The Arm/Cartridge Matching Myth


When I began my journey in high-end audio 36 years ago….no-one ever wrote about arm and cartridge matching nor tonearm resonant frequency…?
Over the last 10 years or so…this topic has become not only ubiquitous, but has mutated beyond its definition, to THE guiding principle of matching cartridge to tonearm….❓❗️😵
The Resonant Frequency can be calculated using a complex formula relating Tonearm Effective Mass to the cartridge’s Compliance….or it can be simply measured using a Test record of various frequency sweeps.
The RECOMMENDED Resonant Frequency of any tonearm/cartridge combination is between 8-12Hz.
But WHY is this the recommended frequency and WHAT does it really mean…?

The raison d’etre of this Resonant Frequency…is to avoid WARPED records inducing ‘resonance’ into the tonearm…..
Say what…❓😵
WARPED records….❓❗️
Yes…..ONLY warped records❗️😎
But doesn’t it have any meaning for NORMAL records…❓
None whatsoever…..😊👍
Let me explain….🎼

A badly warped record induces the tonearm to rise and fall rapidly on the ‘sprung’ cantilever of the cartridge.
Depending on the severity and frequency of this warping…..a subsonic frequency between 2-5Hz is induced so if your tonearm/cartridge Resonant Frequency dips into this frequency range….it will begin resonating and thus miss-track and/or induce hum through your system.🎤
Keeping the lower limits of your tonearm/cartridge Resonant Frequency to 8Hz simply insures against this possibility.🎶

So what about the 12Hz upper limit…❓
This simply insures against the possibility of any ultra low-level frequency information which MAY be on the record, also inducing this same miss-tracking or hum. For instance if your tonearm/cartridge Resonant Frequency was 18Hz and you had an organ record or one containing synthesised bass going down to 16Hz…..your tonearm may miss-track or you MAY develop a hum❓😢

So how many badly WARPED record do you possess…❓
I have three out of a thousand or so……and have NEVER experienced miss-tracking or hum even on these three…❗️😍

Yet these days….everyone (without exception it seems)…even tonearm and cartridge designers….happily follow the dictum of this Arm/Cartridge MATCH as if it affected sound quality…..❓
This Resonant Frequency has ZERO affect on the sound quality of a particular tonearm/cartridge combination and I have proved it hundreds of times with a dozen different arms and over 40 cartridges.

The best match for ANY cartridge ever made….is simply the very best tonearm you can afford…whatever its Effective Mass…😘
halcro
@larryi same on modern Hi-Fi News TEST LP, but without instruments, just tone. 
Halcro is off on his own planet somewhere where the laws of physics are strangely different. I suggest we all ignore him from now on. On this planet he makes no sense.
Agreed! This entire topic is ridiculous. I've reported this thread as trolling. This is the last post I will make to it; I suggest others do the same.
Dear @halcro : There is no " best friends " only honest discussions trying to learn every time.

Btw, my " disastrous room/systems set up " sounds just sublime nothing that you can even imagine or dream and certainly nothing that you can achieve today and never in your audio life. Period.

Now and coming back with the Myth main tread subject:

halcro, six years ago when you posted this thread and after post it your foots were inside a coffin with no return no matter what.

In those times several gentlemans proved with facts that your thread statement was totally false. You only post and never gave any true evidence that proved the existence of your Myth that only exist in your brain.

@timeltel in those times was one of those gentlemans and he as always was spot on as today is with his post. Welcome timeltel people miss you in this forums.

Through his post @dover puts an additional nail to your coffin.

Rigth now you are bury so deep in the earth that it’s imposible to stop your free fall down there.

With your latests posts you are not only adding more nails to the coffin but you are accelerating that free fall.

Please do it a favor and stop your free fall because each time you post about don’t put another nail because in the coffin there is no more surface for an additional nail but you just go deeper and deeper.

Hear my cartridges is the big joke you imagine as are all those you tube videos: and you think  and want that through a joke you can prove you are rigth: go figure ! !  

R.
@atmasphere  please stop that report because the post must be here for people can learn about. 

Several posts including yours are very good lessons for any agoner, so we need stay the thread for all the newcomers.

R.