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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
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Genesis 168, For those who swear by following the user manual

you should mention that ''P to S'' distance as prescribed in the

manual is 230 mm. Not 231,5 mm. The later is recommended

by the first German review of the FR-64 S tonearm by ''Das Ohr"

Magazine in April 1984. ''Our'' dertonarm was back than reviewer

by this Magazine.

This is of course the so called ''Bearwald geometry'' while Ikeda's

230 mm ''means'' Stevenson .

genesis168's avatar
genesis168
409 posts
 
Nandric, you are correct. I have tried both and highly recommend 231.5 especially on the dennessen. 

lewm
13,111 posts
 
I am using 231.5, because I took a cue from The Tonearm, several years ago.  I even aligned it with the UNItractor, the official protractor of The Tonearm, also known to me privately as the Super Dennesen.  Using the FR64S template in the UNI, also supplied to me by DT. Thus I must be in Baerwald alignment.

Nandric, When I received my FR64S from Japan, the bearing was "stiff".  I actually followed the advice given, to leave it in the sun.  A few hours on our kitchen table in the direct sunlight coming through the window was sufficient to loosen it up.  Neither of our two sons tried to eat it. I've never had to do another heat treatment since then.
genesis168's avatar
genesis168
409 posts
 
Lewm, the uni is the only better alignment tool for any Tonearm. Noticeably better than the dennessen. But not that affordable. I own one because I do setups and installs and it's by far the best tool in the market as far as universality, ease of use and precision. 
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Dear Lew, But you was not able to see the VTF spring and the greas

in which the spring is dipped. So Raul may be right by assuming

all kinds of resenances caused by the spring in your FR-64 . My got

 so much greas that it hardly can bread. So no resonances of any

kind in my FR-64 sample.

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