Experience with different headshells

Maril555

Well-Known Member

Oct 24, 2025

I’d like to hear about actual experiences comparing various headshells.
Specifically - currently i have TechDAS TDC01 cartridge on SME 3012R arm in original SME headshell
On Melco 3560 turntable.
I know of many people recommending that headshell on SME 3012 R tonearm, but I’m really curious if
Anybody tried different headshells on 3012R (Yamamoto, FR, Arche)?
Please share

Toggle signature

Speakers: Replica Altec 817 bass cabinets with dual front-loaded NOS Altec 515 B(15") woofers, built by PBN Audio
Altec 1505 multicellular horns made by Markus Klug with Altec 288 K compression HF drivers
Stand-alone series crossover designed by Misho Myronov and built by PBN Audio with Duelund Coherent Audio Cast Cu capacitors
Pete Riggle 2nd order Hiraga- designed crossovers with NOS PIO capacitors
Power Amplifiers: Thomas Mayer SE 6CB5A Single Ended monoblock amplifiers- no longer used
New Audio Frontiers 845 SE SET stereo amplifier- no longer used
McIntosh MC30 monoblocks, all NOS tubes, GE 6L6 GC, Telefunken 12 ax7, 12AU7, RCA GZ34 etc.
Thomas Mayer 10Y line stage
Thomas Mayer D3a Partial Silver phono stage
Misho Myronov Wooden phono stage- no longer in use
RADA Precious One phono stage with RADA 1:40 Silver Primary/ Copper secondary SUT
Analog:
"Custom " Verdier La Platine- essentially only the platter and magnets retained from the original
Plinth and armboards are custom made by Steve Dobbins (Xact Audio)- can use 2 tonearms
Dereneville DAE-01 SP motor and HP E3616A Linear Power supply
SME 3012R tonearm
SPU 95th Anniversary
SPU 90th Anniversary cartridge
Melco 3560 turntable
Turntable: SpJ La Luce completely restored by Steve Dobbins (Xact Audio)Tonearm: SpJ La Luce original tonearm with Titanium armwand, rewired by Xact Audio with Schroeder Pure Copper wire- no longer in use
Cartridge: Kiseki Purple Heart
SUT: Ypsilon MC-10L, RADA silver 1:40 SUT- no longer in use
Cables: Sablon Audio King Sablon PC ( Bocchino AC and IEC), Duelund DCA 16 and 12 GA Tinned Copper wires
Duelund Tinned Copper 16GA and 12GA ICs and Speaker cables
SRA Scuttle rack

Search

Search

Experience with different headshells

Maril555

Well-Known Member

Similar threads