Anyone notice different amounts of surface noise with different arms?

Do you mean “the same cartridge in different tonearms”? Such differences are not subtle even assuming the unlikely case of perfect alignment. This experience causes me to believe there is no such thing as a tonearm that adds nothing to the sound.

@mijostyn You seem to rely a lot on imagination and thought experiments, but are reluctant to believe in the resonance properties of structures like tonearms.  Don't forget that at one end of the tonearm is a highly sensitive transducer that picks up vibrations including resonances from the tonearm and cartridge body!

In my opinion, if you want to minimise distortion you are far better off with well-recorded CDs or better still SACDs.  Before you claim digital distortion, remember that virtually all records made in the last few decades have been made using digital intermediaries.

The qualification "well-recorded" is deliberate, because it seems to be very easy to produce a poor-quality CD.  It is hard to mix digitally without significant rounding errors.  SACD is a good indication that the performing artists and sound engineers have really tried!

My personal exploration back into vinyl is inspired by the high prices offered for old Garrard 301 transcription turntables and the astonishing rebound of record sales.

@lewm 

+1

Dear @mijostyn  : Agree about my system with you.

Now, there are other individual and critical factors that goes totaly against your " inert " tonearm you posted.

Between those factors it's not only a different geometry design but different tonearm kind of mearing and the material used in that bearing, obviously the whole blend of materials used in each tonearm that are different with other tonearms designs.

Resonances/feedback, noise, distortions  and the like are generated for eacg individual factors in the tonearm designs and no one can't ( till today ) avoid all those.

I know for sure that you totally agree and your posted " aberration " was only that maybe to start this discussion and it's ok.

@richardbrand  : "  and the astonishing rebound of record sales. "  well that's only anectdotic and almost all know that. What is not anectdotic is that many/several analog lovers/LPs ( I love analog but first than all I love MUSIC. ) do not understand that from a few years now the digital alternative outferformed the analog alternative but to each his own

R.

@richardbrand I think you need to know that I am all over digital reproduction. My phono stage runs directly into a Lynx Hilo, a studio ADC, switcher, USB DAC. RIAA correction is done by computer. I have been using a digital pre amp with room correction and subwoofer management since 1996. 

You are correct. The phonograph cartridge is a vibration measurement device and it does not care where the vibration comes from. However, other than the primary suspension resonance in the 8 to 12 Hz range, a well designed tonearm does not contribute much. Because the moving mass in a cartridge is so low it has trouble exciting any resonance in the much heavier arm. None of my cartridges display any audible needle talk. What I find rather funny is people have their turntables totally open and exposed to the sound their system is making. Ideally, you would have your turntable in another room. My turntable is floating inside a plinth with a heavy duty dust cover that is totally sealed when closed and attenuates sound by a measured 10 dB. In spite of extremely expensive cartridges of all types it still can not compete with a well mastered, high resolution digital file. I play records because I have always played records. Playing records is psychologically comforting because it has given me decades of pleasure. I still go to record stores just to flip through, it's my version of an amusement park. Shopping online can not compare. But, If I really want to blow someone away I'll pick a digital file every time. Even Raul agrees!