2. analog
  3. 130230-6882

Curved and Straight Tonearms

Over the last 40 years I have owned 3 turntables. An entry level Dual from the '70's, a Denon DP-52F (which I still use in my office system) and a Rega P3-24 which I currently use in my main system. All of these turntables have had straight tonearms. I am planning on upgrading my Rega in the near future. Having started my research, I have noticed that some well reviewed turntables have curved 'arms. My question: What are the advantages/disadvantages of each, sonic or otherwise? Thanks for any input. 
ericsch
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
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.
I’m not sure if you are overestimating Raul’s influence Lewm (if I am understanding you correctly)...in suggesting that the prices of the FR-66s arms have gone down since other folk paid a ’premium’ for theirs...?
I have two FR-66s arms (as well as a silver-wired FR-64s) and have seen their prices stabilise at about $9000-$10,000 over the last few years...
http://www.topclassaudio.com/web/eng/used_product_details.jsp?gid=8068
That’s if you can find any available at all......
There is a badly beaten-up one available with missing items and without headshells for $5,850 from Otoman Vintage
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/352099982219?rmvSB=true
but this is hardly the quality that a serious collector or connoisseur will contemplate.
At any rate....analogue-lovers willing to pay these prices for 35 year-old tonearms will do so knowing what these arms can do,
And what they can do, compared to the very best ’modern’ arms....is still quite baffling!
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Dear dover, I am glad that I provoked this lecture about bearings.

The sense of our forum is also to learn and not only to exchange

our opinions. I have seen some info about Ikeda's new tonearms

but missed the info about new kinds of bearings which he used

in his new tonearms. My (wrong) guess was that he made some

sevings by omission of the lateral balance. Even by such prices

the argument of ''savings'' somehow seems to work (grin).

Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,095 posts
 
Dear @dover : Of course I know exactly how to set up that arm.

My post to @lewm was taking in count what the manual says:

""" Note 2): the lateral balance device is provided to correct for the sideways tendency in tonearm movement that occurs when the TT cabinet is not used on a horizontal stand. Practically speaking no problems will occurif the TT is installed level. Therefore, you ordinary don’t need to pay too much attention to this adjustement ".

yes the manual speaks about that 5mm.. In that same post I said that other tonearm designs use a lateral weigth for different reasons than FR.

@lewm well I just found out the manual:
https://www.vinylengine.com/library/fidelity-research/fr-64.shtml

In the other side and I repeat it again because for you never had clear the explanation behind those pictures in an ad here in Agon and at very opportunity you have just come and try to hit me in any way, this only shows ( again and again. ) the very high level of frustration you have with me for long time because because many times showed you level of ignorance in discussions. That level of ignorance is different from my ignorance levels. Btw, you can’t hit me in that ridiculous way with the pictures or with the FR " unknowledge set up level ". Try to lead/surpass that high frustration levels in benefit of your self.

For the people that unknow what’s behind those Dyna pictures here it is:

I owned the Dyna Karat that comes with a " terrible/poor " dedicated headshell and I never used the cartridge with that headshell . When I put on sale I have to took pictures for Agon and I don’t care too much if the headshell position and that’s all.

Who cares, cartridge sold but you took that pictures as a tool for your very high frustration levels. Good for you, live with.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.



Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,095 posts
 
Dear @halcro : """  At any rate....analogue-lovers willing to pay these prices for 35 year-old tonearms will do so knowing what these arms can do,..... """


that's the " trouible " with FR owners that like you: DID NOT CATCH YET WHAT THESE ARMS CAN DO ! ! ! ! 

but I hope that before any one die can learn about. Don't be too late halcro.


Btw, @lewm : I used for a while the FR 66/64 and Ikeda tonearms since ( through the time. ) I learned the critical importance to mount a cartridge always in a well damped tonearm because is what any single cartridge asks for it can shows us its real and true quality level performance.
FR are totally all metal undamped design and additional has that " terrible " VTF resonant mechanism that preclude its use with a cartridge. This is just common sense and if you have a decent well damped design with the rigth audio system comparisons in between is really easy. You know very well when I say: " rigth audio system "..
I can't use any more a single piece of audio that I know for sure that in inherent way  does not helps to lower distortions/colorations in the system but the other way around. 
Lewm, knowing you I'm sure that if you already have ( that you have not, yet. ) that kind of knowledge/experiences you will do the same than me.


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
dover
2,247 posts
 
rauliruegas
7,978 posts
07-05-2017 3:12am
Dear @dover : Of course I know exactly how to set up that arm.

My post to @lewm was taking in count what the manual says:

""" Note 2): the lateral balance device is provided to correct for the sideways tendency in tonearm movement that occurs when the TT cabinet is not used on a horizontal stand. Practically speaking no problems will occurif the TT is installed level. Therefore, you ordinary don’t need to pay too much attention to this adjustement ".
Raul,
It is clear that you do not know how to set up the FR64S correctly.
"Adjustment" in English means 'do not move from the neutral position'.
The 'neutral position' for the Lateral Balance is 5mm in from the end of the shaft as is explained clearly in the manual.
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.
In this post you were wrong when you advised people to "not use" the lateral balance.

As regards the "Dynavector Karat Nova" you say 
rauliruegas
7,978 posts
07-05-2017 3:12amI owned the Dyna Karat that comes with a " terrible/poor " dedicated headshell and I never used the cartridge with that headshell .
Raul,
How is it possible for you to conclude that the dedicated headshell provided with the Dynavector Karat Nova is "terrible" when you say that you never used it. That conclusion would appear to be fanciful at best.
rauliruegas
7,978 posts
07-05-2017 3:12amI
the very high level of frustration you have with me for long time because because many times showed you level of ignorance in discussions. That level of ignorance is different from my ignorance levels.
Raul,
Thank you for those kind words. I leave you with a quote to reflect upon from Daniel Boorstin -
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”


More to discover