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Hey everyone. I'm buying a new turntable very soon and I've realized that I'm lacking some knowledge on tonearms, which can ultimately hinder my decision on a turntable (and can cause me to be unhappy with my decision over time and want to upgrade yet again). I've noticed that on certain models (such as the pro-ject rpm series) that price is directly proportional to tonearm length - increasing in price as length does; particularly the pro-ject rpm1.3 and rpm 3. Fidelity wise, is there a reason for this? What's the effect of tonearm length on audio? I'm also unsure how tonearm shape affects sound quality, if it does at all. I always figured that S shaped tonearms had an effect on the angle of the stylus and made certain cartridges/styli more suitable than others for turntables (elliptical, conical, linear, etc...), and were also a way to affect torque of the arm when the turntable is spinning- and as a result making them superior to straight tonearms. I've since realized S shaped tonearms are in fact longer in general (fairly obvious, but this also relates to my previous question), causing me to wonder if their entire purpose is also to increase the length of tonearms. Could someone provide me with some insight on these things? Everything I've found online looks like marketing jargon to justify substantial price increases. Thanks ahead of time for any help you may provide, and I apologize if this post was at all confusingly worded as I tend to be fairly verbose. I'm sure I'll edit this post around 50 times before I'm finally ok with it.

Just purchased a singer stereophonic transistorized phonograph. Has two mini speakers that plugin and detach. Stacking features, and has the option to run automatically but I'm afraid that's a bust. My problem here is the man said he had just replaced the needle but it still skips across the surface. Also the tonearm won't reach past the 4th song of any full 12" I haven't tested any 45"s yet but I was thinking it was some sort of spring in the tonearm that doesn't allow it to reach that far? Now imagine not being able to hear any last songs on your records need your help Also if anyone has a manual for this thing that'd be great

My EPA 100 is for sale on eBay. This is one of the few tonearms where you can adjust the vertical tracking angle while the album is playing. These are very rare and hard to find, and represents the peak of Technics design in the vinyl era. To bid, go to http://www.ebay.com/itm/261665259712 Shipping to the continental USA only, please.