Curved and Straight Tonearms

Nandric, I was just recently examining the shape of my FR64S.  Would you say it is more "J"-shaped than "S"-shaped?  That's what I concluded, J.  An S-shaped tonearm generally has two curves in it; the FR64S has one bend.  Either way, we know Raul hates it. He hates it with an intensity that seems inappropriate for an inanimate object.  I, for example, only hate certain politicians.  And yet, they pass for human.

How do you set the lateral weight?  I just have mine in close to the pivot.

Dear @lewm : You are rigth, it's a J shapped design. Now, FR designed that lateral weigth balance mainly to compensate a non-perfectly leveled TT.  Normally in the FR design that lateral weigth is not used if the TT is rigth on level. FR explained in its manual.

Other tonearms designs use a lateral balance for different issue. 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Thank you for that input, Raul.
And thanks for your response too, Nandric.
I don't have the FR64S owners manual.  So I assumed that the lateral weight had to stay mounted on its post; I therefore have shoved it up against the pivot as far as it will go, on the assumption that my turntable is level AND that even in the extreme position, the lateral weight is doing something greater than zero to compensate for the J-shape, assuming that is a good thing to do.
I too wonder whether Raul's opinion of the FR64S has damaged its value, but since I am enjoying mine, I really don't care very much.  I would not want to be one of those who recently paid a premium for the FR66S, however, where the asking prices are up around $6-7,000.  But this is no reason for Raul not to express his honest opinion, his right to which I do defend. Nor do I doubt Raul's sincerity.

rauliruegas
7,976 posts
07-04-2017 6:20am
Dear @lewm : You are rigth, it’s a J shapped design. Now, FR designed that lateral weigth balance mainly to compensate a non-perfectly leveled TT. Normally in the FR design that lateral weigth is not used if the TT is rigth on level. FR explained in its manual.

Raul, you are wrong.

The lateral balance weight should be set 5mm in from the end of the shaft on the arm pillar. This is the neutral position. It explains clearly in the manual ( page 6 ) that that if you adjust the vertical balance to 0 ( floating ), lift the turntable slightly and check whether the arm floats in or out then you adjust the balance in or out from that neutral position to compensate.

By reverse logic, if the arm mounting is perfectly level, then the weight should be at 5mm from the end of the shaft.

I have proven this by placing a gap checker under my arm board, and as expected when I tilt the arm board even a few micron the balance has to be adjusted in or out from that neutral position.

Furthermore when the arm is mounted perfectly level, and the Lateral Balance weight is 5mm in from the end of the shaft, the anti skate force required will be optimised.

It is disappointing that you would spend hours commenting on the merits of the Fidelity Research FR64S tonearm when you have clearly demonstrated that you do not understand how to set the FR64S up correctly. You hold yourself out to be an expert, when clearly you are not, and many folk who make the false assumption that that you are correct will be now setting their FR64’s up incorrectly (with the Lateral Balance removed ).

This is not the first time that you have made big mistakes in setting up your equipment, I previously highlighted to you that you had installed your Dynavector Karat Nova with the cartridge holder mounted on your arm upside down. Please find attached a video demonstrating where you went wrong on that occasion -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4o-imxZHS8