12-1/2" arm. NewArtVinyl Black Bird. Yea or Nay?

This arm is wonderful, simply 'not there'.

12.5"/317mm effective arc, 'less error'.   (39% longer than a 9" arm).

I've only heard this AT33ptg/ii cartridge on this arm, so all I can say is they sound superb together. 

Cartridge pre-mount to brass plate and then just a single screw to attach plate/adjust cartridge overhang/null points is beyond easy. 

Easy to adjust tracking and anti-skate, holds it's settings, all gravity based.

It is simple parts/physics, not superb manufacturing, not concealing magic. They sell it for only $755. usd. which is very inexpensive IMO. 

http://newartvinyl.ru/board/detali_proigryvatelja/tonarm_black_bird12_5_carbon/7-1-0-41

+$70. for junction box if needed.

http://newartvinyl.ru/board/detali_proigryvatelja/konnektornaja_korobka_newartvinyl/7-1-0-44
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AFTER YOU INSTALL IT, NOT EASY (like an arm with a DIN fitting is).

You have to install or have it installed. I did it myself.

The arm comes with loose wires that you need to strip and solder.

I used their junction box for RCA cables. 

They are the tiniest silk covered litz wires in existence. After much hesitation, I found they strip easily, you just rub the tip of your x-acto knife along the length of the silk covering, it unravels. actually easier than stripping vinyl covered wires. Whew, who knew! 

My JVC TT81 sits high above the deck/armboard. I made a temporary sub-base, and they made me a nice permanent acrylic spacer for the extra height needed. It shows in one of the photos I added here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133779585540

Rotating the arm in it's fitting for Azimuth is a royal PITA, the set screw is on the bottom of the fitting out of sight, but, you only do it once. It could have been at the top, simply unscrew the notched rod for the anti-skate line for access.

Adjusting VTA using the provided micrometer works, however, you cannot make adjustments while playing, so it is adjust a bit/tighten the set screw/listen/measure/loosen the set screw/adjust a bit/tighten the set screw/listen ... You only do it once for a particular cartridge so the pain fades soon enough because it sounds awesome.

The Acos Lustre GST 801 arm at the rear position has the most magnificently easy VTA while playing I ever saw! Elegant, superb engineering and manufacturing, and it's magnetics are unique, but I prefer the long carbon arm.

Good afternoon, Eliot. Thanks for the good feedback. We made tones with 5 pins. I am throwing a link. http://newartvinyl.ru/board/detali_proigryvatelja/tonarm_black_bird12_5_5pin/7-1-0-53

IMO, you need to modify your original model.

The new 5pin din model (which I tried to get you to make for me) has a protective braided sleeve on the litz wires where they exit the base of the gimbal.

Mine, no protection, the insulation wore off from friction against the hard top and bottom edges of the hole they pass thru in the base. It began to hum.

I just had it re-wired by VAS, and they put heat shrink there (like you put a braided sleeve on your new model) to prevent that re-occuring.

Otherwise, the arm performs perfectly, and VAS thought highly of it, especially liked the micrometer for arm height/vta adjustment..

Thanks for the recommendations