Best Tonearms: Under $2,000

In the Encounter, PS’ reference Ortofon Windfeld displayed its peerless neutrality and near-peerless tracking, with outstanding bass and a rich and involving midrange. Highs, though smooth and extended, evinced a very subtle lack of detail or focus. The Encounter also allowed the Dynavector Karat Mk III to strut its stuff with virtually no cramping of its high-kicking style. It says volumes for the excellence of this ’arm that it could put two such different pickups through their paces so even-handedly. PS, 210

The Stogi S is a hydraulically damped unipivot with a simple string-and-weight anti-skating mechanism, dual underslung counterweights, and provisions for making both coarse and fine azimuth adjustments. In our reviewer’s system, this ’arm enabled a Shelter 90X cartridge to produce almost shockingly three-dimensional sound with rock-solid bass. CM, 159