Tonearms of exotic materials- esp. Carbon?

On the best arms, wand material will be dictated by the cartridge used. The Schroder Reference, for example, is available with several different types of woods, as well as carbon fiber. It is my understanding that the woods have superb damping properties. This thread is instructive: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1278338549&openfrom&1&4#1

My Schroeder is the Model 2, and it has a wand of carbon fiber.

In my stable are others of various materials...

Technics EPA-500...titanium nitride
Stax UA7...carbon fiber
Infinity Black Widow...carbon fiber
Magnepan Unitrac 1...Carbon fiber
ADC LMF2...carbon fiber
Various ones of aluminum, steel and wood.

I believe the whole thing to consider here is weight, stiffness and tone. I used to believe that the end game was neutrality, but I finally came to accept the fact that we who make things cannot even quantify neutrality. We are left with what we can do, and that is make something with a tone we prefer. Tonearms fit into that category, I suppose. Pick one that is competently built, suits your cartridge, and your ears.

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Not quite sure where this thread is going. I think I can say that the tonearm must be considered as a whole system. Therefore the use of one material over another is valid within the specific tonearm system. Use or non-use of a particular material by itself does not give any indication to the outsider of the performance. I don't believe I have ever heard a recommendation such as "with cartridge A you need a carbon fiber arm wand." It usually goes something like "with that cartridge on that arm you want the XYZ arm wand".

Win is right on. Pick the coloration that annoys you the least.

"Enjoy music, tolerate equipment" - Nick, no damn dogma, Doshi :-)

Wilson Benesch- "The Future is Carbon"

Beware of the acoustic energy that will be in the room and act on the arm and cartridge. Having said that, it would appear that a ceramic material would be the best as it would have the lowest resonances. All the metals will 'ring', easily proven by hold your finger against the arm while a disc is being played. Of course, if you have an acoustic screen around the platter/arm, that would be best, also.