Why is the price of new tonearms so high

FWIW, what Quiddity is saying makes sense to me.

IS it accurate to state that the combo of cartridge/compliance and tone arm together matters greatly? A great or expensive tonearm with mismatched cartridge/compliance still won't work well, right?

Mark, whats you favorite Tonearm of choice and why have you chosen it?

Mark,
y.s.:
>>> ... your last point is where things get interesting.<<<

OK, that is where everything then would get 'relative' --due to a cart's compliance. (Never mind the carts particular damping 'scheme', MCs in particular)

B U T we still have not hammered this nail all the way in where 'dynamic' vs. 'static' balancing is concerned.
Would even THAT become a function of the cart's compliance and damping behaviour?
Could one cart sound better with dynamic and some other better with static balance?

Your comment on this might be interesting in deed.

Axel

Axelwahl

The only advantage I can quantify for spring applied VTF is one that seems to have have been ignored in this thread, namely immunity to movement in response to externally applied acceleration (read noise). As I see it, get rid of the noise and there's no point.

Perrew

Not going to go there.

Mark Kelly

Hi Mark,
y.s:
>> Not going to go there.<<< :-) SIR, yes Sir!
And one wise decision methinks...

Thanks for the 'dynamic' vs. 'static' input also.
I think it's just a convenience if you can set VTF with a correctly graded dial (save $$$ for a force gauge :-)

Though some say, that if you can't hear the difference it's due to your system's short comings.
Then so be it, and yet more room for continuous improvement.
Axel
PS: Klappe zu, Affe tot!