Discuss The Viv Lab Rigid Arm

Yes, I now recall that you did mention somewhere in the past that you owned an RS-A1.  I've never sold mine, but I don't use it for reasons stated. However, it too sounds better than it should given its shortcomings when you compare it to conventional tonearms.

My test process is based on more than 40 years of listening to a wide variety of turntables (5 TTs up and running), tonearms, and cartridges, and on recent years of being able to listen to any of several turntables, each with a different tonearm and cartridge, using one of two different audio systems.  This enables me to make rapid transitions (I can move a cartridge between turntables or between two tonearms or between two completely different systems, for example, in minutes, in order to evaluate that cartridge in isolation. The same can be done with other elements of the chain.)  But such evaluation is always limited in the sense that it is always subjective. I do own and use oscilloscopes (Techtronix, Sencore), audio frequency generators (HP), meters of all kinds, and a laboratory microscope, which I most often use for diagnostic and repair purposes. I also have trained as a vocalist and even performed several times, back 10 years ago or so. We attend live music performances at least once a month and more usually 2-3 times per month in the DC area, where there are a plethora of great performers.  I am also a member/donor to the Kennedy Center, and we attend often.

This is all a useless argument between us.  I say the Viv Float sounds very good and has some characteristics that are near to uniquely good among tonearms I have heard.  I am interested in why it sounds good.  And in the process, I have come to doubt certain gospels of modern pivoted tonearm design and the origins of these "gospel truths".  In contrast, you say the Viv simply cannot be good.  Let's agree to disagree without disparaging each other's qualifications to have an opinion.  That's what you just did do, despite your follow-up claims to the contrary. 

@lewm  :  Thank's to share your proccess that's way different from mine, I did my test comparison almost the same way than you due that one time I had 10 tonearms/cartridges operating in my system but those kind of test proccess was so many years ago that I can't remember for sure when I left to dii it.

My " tree " instead " forest " test proccess is a way simple and I don't need any other tool than the ears because when you know exactly what to look for the ears are the best tool under the audio world and way faster than the normal " forest " procces almost all audiophiles use.

I remember that first time at A.Porter time I took no more than 10 minutes to note a system fault and another 10 minutes to fixed and A.Porter agree on that " fixed ".

In Idaho I was seated " against " MBL speakers, Technics SP-10MK3, Schroeder tonearm, tube amps by the great regarded designer that unfortunatelly pass away and that at this moment can't remember his name and the cartridge was the SS Straing Gauge and the owner had the LP I need it and he did it and my rigth first impression ( first 5 minutes. ) was a truly Impressive but then I ask that gentleman that in that LP I need to listen a specific track and after listened I was totally sure that those HF were wrong: all these in 15 minutes and over the time all SG owners confirmed what I knew before they. After half hour he changed cartridge to listen the Lyra Olympos and thigs changed for the better through the Essential 3160. The system owner was deep founded with the SG and I try don't insist in other way but have some fun just listening MUSIC.

Btw, I listening for the first time a Rockport TT an Acapella top speakers with F.Crowder that I named.

Lew I did and do not try in anyway to " disparaging " you . I was almost sure and that's why I ask you to share your proccess that that was your proccess.

When I said that's not your fault I posted that not to be condescend with you because I know I'm not condescend with no body: this is not the way I'm and sorry for that: I'm straigth/direct no matters what.

In my proccess I'm not looking for what sounds good or excellent but the other way around: look for specific " recording errors " in  specific LP tracks. With my " trees " I can in no more than 1 hour prove/detect that the VIV is wrong no matter what and with out need to measure nothing. That is not my capacity but the whole test proccess capacities.

I'm not conceited in anyway and that's why I posted audiophiles names/places and no my ears are no better than yours but just " truer " thank's to the proccess estrategy.

R.

So if you ever get to listen to the Viv Lab tonearm under conditions that are familiar to you from past experience, and if you can manage to divorce yourself from pre-formed opinion, I would be very interested to know what you think of it. Until then, you cannot add anything, because we know already about its theoretical shortcomings.

" you cannot add anything, because we know already about its theoretical shortcomings. "

That theorethical is a fact and I posted that I was looking for an explanation why the audiophiles like t and that explanation that VIV owners can’t do the necessary " autopsy " as a " forensic " does due that no one of you have that kind of " tree " whole proccess tests. So, no one can’t find out that " why " if does not has that critical test proccess and that’s why you have not explanation about till today.

My advise is that you  start to develop that test proccess and then maybe you can have your explanation not before.

At the ned there is no plausible explanation due that no one can prove that does not exist that tracking additional distortions.

You took the VIV flag and for your posts seems to me that you are even to " die for that flag ", well it's you.

R.

I’m reviewing on line reviews of the tonearm now. There is a commonality of opinion about the sonic virtues, and I hear it the same way. Must be something to that. I earlier reported that the base weighs 2 lbs, so as to firmly locate the pivot. I was wrong; the base weighs 2 kg or 4.4 lbs.