Comparison of sonic qualities of some tonearms

@jollytinker You noticed a difference between cartridge arm combinations., not tonearms. The MSL would have sounded better in the 4 Point and much the same as it sounded in the Saphir with perhaps better bas due to the Saphirs very high EF. As you discovered, many cartridges will not be comfortable in the Saphir. Add a little mass to the 4 Point and you will get the same results. Add mass to any good arm and you will get the same results. 

@terry9 I love being "someone else."

This is one point I disagree with Peter on who I have the utmost respect for. You adjust azimuth by eye. I use to use a mirror, now I use the Smartractor which has a dandy magnifier. The stylus has to be perfectly upright in the groove.  The sonic difference between +- a few degrees is essentially inaudible but with some stylus profiles +- a few degrees might accelerate both stylus and record wear. Examples would be the replicant 100, GygerS and Soundsmith MR. The stylus used by both Lyra and MSL is more forgiving. The Soundsmith OCL Stylus also fits in the later group. 

@pindac Ouch! That is way to serious for an audio discussion. This is not a Dis-Ease. It is a fun hobby for people who love music. If it makes up your sole purpose in life that would be unfortunate. Right now I am going back to making my wife's master bathroom vanity. In the shop I listen to 4 old Mirage speakers powered by Adcom and digital streaming. Since I have to wear hearing protection for the machines the volume is always turned hysterically high. I guarantee I am the noisiest person you have ever met. 

I agree with Mijostyn on azimuth adjustment. The reference for support for that view is Korf, and the consequence is that usually no azimuth adjustment from 90 degrees is necessary. Which means tonearms and headshells that do not incorporate azimuth adjustment are suddenly ok. Who woulda thunkit?

Understand, in my in depth listen, we contended w different arms / tables and carts, so you had fewer variables…. Enjoy the music and the journey 

I just read Raul’s post, the one that the OP and some others found to be upsetting. If you would put your hurt feelings aside, you might see the truth that underlies his comments. Really he is saying what I say too, only in greater detail and backed by more listening experience. It takes a lot of patience and time to be able to say with confidence that one good tonearm is better than another good tonearm, and even then the outcome is not free of caveats.

Sorry gents, but I hear +/- a fraction of a degree of azimuth in my system. Caveats: classical, revealing music from pristine US cleaned records; LT air tonearm with adjustments +/- 20 microns in 2D, acting over a 250mm shaft of 20mm steel. Thus may mileage vary.