Oregon, the friend who owns the RS-A-1 that I tried for a month came over this afternoon and we discussed this thread. As far as, "Can you describe the sound" is concerned, we're both puzzled and he asked, "Can you describe the taste of chocolate?" which I thought was apt.
The RS-A1 is very open, musical, and forgiving. It will change all your views of tonearms and how they work. Doesn't seem to matter all that much where it's mounted relative to the turntable/spindle as long as you get it in the ballpark. It just sits on the plinth (doesn't have to be attached but has a tendency to fall over if it isn't). VTA and VTF are similarly in the "get it close but don't sweat it" vein. No antiskating is provided or needed. The arm is straight, the "headshell" swivels but is not offset and the cart doesn't precisely follow the groove, so any comparison to straight-line trackers is off the mark. Tracks like a champ, though. It is simply a goofy arm that works very, very well if you can stand to live with it. I couldn't.
The RS-A1 is very open, musical, and forgiving. It will change all your views of tonearms and how they work. Doesn't seem to matter all that much where it's mounted relative to the turntable/spindle as long as you get it in the ballpark. It just sits on the plinth (doesn't have to be attached but has a tendency to fall over if it isn't). VTA and VTF are similarly in the "get it close but don't sweat it" vein. No antiskating is provided or needed. The arm is straight, the "headshell" swivels but is not offset and the cart doesn't precisely follow the groove, so any comparison to straight-line trackers is off the mark. Tracks like a champ, though. It is simply a goofy arm that works very, very well if you can stand to live with it. I couldn't.