Comparison of sonic qualities of some tonearms

Dear @lewm @mijostyn : Azimuth is always important as the other carrtridge set up parameters ( my tonearms comes with the AZ facility. ) but even in niormal LT tonearm and even that the stylus is in rigth position relative to a centered cantilever it's not easy to " predict " LP by LP under dynamical listen sessions if the stylus tip always is rigth on in AZ at each groove. I think never can happens.

For the OP and if he decided to return to post he needs too share the VTA and VTF used in each one cartridge ( 5 ) due that some of us could have the same models.

R.

@lewm  Don't want an argument - rather, I value your views. But you did say,

"I agree with Mijostyn on azimuth adjustment."

Mijostyn said,

The sonic difference between +- a few degrees is essentially inaudible ...

I was responding to that. Glad to know that does not represent your views. I think that azimuth can be optimized for most LP's if you make sure that they (LP's) are absolutely flat, like with a reflex clamp and a record flattener.

@sokogear

I believe some of you have gone way past the point of obsession.

Yeah, guilty, Your Honour. Fair cop. Still, it beats a smart phone.

@jollytinker @sokogear 

Thanks for sharing your experience with your various tonearms.  I, too, have found that tonearms can make a marked difference in the sound quality when playing vinyl records.  It would be interesting to continue hearing from others who have experience with various tonearms. 

BTW, I had a linear arm back in college on a Phase Linear 8000 that I thought was so cool. I assumed that was the best design since there is no anti-skate to worry about and the arm is perfectly tangential to the record groove at all points. I didn't realize how bad it sounded (or maybe wasn't set up right) until it broke and I got a lower end Music Hall that completely blew it away. They Phase Linear was totally automatic (direct drive) with some kine of control wheel to position the arm. SO complicated. Simple is best. A to B.

After that I realized that how a piece of audio equipment looks is by far a secondary consideration, unless you never want to play it. In fact, you probably are paying heavily for the cool look factor. I'd stay away from red floor standing speakers though....or ones that make a den look like a physics lab.