Why the sudden popularity of 12 inch arms

Swampy, Rather than have you think I am a xe... big words... Since it is you who hasn't been reading, let me quote someone with more credibility than I. This gentleman speaks (spoke) to the crux of this thread: "He, who will not reason, is a bigot; he, who cannot, is a fool; and he, who dares not, is a slave." William Drummond 1585-1649 Please read this, perhaps several times, and get back to me. Happy listening! Z.

Rather than posting on a new thread, I thought I'd use this thread to ask anyone out there on their experience with a couple of 12" arms: Ikeda IT-407 and Ortofon 309D. And from reputation only, the Da Vinci Grandezza would provide much better performance than the Ikeda and the Ortofon (albeit at a cost)? Thank you very much.

Selfdivider,I have heard the Davinci/Dynavector combo to excellent results.It appears to be a superb arm,and has a great reputation.The other two arms also have fine reputations,with the "right" cartridge,but I've not heard them.

From a point of interest standpoint(as it effects sound/music)....I have a dear friend who had a "magnificent" linear arm design,mounted on a high mass table/stand/air suspension....
It allowed for a "stunning",almost unmatched musical presentation,that I and others felt would not be equalled by "any" pivot(regardless of length).

Yet,my friend had owned this linear design for a number of years,and got tired of putting up with the "maintenance" issues,though minor.

So,he switched to a commonly known 12.5 arm,which did not match the air bearing/linear design,in that gorgeous relaxed,colorful presentation the set-up previously had!

Some friends(myself included) were quite dissapointed,because he had something "special" going on in "that" system.......Well-----

My friend must have had something going on,in the intuitive area of what he was looking for....because....

Two skilled,highly experienced and quite gifted fellow hobbyists(Richard Foster,and then Luis Cardona)showed up and "rolled up their sleeves" on my pal's table arm combo....

The results were "astounding"!!!

True high fidelity performance is now being had,from this 12.5 inch arm,and I had always thought it to not approach the performance of the linear design.....I sure was wrong!!

I and many others now feel it "almost" approaches the linear/air bearing" virtues....My pal is now ecstatic,and I must admit to being quite impressed with what a good "long" pivoting arm has to offer....

I can hear "music"!!....Go for it,if it makes you happy!!

Best

That's tremendous! Good to know, Sirspeedy. I was expecting a comparison with 9" arms, but knowing that - w/ proper set-up - the 12" arms rival the performance of linear arms only further cements the likelihood of going w/ 12" arm. Again, I'm looking for good recommendations. Grandezza is probably my dream arm, as the price is way too steep for me. As mentioned, looking into Ortofon 309D, Ikeda IT-407, and EMT 997, as I just read Art Dudley's review of it...