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Linear tracking turntables, whatever happened?

Curious as to the demise and downfall of the seemingly short lived linear tracking TT.
Just from a geometry point of view I would have thought a linear arm should be superior to one with a fixed pivot that sweeps through an arc.
Obviously there is much more to it than that, sort of the reason for this thread.
I am genuinely interested in trying one out for myself as well.
128x128uberwaltz
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
A pity that the general public did not share your enthusiasm Sleepwalker.

I have never tried one of the 80,s linear tables but maybe I will.
dwette
191 posts
 
Clearaudio has several linear arms starting at the ~$4K range. I had thought about getting the TT-5 for my Ovation (to replace the Magnify arm) but opted for their top of the line tangential arm instead, the Universal. The TT-5 and their other linear trackers are considered finicky to set up and keep dialed in, so I am told. The Universal was easy-peasy for me to setup and dial-in, and is a set it a forget it system. It sounds fantastic and ended up one of the best upgrades I’ve done.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
Is there a place that could fix Mitsubishi LT-30? I believe it is only a tonearm belt, but I may be wrong.

Having said that, maybe linear tracking turntables had more to break down?
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anthonymaw
19 posts
 
They were great but like anything with complexity they can (will) fail over time and could be difficult to repair.  You can still see some listed for sale on craigslist in major cities from time to time.  Nothing beats the simplicity and reliability of a direct-drive turntable with a pivoting tonearm.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
I have: Rabco (TT and arm), Beogram, Saul Marantz, Revox and Diatone (Mitsubishi). I still think a pivoted arm is better (simpler and easier to set up).
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