Tone arm length

The Japanese have throughout the 20th Century produced innovative designs in all areas of Technology, to the point where they were a World Leading Authorities.

Like all Business Models based on Technology there is the High Turnover Market and the Bespoke Market, Japan pretty much had both Markets sewn up and was proved to be very difficult to penetrate.

They did also contribute to a rise in Home Grown Markets cashing in on the Trends that Japan was so successful at bringing to the Mass Market Arena.

Questioning the design intent behind a range of Japanese TA's is futile as a activity, these designs are secure in their roles and very special to their owners or alternatively witnessed to be endlessly resurfacing as the option that proved to be better than many many others experienced.   

I've 9" and 12" Jelco 850 arms on a well-fettled 401 so I can make direct comparisons. Bass is a little tighter and the overall sound slightly drier on the 9". The 12" has more authority, liquidness and musicality with more dimension to the soundstage.

I have an Innovation [Wood - which is no longer used for the model name]. I have two 12" Universal arms on mine, and I used to have a 9" instead for one of them. Both have Lyra Atlas cartridges. One is the SL (stereo) and the other is the Mono. I use the SMARTTractor alignment tool and Löfgren B DIN alignment for both cartridges, but I spend a bit of time really getting the alignment nailed as perfectly as I can. This is the best sound I have gotten from the TT. I play everything from older (60s/70s) classical records to modern 33 and 45v RPM reissues.

@rauliruegas

I’m not sure what this means? I can see not really " learning "

@dwette @mikelavigne

To Mike’s point #3 (2nd post). I ended up with a MSL Signature Platinum analyzed by JR at Wally Tools and installed the cart to those parameters which included a custom shim to correct for SRA as well as data to adjust azimuth and stylus zenith error.

So I’m pretty confident I ended up maximizing the benefits of the 12" with a much better than average cart alignment.

In any case, I’m done and happy. Stunning amount of never-before-heard detail yet very musical, relaxing presentation.

Cheers all.

@macg19 

congrats on the 12" arm with the MSL Sig Platinum, and having JR optimize it. it's all about being happy after all the effort is rewarded, and now just the music.

enjoy!