Fidelity Research FR64s Headshell dilemma

auliruegas

@lewm : Sorry, your post is useless, for say the least, when the 99.99% of the pivoted vintage and today tonearms are/were designed with that offset angle and obviously overhang figure.

I’m not sure why you think it’s useless. Although I’ve never heard an underhung arm, many who have praise their sonics. The underhung arm certainly calls into question some of the common assumptions about LP playback, particularly the audibility of tracking error. By extension, that is one reason I’ve never cared for linear tracking arms. All that extra complication - for what? It’s not as though you’re likely to hear tracking error in a properly installed conventional offset overhung arm.

Yes, Raul, it is useless.  You cannot use it to make a campfire or to deliver a baby or change a tire.  All of this discussion is useless, on that level.  I'm sorry if I offended you by my choice of subject.  But can you see how all the blather about effective length, pivot to spindle distance, headshell offset angle, etc, etc, can be put to rest if you think about the mechanics of an underhung tonearm?  There are many misconceptions surrounding that type of tonearm, and I thought it was relevant to describe here what they can and cannot do, for anyone who is interested. It is indeed a pity that there are not more underhung tonearms from which to choose.  Like you say, it is indeed a free country, if not everywhere a free world.

@lewm 
No need to apologise for your post on underhung alignment.

In fact, for my 68 Conway Twitty 45rpm singles, underhung alignment works beautifully - the 2-3 minute tracks are smack bang in the middle of a 12 inch record.

As a medical doctor you would know that even if something doesn't work, understanding why can be invaluable.

Clearly Raul does not understand how scientific debate can lead to great new discoveries. 

I’ve never cared for linear tracking arms. All that extra complication - for what? It’s not as though you’re likely to hear tracking error in a properly installed conventional offset overhung arm.

Obviously you cant hear it, but others can.

No pivoted arm can reproduce the soundstage transparency and accuracy of a linear tracker, for example with choral music recorded in a church environment I can clearly hear the full extent of the room, and its aural impact.

Best you get rid of your CD player, it's a linear tracker.

I was obviously not familiar with the underhung tonearm concept (being a noob with vinyl related topics, not like most of you anyway) but Lew's post it is very interesting conceptually and to me especially with the description of forces (which again all of you are familiar with) but reading it I just understand the 3 concepts of underhung, linear tracking and S shaped and the repercussion it has on tracking error.Thank you Lew