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The Arm/Cartridge Matching Myth

When I began my journey in high-end audio 36 years ago….no-one ever wrote about arm and cartridge matching nor tonearm resonant frequency…?
Over the last 10 years or so…this topic has become not only ubiquitous, but has mutated beyond its definition, to THE guiding principle of matching cartridge to tonearm….❓❗️😵
The Resonant Frequency can be calculated using a complex formula relating Tonearm Effective Mass to the cartridge’s Compliance….or it can be simply measured using a Test record of various frequency sweeps.
The RECOMMENDED Resonant Frequency of any tonearm/cartridge combination is between 8-12Hz.
But WHY is this the recommended frequency and WHAT does it really mean…?

The raison d’etre of this Resonant Frequency…is to avoid WARPED records inducing ‘resonance’ into the tonearm…..
Say what…❓😵
WARPED records….❓❗️
Yes…..ONLY warped records❗️😎
But doesn’t it have any meaning for NORMAL records…❓
None whatsoever…..😊👍
Let me explain….🎼

A badly warped record induces the tonearm to rise and fall rapidly on the ‘sprung’ cantilever of the cartridge.
Depending on the severity and frequency of this warping…..a subsonic frequency between 2-5Hz is induced so if your tonearm/cartridge Resonant Frequency dips into this frequency range….it will begin resonating and thus miss-track and/or induce hum through your system.🎤
Keeping the lower limits of your tonearm/cartridge Resonant Frequency to 8Hz simply insures against this possibility.🎶

So what about the 12Hz upper limit…❓
This simply insures against the possibility of any ultra low-level frequency information which MAY be on the record, also inducing this same miss-tracking or hum. For instance if your tonearm/cartridge Resonant Frequency was 18Hz and you had an organ record or one containing synthesised bass going down to 16Hz…..your tonearm may miss-track or you MAY develop a hum❓😢

So how many badly WARPED record do you possess…❓
I have three out of a thousand or so……and have NEVER experienced miss-tracking or hum even on these three…❗️😍

Yet these days….everyone (without exception it seems)…even tonearm and cartridge designers….happily follow the dictum of this Arm/Cartridge MATCH as if it affected sound quality…..❓
This Resonant Frequency has ZERO affect on the sound quality of a particular tonearm/cartridge combination and I have proved it hundreds of times with a dozen different arms and over 40 cartridges.

The best match for ANY cartridge ever made….is simply the very best tonearm you can afford…whatever its Effective Mass…😘
128x128halcro
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Here’s your problem. The outside forces (low frequency seismic type) that can have an impact on the turntable platter, cartridge and tonearm are in the same part of the spectrum as their resonant frequencies. Most suspended turntables are tuned too high to stop the outside forces from doing their nefarious work.
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rauliruegas
13,020 posts
 
Dear @atmasphere  : I forgot I have that link, thank's to share it because it's acontundent additional evidence that that " myth " isnot amyth at all but something real and something we all have to take care about.

But six years ago you posted supporting the importance of cartridge/tonearm resonance frequency subject.

@mijostyn,agree with you.

R.
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rauliruegas
13,020 posts
 
@geoffkait  : That's not the main subject of this thread. Can you share " something " different to what other gentlemans already posted supporting that the myth is not a myth or if you think it's a myth then post according what you support?

I said that because as lewm you opened a new " window " here. Yes, you are free to post what you want it. This is a free world.

Thank's in advance,
R.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Huh? My post has everything to do with this discussion. Did you read the OP?  Myth is as good as a mile. 
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
Thank you Atmasphere for posting that Link to a paper presented 43 years ago.
I presume you infer that nothing has changed in the intervening period?

As I do with most Reports and Papers......I go firstly to the Conclusions 🙃
In this paper we have pointed out that traditional specifications like rumble, wow and flutter and required tracking force are both unreliable and inadequate. Furthermore, they are strongly influenced by the actual combination of motor, arm, cartridge and record, all of which are often left to random decisions by the Hi-Fi consumer. By the use of modern test equipment we have tried to throw a little light on the causes and influence of the interface problems between the elements in a turntable. Assisted by listening tests one can conclude that the fundamental problem creating parameter is the frequency response of the turntable below 20 Hz. Most modern turntables ieave much to be desired, typically they have resonance peaks of 5 — 10dB at 5 — 7 Hz. The first thing to do is to raise the frequency to 1 5 — 1 8 Hz and then ideally damp the system to a Q of 0,5, letting response roli off at preferably 1 2 dB/oct. In pursuit of this goal one should not make trade offs with respect to rigidity of the tonearm tube and fixture. Flexing in the arm and other spurious resonances could then be the result and destroy the stability of the stereo image. Finally in Part 2 we have focused on a type of distortion that is most clearly seen in the time domain: Early reflections. Our investigation tells us that here is an area which, at present, has rather poor correlation between the measurement methods available and the impact on the sound quality.
POOR CORRELATION BETWEEN THE MEASUREMENT METHODS AVAILABLE AND THE IMPACT ON SOUND QUALITY
This Resonant Frequency has ZERO affect on the sound quality of a particular tonearm/cartridge combination
That's what I said in my opening to this Thread 🧐
But this Link is not primarily concerned with the Arm/Cartridge Resonant Frequency (despite Atmasphere's attempt to suggest it is).
It is....as its Title suggests....a Paper on 
Audible Effects of Mechanical Resonances in Turntables
Turntables.....turntables.....TURNTABLES.....?? 🤣

Now to the nitty but not so gritty.....
This Paper....although prepared by respected engineers and scientists in good faith in 1957....is NOT a Peer-Reviewed White Paper accepted as SCIENCE.
For that to occur......the Testing Procedures and Results need to be independently replicated and consistently duplicated.
None of these Tests and Results has been replicated.....nor can they be for the results are entirely dependent on the turntable used, the isolation employed, the tonearms used and the cartridges and headshells selected.
This Paper is NOT SCIENCE and I would have expected a qualified Electrical Engineer to recognise this 🤔
The perception of wow and flutter, as well as rumble all affect the 'SOUND'. Rumble goobles up amplifier power and you can bet that increases IMD, which affects the 'SOUND'
"and you can BET that increases IMD which affects the SOUND"
Hmmm.....sounds like a real scientific argument to me 🤣
So now we have Atmasphere introducing 'Wow and Flutter', 'Rumble' and 'IMD' all of which are mentioned in the Paper he introduced on TURNTABLES.....and none of which has been mentioned before by REAL scientists (like Kirkus and Tonywin) in relation to Tonearm Resonant Frequency.

Why don't you point out the audible effects of all these artefacts in my YouTube Videos so that people actually have some 'baseline' for the horrors that you continue to warn us about.....?
The whole premise of this thread is patently ridiculous! knock it off.
Nothing to see here Atmasphere says....
Don't listen for yourselves (which will cost you nothing).....
Believe me and what I say because I know what you should listen to 🤥
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