@lewm , You have to be kidding me Lew. After all I have said about measurement microphones, digital signal processing, and crazy microscopes? I measure everything that affects the performance of my system. If you don't you are out to sea without a compass.
@intactaudio , see my post above to alan60
@pindac, you build your own equipment, any of it? You measure the performance of your system with anything other than your ears? You been doing this since you were 4 years old. You spend 10 years installing very expensive systems in the homes of rich people to pay your way through medical school? You sir are a totally subjective nightmare.
@atmasphere , 1++ Excellent dissertation Ralph.
@rauliruegas 1++ Ditto. The key it is to maintain objectivity as far as you can and save the subjectivity for areas you can not measure or control. The Tonearm is not one of these areas. The Speaker/Room is by far the most difficult issue and subjectivity has to creep in. Here there are issues of taste and preference that go beyond measurement. It is still important to measure and understand everything you can.
@wallytools , JR, your opinion is always welcome here. Nobody is shooting at anybody and heated discussions are not a bad thing. Sometimes you have to be very specific to get the message across. There are always a few...total subjectivists around. The Viv arm is a great example of them in operation. They are entitled to ruin their own systems. But, others read these posts and I hate to see them swayed by alchemy. Yours is a voice of reason and should be heard especially when it comes to tonearms and cartridges.