Comparison of sonic qualities of some tonearms

@terry9 I don't share the extent of materials and designs put together for testing as you have, but do have an experience of different materials, designs and interfaces to have drawn on my own thoughts, that enables myself  create a reasonable description, being one I will refrain from being cocky, and suggest it is not conclusive.  

It is no secret, that the quality of the end produced sonic that are very much recommended by those with experiences of attempts to optimise the final presentation are dependent on much more than the Tonearm alone.

The Platter Spindle Function, Tonearm Function/Set Up, Tonearm Geometry, Cart Geometry, Cart' Design/Function and Signal Path, all contribute to certain degrees of influence on the end produced sonic, especially in how the term Quality will be assessed.

With the above list in mind, it strongly suggests each experience will be met with variances in how an impression is made and how one is influenced from the experience had, as not oine individual will be commenting on a ubiquitous set up. 

Bypassing the above list and focusing on Materials used for a Tonearms Assembly.

From your experiences do you have a assessment, and possibly one that aligns with my own that strongly suggests.

The parts that are rigidly fastened when in use have an impact on the end sonic in a way that improves the quality of sound, i.e, enables more Attack, Detail, Dynamics and Envelope to be resolved, or impacts in a similar discernible perception impacts on the tonality and timbre of the produced sound of which a certain material may be able to create a tonal range and timbre that is more aligned to ones own preferences.

My most recent experience with an indelible outcome, has been on the Tonearm where I was very encouraging for the use P'holz as a headshell.

The previous headshells produced in Plastics, Thermoplastic, Aluminium and Magnesium were Superseded by the use of P'hpolz.

It was this experience that encouraged me to pursue a P'hpolz Headshell @ approx' 9 grams, be produced for the modified uber rigid SME Bayonet connector I have access to.

I am hoping to have an experience very soon in March of comparing the headshell types Magnesium @ 9gram, AT Technihard and P'hpolz @ approx' 9 grams.  

I am also to give my friend who will be present and also produces' the Tonearm in use for the demo's, the  go-ahead to have the AT Technihard reduced to approx' 9g if the material presents in a way that impresses. 

Just being a (semi-) wise-*ss, but I still find anyone naming their product 'Vestigial'...

Vestigial (organ) is a degenerate organ or structure or physical attribute that has little to no function in the species but possessed an essential function in the preceding evolutionary form of the species. It is the retention of genetically-encoded structure accompanied by loss of function in the species.

...is either an inside joke or a pointed commentary....😏

Now, I've still own LPs'....and 3 + TTs', so I'm committed in my own fashion. ;)

...but they're all tangential arms in various ways.

Half tempted to take a joust at making a 'nuevo-Rabco' that won't drive people crazy,...and is silent, and works without an air compressor....and won't make your CCard wilt...

...but I diy Walsh speakers that work.

Somebodys' got to push an envelope that has no return address....*L* ;)

Others have already pointed this out and I may as well pile on:

The sound of the tonearm is highly conditioned on matching, to the cartridge and imho also to the table.

It’s trial and error. Better for many people to buy them from a dealer who has done the trialing and erroring for you and is selling them as a package, but best to take the time to do it yourself, you will learn more.

I have been using a Sumiko MMT with a VPI HW MK IV and two Koetsus, an Onyx and a Rosewood Signature, for several decades.

See

theaudioatticvinylsundays.com/about

for details of the rest of the system.

@mijostyn : " Those are huge benefits, not that you can ignore other aspects of tonearm design. "

In the example measurements of the SAT tonearm its maximum tracking erro is a " huge " 1.42° but only at one surface place, normally the tracking error is around 0.5° to -0.5°

What I said is that pivoted LT has no " huge " differences or beats the normal pivoted tonearms and both normally beats any LT tonearm in the bass range performance more or less in the same bass range where digital always is superior to the LP experience/alternative..

R.

asvjerry, That may be why the Vestigial tonearm, supplied by Transcriptors with their still futuristic turntables, lies in the dustbin of audio history.  The other reason is it was a terrible design.

Pindac, I was surprised not to see carbon fiber on your list of headshell materials to be evaluated.  In the right context (with medium to high compliance cartridges), I have had favorable experiences. Also, Ortofon and Yamamoto both make creditable wooden headshells that are not P'holz.