Linear tracking arms

Mikelavigne : ouch, what a graphic description of the shock of the stylus landing on the record ! I got a good feel for the leverage effect from the groove. Thanks very much for a very clear explanation of the issues involved in linear tracking arm design as they affect cartridge wear.

I certainly believe you when you say the trouble can be worth it. UHF magazine, for example, swear by their Pierre Lurné-designed linear tracking arm and Audioméca TT. I mentally place this setup, yours and a few others in the very select group of successful linear trackers. At the other end of the spectrum, I also note the regular appearance of used Rabcos on eBay...

Tobias, do you refer to the Pierre Lurne's SL5? If so, I can confirm that I have been using it with no problems for 11 years, and the only problem I had recently (you might have seen my post) was due to my leaving the dust accumulate, and not keeping the arm clean, only God knows for how long. The "problem" was then sovled in 5 minutes. However, recently somebody said to me that because the SL5 also has a pivot of some kind, it is was not truly linear. But who cares, the tracking is and remains linear, as far as I can tell, with all the advantages of linear! And this for only a fraction of the price for one of the big names, not to mention the hassle of pumps, etc.

Inna,

Agree with all the above. I had an inexpensive linear arm (HK/Rabco ST-8) and now have a mid-price pivoting arm (OL Silver). The linear tracker was cool, and I didn't have to fuss with antiskating or worry (much) about tracking error. Nevertheless, the OL arm plays circles around it. Even with the same cartridge, the pivoting OL tracks better and handles antiskate test tracks better. It even plays music better.

Mikelavigne's graphic description of scary cueing is right on. I played a record the other day for the first time with my new arm. While cueing I noticed a terrifying series of gouges in the lead-in area from a previous rough cueing. It looked like someone had used a jackhammer on the poor thing. (Mike, have you been sneaking into my LP collection? I'm pretty sure your records don't look like this!)

Leep--hi, yes I meant the SL5. It's in UHF's Alpha reference system, see

http://www.uhfmag.com/reference.html

Thanks very much for the benefit of your experience with it.

Toby

My Sony PS X800 turntable has a linear tracking arm, and I guess it works a bit different from ones described above.

The arm is pivoted (so there is no jaring sideforce when the arm lowers to the record, or at any other time) but the pivot point is moved as the record plays. Arm movement is biased to the speed needed for nominal groove spacing, and then adjusted up or down as necessary to follow variable groove spacing, according to the measured angle of the pivoting arm. The system suposedly regulates tracking angle within 0.05 degree (for the entire record).

Sorry about it being a Sony, but the damn thing works great.