lewm
my first thread here was asking about long arms
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/tt-12-tonearm-who-tried-and-ended-up-preferring-12-arm-2
then I asked specifically about the Blackbird 12.5
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/12-1-2-arm-newartvinyl-black-bird-yea-or-nay
and about the 9" arm I found
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/tonearm-acos-lustre-gst-801-yea-nay
.......................................
chakster was involved,
as I said, no one said 'good idea', chakster said NO, the only thing they make in Russia is military weapons. That definitely slowed me down. Next, Vlad, the Russian in Canada that sold me and Bill our large JVC Plinths, said he never recommends anything he is not personally familiar with.
Months, nothing else excited me, finally I had to risk it. I discussed the specifics with Square Trade before I bought it and their 3 year warranty.
Those tiny wires were quite a trial, now quite an accomplishment. If they would pre-wire to a din or mini-din connector, they would sell a lot more of them. Stubborn, they say they tried several, but like the sound without a din connector.
I love this arm, very glad I risked it.