Comparison of sonic qualities of some tonearms

@mijostyn No, the problem is that some, like ebony, have huge peaks and valleys in frequency response. Koetsu uses rosewood, Grado uses Cocobolo, and can make cartridges that sound exquisite - but there are better choices for tonearms.

You say, "There is so much beauty in nature and natural wood that is every bit as functional as panzer holtz." So you say - proof? Evidence? You know -= anything other than assertion?

Oil - yuk! its just rotten remains of plants. And Rembrandt used OIL paint! Yuk Yuk Yuk.

Reed, the tonearm manufacturer, did extentensive testing on metals and exotic woods. They took down many of their test measurements, but some remain available. I tried to link to that part of their site, but was unsuccessful. You might try their site and see.

I’ve used all aluminum and all Panzerholz in a commercial LT, and in my own air bearing LT have compared sapphire, Panzerholz, cocobolo, katalox, and pampas grass for various parts of the wand. Supporting cast includes silk, aluminum, brass, stainless, epoxy. The best is pampas grass / cocobolo / katalox composite, but all Panzerholz is not far behind. I use cocobolo only for the cartridge mount, because I use that wand for a cartridge which is made of cocobolo.

I’m too impatient (and too poor) to do exhaustive comparisons of each part, so theory dictates what gets made into prototypes. Every material has its own characteristics and may be suitable for a different use. I discriminate against none.

@mijostyn 

Yes, I would agree, that, all else being equal, a LT tonearm should best a pivoted tonearm; however, there are all sorts of other variables in the equation, such as materials, bearings, etc.  
Thanks. 

Dear @drbond : The issue is not really if the LT beats a pivoted one because that is only theory.

The @mijostyn " huge " differences are only in the " mind " does not exist in true. . This is only an example with the SAT 12" Löfgren B alignment where the average RMS distortion is 0.32% that no one can be aware off it but additional and through the LP grooved surfaCE THE TRACKING LEVEL DISTORTION AT EACH CONSECUTIVE GROOVE CHANGES ONLY 0.009%. Mijos, you, me or any one else can't detect it.

So, what are we really talking about? only theory and good intentions.

R.

@rauliruegas  True. And generous too. 

@rauliruegas  Who said anything about a huge difference? I seem the recall specifying at the beginning of this thread that the sonic difference between these arm is extremely minor. I said, "It is not how it sounds it is how it works." I'm sure you would agree that some arms work better than others. IMHO it is not improved tracking error that is the major benefit it is the fact that these arms are not offset, no skating. You can never stop skating with an offset arm you can only minimize it and there is a lot of disagreement in how that should be done. Perhaps this is why people like their Viv arms.  Then again, the best arm made it the one I own at any give moment. Everything I stated before is not theory, It is all common physics and geometry. 

@drbond  Absolutely, All that matters. I can buy the very best bearing for $10.00. The very best carbon fiber bicycle frame costs $6000. The wheels with ceramic bearings cost $2500. The Helix, and you know how much I respect that table, might have $8000 worth of materials. The prices of luxury audio are falsely elevated because there are people who will pay for it. It is how these little companies stay alive, maybe. There is always equipment mid pack that will perform sonically just as well if not even better. The JC 1 amplifiers were a great example. When they came out a lot of jaws dropped three feet.