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Tonearms longer than 12 inches

I'm curious to hear anyone's speculations on the
future of tonearm developement. What could be improved ?
As well, what lengths could we reasonably expect to see
in a pivoting arm ? 14 inch ? 16 inch ?
noslepums
dgarretson
2,593 posts
 

Hello Raul,  I'm mostly an accidental tourist with respect to tonearms, having owned only around 12 over the years.  Of late I have gravitated to the SME 3012R and compared this to a 11" Kuzma 4Point and a Micro Seiki 808X on the same turntable.  The 3012R and the 4Point have identical 14gm effective mass. The SME is arguably the best of the lot, and does great with both high and low compliance cartridges.  Maybe SME got it just right with the stainless steel wand.  I've heard that the R was more popular with Japanese audiophiles than the other versions, and to some surpasses even the IV and V.  The R delivers possibly the best neutrality and LF delineation I've heard.  Not the biggest bass, but perhaps the most well controlled and natural.

I don't understand why setting up a 12" arm should be more difficult than a shorter arm.  I've been careful to find precise pivot-to-spindle distance and use standard null points on a db protractor.

Regards,

Dave    

hwsworkshop
36 posts
 

A 12" arm with its shallower arc is like a linear tracking arm that is set up wrong, it is wrong over larger parts of its travel then a shorter arm.  I don't hear the difference the math claims but I do a very precise setup.

My 12" 3D arms when set up properly have the smoothest upper midrange I have ever heard, rivaling the best linear tracking air bearing arms.  The one piece totally damped design with no small pieces sticking out all over really does not resonate and that makes a uni-pivot work even better.   HW

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,386 posts
 
I had a Helius Orion...the worst arm I ever had. Had to go back to England many times to readjust/refurbish the bearings....I’d never again buy from this manufacturer.  I didn't care what it sounded like...didn't have it that much.
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rauliruegas
12,865 posts
 
Dear dgarretson: I owned that SME 3012 too and really like me, maybe because its big name SME. I own/owned the 1V/V too but I never did a comparisons against the 3012 because this one was sold.

In theory the 4Point by Kuzma is a very good tonearm and maybe your preference for the 3012 was/could be because the cartridge used on that comparison made it a better match with the SME and not because is 12".

HW, Helius and me were talking of comparisons made it with same cartridges with same manufacturer tonearm models: one 12"+ against same shorter tonearm model. This way exist only one diferent parameter under evaluation.

As I said opinions coming for other respectable Agoners like you always helps in any audio item dialogue.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
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rauliruegas
12,865 posts
 
Dear stringreen: I never had the opportunity to listen the today Helius tonearms and can't share nothing about other that even if those tonearms " are the worst " out there that Helius comparisons is valuable because the owner was listening the same ( good or bad ) where the only diference was the length of the tonearm and this is what we are talking about.

Now, if I remember the Orion is the vintage Helius one that has many not good owners histories like you.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.-


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