Linear tracking arms

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.

Hi Eldartford, is your linear arm a Sony? Your description might also indicate a Pierre Lurne/Audiomeca SL5 arm, unless I am wrong. In any case, the SL5, at only a fraction of the price of the big names, and also works well.

Leep...Yes, the arm is part of the Sony PS X800 turntable system. It does not surprise me that some other linear tracking arm is mechanized in this way because it makes a lot more sense than trying to create a frictionless air bearing.