurru991]

Maybe look for another L70 arm ... They are a pretty good arm ... do you still have the headshell from the trashed one ?

Jeff

[richard]

I think that the original L70 arm is especially useful with warped 78s. Its spring arrangement, a precision version of what's on a kiddie phono, is great for tracking fast warps. It's not a low-mass arm, and so, not suited for the most compliant, lightest-tracking cartridges/styli. It's a good match for a number of current disco cartridges, and a few of these are much better performers than we'd think.

Otherwise, I'd replace it with something more gentle. And something with antiskating.

[anilva]

L70 arm has a mounting distance from the spindle to pivot of 230mm. There are a few drop in replacements for this mounting distance, including the EMT 929 and some Denon tonearms. Check vinylengine tonearm database for a list of those matching 230mm mounting distance. I am currently in the process of replacing a L70 tonearm on my system as well. The old tonearm while it is well regarded, is pretty rudimentary in finesse and cannot trust to play some of my most precious LPs. May be good as a 78RPM or a mono tonearm. Also the headshell does not allow any adjustment of the cartridge for alignment and is limited by a select of cartridge options from that vintage period if one were to stick to the correct alignment geometry.

Few people have mounted other cartridges including DL-103, but at the risk of not having a proper alignment particularly for the inner tracks.

Cheers
Anil

[kristeva]

you'll have to pay a pretty penny for the original arm these days and due to its restriction as outlined by Anil above I'm not sure it's really worth it. What kind of set up do you want - audiophile? If that's the case conical styli wont get you very far. What kind of music do you play? These are questions to be considered.

I think some of the Linn arms are a drop in replacement.

[ilkka313]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bogen-Lenco-L70-Tonearm-incl-headshell-and-armrest-/321220779463?pt=US_Record_Player_Turntable_Parts&hash=item4aca401dc7

[autobayer]

I can report soon because I bought an armless GL59 and will have a Denon DA-305 to fit soon
Cheers
Chris

[colin]

just picked up a L70 with a trashed tonearm- does anyone have a suggestion for a replacement arm that would "drop in" to the existing hole in the top plate?  Some of the AT arms seem to have the correct spindle to pivot distance but I am worried about the arm height.  Thanks for any suggestions 
Jim

Hi Jim,

Sp to pivot is 227mm and the AT1005/7/9 all fit no problem - even fit in the collar so easiest arm change you will ever do - no kidding. If you get one of these AT arms keep quiet about it and enjoy.

Linn arms are no good for L70 they fit the 210mm L75.

You will have no problem selling any parts to the trashed arm - go towards the replacement.

The L70 arm is used by folk without audio nervosa who understand a cartridge that tracks below 2gm and needs a/s is faulty!! 

Fwiw.

[kristeva]

sorry, my bad regarding the Linn arm replacement. 

I got my 75 and 70 mixed up.

[Chris65]

L70 arm has a mounting distance from the spindle to pivot of 230mm.

As Colin mentions above, the pivot to spindle distance of the L70 arm is 227mm.
The often quoted distance of 230mm seems to be an error that has crept in over the years. If you have an L70, you can easily measure this.

[jimmydoug]

Thanks for all of the replies- I may try to modify the original arm to accept an sme type headshell, which would fix the alignment problem.  It's good to know that the AT arms will fit.  A previous owner totally destroyed the cartridge tags on the headshell, so I will have to rewire it before I can test any further, but otherwise it seems to be OK.   

[nic]

you do know or need to know that the SME and Lenco pin/tag arrangement/alignment is different so it's not possible to
swop the two.

[jimmydoug]

yep, I know the wiring is different- would probably rewire the tonearm as well.

[lidsmoes]

This thread recommends the AT 1005 mk 2: http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=10489.15

And here's the EMT 929: http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=2627.0 Looks beautiful, though it seems you have to drill holes in the platter in order to fasten the arm 

  

[Vathek]

I run my L70 with an EMT 929 arm and couldn't be happier. Geometry wise it's a perfect drop in, you just need to drill three little holes for the base that holds the arm. Whether or not I had to enlarge the main hole for the arm or not, I can't remember. But it's really a perfect drop in replacement.

In the last post before this, there's a link to my deck. I still haven't changed anything in three years except I've installed XLR's in the back and go out of it fully balanced.

The EMT arm and the fitting head shell are not exactly cheap, but the system is worth every penny. I did a comparison to an EMT 938 (different beast altogether, I know) and the EMT couldn't hold a candle. Lot's of variables though, different drive technology and completely different preamp.

So my recommendation would definitively to look out for an EMT 929, you won't regret it!