Discuss The Viv Lab Rigid Arm

Correct.  If you use the headshell supplied with the tonearm, it would not be possible to twist the cartridge with respect to the long axis of the headshell, unless you somehow modify the headshell.  However, the tonearm accepts all standard headshells, so it might be possible to use a conventional headshell and twist the cartridge at an angle so as to effect a "conventional" geometry, with the stylus overhanging the spindle.  Also, there exist a very few headshells that incorporate the offset angle into the headshell mount, meant for mounting on a straight pipe arm wand.  I think Garrard made a tonearm like that.  Such a headshell could also be used.

As to your first question, no, I have not removed the O-ring dampers from the arm wand.

Dear @lewm : My toughts about that headshell and damping issues are trying to understand why with that calculated ( wbf ) " huge " angle error you like it.

So with the usual headshell and Löfgren A/B real alignment a comparison could tell us or put some " light " why you and other audiophiles like it. With out this kind of comparison we just almost never know for sure. Common sense tells me that with a normal alignment will like you even more and then the overall VIV damping could be what helps a lot for better quality performance.

I think that when you have the time can be interesting wich changes in the sound makes with out O rings, here too common sense says will be a quality changes and the one that can tell us is you.

Well, only my thoughts,

R.

Yes, maybe.  I still have more work to do that requires just listening. My opinion is that the special sound quality of this tonearm has more to do with the underhung geometry than with low friction.

I'm with @lewm 

It is a wonderful place to arrive at during an investigation, when all that is wanted is to forget the lot and just kick back and listen to the result. 

@lewm  :  It is totally obvous for any audiophile that that " special "/different sound quality is due to tonearm/cartridge big angle error over the LP groove modulations.

I mentioned that bearing low tonearm friction only because the designer says it's one of his main targets but for me that he said that is not totally trust information but untrusty one when he does not shows the tonearm measured bearing friction and due that he only " talk and talk " permit me to think that maybe he never measured and only a good  " desire ".

Anyway, the real fact is that you like that special sound ( as you named. ) as many other owners even that the reproduction is " untruer " to the recording in comparison with a normal tonearm.

R.