FR64s & Orsonic Av-1s Effective mass ?

The FR64S is one of the great pickup arms of all time, so I'm not sure what Raul's trouble with it is. I sold mine - complete with adjustable VTA base - to a friend who still uses it. It still sounds terrific! Of course, not every arm is necessarily at its best in every table, so perhaps that's where Raul got confused about it.

cleeds, While Raul’s English may be a bit fractured at times, he is never "confused" about any of his underlying beliefs, as I am sure he will soon tell you, where the FR64S is concerned. But I agree with you; I set mine up expecting the kinds of problems Raul has repeatedly described, but I don’t hear them so far. In fact, I am breaking other rules as well, using a high mass arm with a high compliance cartridge (Acutex LPM320). I am still giving Raul the benefit of the doubt, because I do respect his opinion, except when he accuses me of "liking" distortions. Before I draw final conclusions I need to replace the 64S with some other tonearm that is both lower in effective mass and higher in "dampening" characteristics, keeping the turntable (Victor TT101 in re-enforced plinth) and cartridge constant.

Nicola, You raise an interesting question:  I wonder how many of us now own or ever did own an FR64S or FR66S.  And among this group, what is the opinion of the tonearm in terms of sonic qualities? 

I will start by saying I own one and my opinion so far is positive.
(I think the voting among FR64S or FR66S users can be simplified to "positive" or "negative".)

Maybe this should be a separate thread, but it does relate to the OP's conundrum.  Nevertheless, if he would rather squelch this investigation, so be it.

Raul is actually the only person I've ever heard who didn't think the FR-64S was an outstanding pickup arm. I've heard the FR-64S on a variety of turntables and in a variety of systems and it has always sounded excellent. Perhaps he bought a used one that is defective. That might explain it.