Comparison of sonic qualities of some tonearms

@pindac I would not buy a SAT arm if it cost $5000.00. It is a bad design. The vertical bearing should be down at record level and it is a stable balance arm, not neutral balance. A tonearm shaft taper is nice but it does not have to be that fat. The size of the SME V  is fine. From a technical standpoint the SME V is a better arm. But it is too old and inexpensive to be any good. The press really drives this effect. 

My next arm will be either the Schroder LT or the Reed 5T. Whichever arm I get I will do so without an audition. If there is an issue with either arm I will deal with it.

It was inevitable, but the subject of the thread has now become how a tonearm should be designed and built, rather than how a tonearms sounds.  Unfortunately, we've done this new topic to death in previous threads. I don't expect my pointing this out to sober anyone up.  Carry on.

I may as well throw in my own thoughts on the SATs.  We all had to take them to get into a good college, so I don't see why the younger generation should be exempt. As for the SAT tonearms, they may be the finest sounding tonearms in the world (or not), but the prices are beyond irrational. 

A "scientific" approach is only possible if you have a calibrated instrument that does the listening itself.  Which of course is not going to fly.  In the end, we are stuck with subjective impressions.

@lewm 

Yes, I think this sums it up nicely, which is why I was interested in hearing other peoples' experiences with various tonearms, as theory can only take us so far.  As I listen to more tonearms, I will add to this thread in a more meaningful manner, but I'll probably try one new tonearm every year or two, so my input will be rather minimal.  

@dogberry 

I think @pindac is our resident quantum philosopher to whom all things are possible at all times, but only if not directly observed. . . 😉

Try listening to those files - there is a clear difference between some of them

Based on my own experiments, I think that it is possible that SAT is varying the rigidity / damping trade-off. File 1 is insufficiently damped, File 5 is insufficiently rigid, IMO. I think that 2-4 hit the sweet spot, and your preference depends on your taste. I think that I could listen to #2 all night without fatigue (well damped with good rigidity), maybe #4 (more rigid), but not  3 (least damped but most rigid).

My own wands would sound most like #2 (natural fibre composites) and #3 (sapphire), or so I suspect. Thanks for posting @2channel8 . I wouldn't have thought it possible.

@dogberry I clearly state endlessly that I attempt to make references to my experiences only.

If I do add experiences not directly observed, it will only be about comments I received about an extension of experience I had prior to the one being updated on, with content supplied from individuals whom I have come to trust substantially in audio related topics.

@dogberry 'write' and 'wink' your inaccuracies as you please, I have nothing to prove, my time on here is solely to offer another forum member, a alternative way to consider when looking to learn or make changes.

I am successful at that, I can assure you, even though it is most likely blind to yourself.