Top 5 Tonearms Newer or Vintage Under 2500 That Will Beat anything above/below 2.5k?

@neonknight Hello, i just shipped them today to another audiogon member from Michigan, sorry.  

"VTA adjustment on the fly" is perhaps the most over-stated feature of any tonearm.  Who here has ever tried to adjust VTA while playing an LP, which is presumably the meaning of the term? Unless you don't care about the LP or the cantilever, this simply cannot and probably should not be done, without trauma to either component.  The phrase should be more like "VTA adjustment that is not a pain in the ass".  I don't know what's up with the SME V, but I Iong ago adopted the policy of not using any tonearm that relies solely on a set screw in its base (and gravity) to adjust and maintain VTA.  That to me is the main point.  I use Triplanar, Reed, Dynavector tonearms, etc, because they all allow for precise and repeatable changes in VTA, up or down. That's the best you can hope for in my opinion. But I would never think of changing VTA "on the fly".  By the way, this feature was introduced by Herb Papier in his original design of the Triplanar. (The name is meant to suggest that the cartridge position can be adjusted and stabilized in all 3 planes of spatial orientation.) The Triplanar made it difficult for other tonearm manufacturers not to offer a reasonable method for precise adjustment of VTA.

lewm

"VTA adjustment on the fly" is perhaps the most over-stated feature of any tonearm.

Perhaps. One of the problems with on the fly VTA is that when you change VTA, you're changing a bunch of things. Of course you also change SRA, but you're also changing VTF, overhang and tangency and potentially altering azimuth, too. So the notion that changing VTA on the fly let's you "dial in the sound" isn't quite accurate.

Who here has ever tried to adjust VTA while playing an LP, which is presumably the meaning of the term? Unless you don't care about the LP or the cantilever, this simply cannot and probably should not be done, without trauma to either component. 

This is mistaken. Of course it's difficult to do on a lightweight turntable or one with a very compliant suspension. But something like an SME V on a heavy plinth turntable such as a VPI TNT does allow for the safe adjustment of VTA while a record is playing.

Any opinions on Origin live Mk3 or Zephyr?

cleeds, 
"This is mistaken. Of course it's difficult to do on a lightweight turntable or one with a very compliant suspension. But something like an SME V on a heavy plinth turntable such as a VPI TNT does allow for the safe adjustment of VTA while a record is playing."

OK. go for it.  But my opinion is not "mistaken".  It's just my opinion based on my experience, and none of my 5 turntables is lightweight or suspended. You yourself just cited some other factors in favor of not adjusting VTA while an LP is in play, but you're entitled to your opinion in favor of VTA on the fly, as well.

Vinny, I am a bit tired of being included in your little war with Raul.