Discuss The Viv Lab Rigid Arm

@pindac has hit the nail on the head surely the point is the enjoyment of music.

I don't know about anyone else but when I buy a new piece of equipment I don't give a stuff about the theories, the equations, the technical specifications, the measured performance etc, all I am interested in is does it engage me in the music more that the piece of equipment it is replacing, whilst still fulfilling the usual hifi criteria. If it ticks these boxes then funds permitting I buy it.

This is exactly what the Viv Labs did and why I bought it over a Kuzma 4point, Kuzma 313ref.

So I say to @rauliruegas ​​​and @mijostyn if you get the opportunity please have an objective listen to a Viv Labs and put all the theories, equations etc to one side. If it doesn't float your boat then fine.

Please do not try to say those people who have bought a Viv Labs and are enjoying it have been taken advantage of and that the retailer's are purveyors of snake oil, as that is just patronising and derogatory, which I would have hoped was beneath you, but obviously not.

Agree with those that say "just listen" and then tell us your thoughts. I’ve never heard a Viv tonearm or even seen one in the wild but it does look interesting. Many people said that Kuzma’s new SAFIR tonearm that has a mass of 60 gms would NEVER work either. (Kuzma says is suitable for cartridges with CU below 25 and hence the tonearm resonance will be in range of 5-7 Hz which is preferable) But I was sent one to have a listen to and all I can say is WOW! Never heard a tonearm that sounded like no other before, it was like the cartridge was just riding in the grooves of the LP. I had no intensions of buying it but once heard it wasn’t going anywhere.

(Dealer disclaimer)

Alan60, I share your sentiments, but you wrote, to Raul and Mijo, "please have an objective listen to a Viv Labs and put all the theories, equations etc to one side."

I am afraid there is no such thing as an "objective listen".  That's the bugaboo of all the audio topics we discuss here and anywhere else.

@lewm I take your point, perhaps 'open mind' would be more appropriate.

I'm still debating whether my Viv arm will be suitable for 78 (mono) archival work...leaning toward "yes" being that any stereo inner groove phase errors can be corrected in my 2-channel software when summing the channels. Small potatoes in the scheme of things. With 78s, there is always some level of phase error regardless of the stylus fit anyway. That seems to be the biggest beef with this arm.