Decca London International (GBP xxx)

Decca London

A classic tonearm (with the emphasis definately on tone), the Decca is a unipivot design with a number of really nice features. The plastic headshell actually has a built in bubble level to aid setting up (which is trickier with a unipivot, as any audiophile knows), and the tracking force is adjustable by turning the knurled knob at the end of the arm, which gives very fine adjustment of counterweight position. The azimuth (tilt, as seen looking at the headshell from the front) is adjusted by another knurled knob on the counterweight itself, which moves a small weight. It is possible to damp the pivot, and damping fluid is supplied.
The cabling is quite unique, and seems to be a similar, but thinner, version of the type normally used to wire up electric doorbells (I wonder if it would improve the sound of my doorbell - must give Decca a call ...) and the phono plugs are sort of slightly agricultural, rather than high-tech, if you know what I mean.
But, hey! Who cares once you've got it mounted on your Garrard 301 in custom plinth, with London cartridge installed, and you're playing your favorite Sounds of the 60s album. Forget modern hifi pre-occupations like Imaging, Separation, and Colouration - just enjoy the music!

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