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High mass vs Low Mass Turntables - Sound difference?

As I am recently back playing with analog gear after some 15 years away, I thought I would ask the long time experts here about the two major camps of record players -- high vs low mass-loaded-type tables...

For example, an equivalently priced VPI table (say a Classic, Aries or Prime) versus a Rega RP8/10 or equivalent Funk Firm table...  the design philosophies are so different ... one built like a tank, the other like a lightweight sports car...

Just wondering if the folks here have had direct experience with such or similar tables, and what have been your experiences and sense of strengths and weaknesses of these two different types of tables.



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lewm
12,585 posts
 
LT tonearms still need to be set for azimuth.  LT tonearms need to place the stylus tip exactly on the radius of the LP, from the edge to the center of the spindle, else they are always tracking at an angle, and off-center LPs offer the same set of problems for an LT tonearm as for a pivoted one.  Then you've got the air pumps, leveling of the platter, etc, etc.  No free lunch.  But if that's your cup of tea....

Also, LT tonearms are problematic on light weight, suspended turntables.
czarivey
5,756 posts
 

@lewm 

I concur to setting azimuth on LT and my HK Rabco(very heavy and unsuspended nearly 40lb deck pretty rare to find as well) does have azimuth adjustable. LT arms indeed problematic with suspended turntables and less-likely you can find one made or built that originally goes with linear arm.

Most of LTs move the arm tube as soon as it tracks to the point of electrical contact to engage the tonearm motor that will move another notch of the arm tube close to the end of record thus LT always tracks at angle, but not as sharp as pivoted arm so the problems aren't same for pivoted vs. LT.


harold-not-the-barrel
895 posts
 
I never had any kind of problems using Terminator T3Pro LT on my ORACLE DELPHI. The sound was very convincing, quite incredible to be honest for a BD suspended deck. The best I ever had heard hands down.
pryso
1,912 posts
 
Lew and harold,

I remember that ET arms were popular on Oracle tables but I never understood why?  I owned an Oracle for awhile and found it to be EXTREMELY sensitive to balance.  Mine had a sort of counterweight balance under the platter but I still had problems, even with a conventional pivoted arm (SAEC).  Maybe later versions of the table remedied that?
lewm
12,585 posts
 
Czarivey, You own one of the few LT tonearms that operate as you describe.  I believe Mr Rabinow invented the idea of having a little motor move the tonearm in increments, when it makes contact with a tiny switch located back behind the pivot.  Like you say, this assures that the Rabco tonearms (and the Goldmund TF tonearms which copy Rabcos) are swinging in tiny arcs across the surface of the LP, for good or ill.  But most modern LT tonearms are either riding on an air bearing (with a rigid 90-degree connection between the arm wand and the air-borne carriage) or gliding downhill toward the center of the LP because of dishing of the LP surface, a la the Souther.
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