Discuss The Viv Lab Rigid Arm

I think the whole point is that minimizing TAE is not so critical or rather that minimizing skating force is more important. But I will measure the template and see exactly where the null is in mm from spindle.

OK. I just measured from the center of the hole in the template for the spindle to the center of the much smaller hole in the template for the stylus tip, using a Matatuyo caliper, 89.7mm

@lewm, 

Straight underhung arms still skate, one way or the other depending on where they are on the record. The only arms that do not skate are straight tangential trackers. The problem is there are currently no straight line trackers that do not have substantial issues. 

The fact that the Viv are sounds satisfactory to many people is an enigma as the distortion is substantial. Maybe we are not sensitive to that type of distortion. I applaud you for your curiosity and willingness to spend money on a device that might not work out. It is how you learn.  

It's good to know you've read all my many posts in which I mentioned that underhung tonearms generate a skating force, except at the null point where.... there is zero skating force, in contradistinction to conventional overhung tonearms which generate a skating force even at their two null points, owing to the headshell offset angle. 

As for the rest of your post, what I find so far with each of 3 cartridges that I have extensively audition on conventional tonearms, is that the Viv sounds excellent in every respect and even has some uniquely appealing qualities that I would say add to the sense of verisimilitude with recorded music on LPs.  And that's what we are after, TAE notwithstanding.

Bravo to Lewm for actually buying the Viv Lab arm and then trying it out with 3 carts…and then explaining what he did and what he heard.
 
I have had the Viv Labs arm for a few years now (HA9 as well) and have followed this thread with the chagrin and shaking of the head reserved for all too many Audiogon threads….So I am glad to see these posts reporting direct experience (for the nth time) of this arm that has been, mocked, ridiculed and rejected—by those who have never used or heard it because they “know” better.

In order for the arm to work with the GP Monaco, my Viv Lab arm sits on a Sierra Sound arm pod (NAB-1 Tonearm Platform). Both the tt and the Viv Lab/pod are on a Stacore platform.

The NAB-1 provides the necessary height for the arm, but also and crucially, the NAB-1 is raised and lowered via threaded spikes, using a 3mm hex wrench to make tiny adjustments in overall arm height and to exactly level the arm.

Without this pod, moving the arm up or down requires loosening a set screw to raise and lower the entire upper half of the arm, which often results in gross movement rather than precision.

Leveling the arm is also crucial to its performance, which the SS pod also makes a snap.

Of course, if you don't need the additional height or pod, you will have to find another way of precisely raising and lowering the arm. The deck of cards method recommended in the Audio Beatnik review works, but rather clumsily.
 
NB: Mike at Sierra Sounds assures me that a new batch of NAB-1 pods will be available later this year.