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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.
uberwaltz
terry9
2,354 posts
 
Trans-Fi tonearm works with low pressure. An aquarium pump is recommended. I run mine at 20-30mm of Hg, that is about 0.5 psi.

Low pressure means no issues with oil or condensate or maintenance. High pressure (for my TT) does mean maintenance, but industrial accessories and connectors limit that to an hour a month.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,164 posts
 
Understanding these design differences will go a long way towards setup of both tonearms. If anyone is toasting carts on an ET2 they have no idea how to set it up.

Sounds to me like your dealers were Personality Type B...8^0.
@ct0517
Looking back on it, I think you are right.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
So the Harman Kardon ST7 with the Rabco arm is likely to be one to be avoided. I guess HK bought out Rabco in the seventies and thought this TT would be a good idea
terry9
2,354 posts
 
Ralph, the gentleman.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,274 posts
 
@terry9---say, what pump do you use with your Terminator? Have you also incorporated a "surge" tank? Just a regular ol' 1 gallon plastic jug? I'm about to mount my Terminator (which I had Vic fit with the last of his silver wire, straight to a pair of WBT RCA plugs) on a VPI Aries 1 I got specifically for use with the arm.
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