Why the sudden popularity of 12 inch arms

Dear, And I do mean Dear Sirspeedy, I have been in agreement with you all the way through this thread. I too am in it for the music. I offered an answer to the OP early on, and a member with almost no logic or science to support it, offered advice that if followed, would make us all look bad. I responded again, and started getting tons of mail from members (that I had never had contact with!) cheering me on. This gentleman has a system that sounds like, well, Halcro put it best, "second rate". I can almost give the guy credit for being so stubborn, but he is so far off base... In a contest between this fellow and the world (which it seems to be) I'm bettin' on the world. Know what I mean? Anyway, if my house was on fire, I'd get as many LPs as I could FIRST, and leave the gear. Most of which is, arguably, SOTA. BTW, that was a 15,000 dollar turntable you just let get away! You can still come over, any time. Z.

Some people are really impressed by themselves. I could more easily accept it if they were to add something positive to the conversation.

On topic -- I'm in the camp that the best sound is achieved by the implementation of a technology rather than being specific to any given technology. And at the user end, exacting setup, and at least at the high end, system matching can easily trump "better technology". Finally, since any two audiophiles seemingly cannot agree as to what constitutes "the best" does any of this thread really resolve anything?

Dear Shane: What tonearm are looking at?, is it for one of your current cartridges or a new one? or your question is only curiosity.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Z,guess I'm getting a bit too uptight-:)
Trust me,I am fanatical about "fine" equipment,and probably love the stuff too much("wife not happy"-:).I could have put both kids through college for what I've spend on the hardware alone!Don't get me started on the software!!
Thanks for the reinforcement of my point,but though we mutually agree,sometimes I like to view things from different perspectives,sometimes.Kinda keeps me grounded!!
Basically I'm stating that one should not be so quick to be an audio snob(nobody in particular),due to the ownership,and exposure to the best componentry around,and don't be so quick to blow off another person's product choices!!Even if old!!One can be really surprised with the ingenuity of musicophiles/hobbyists!!There is very little I,personally, have not heard,and what I am currently listening to will definitely keep me in the running for a long time.Yet....
The ONLY reason for my dumb rant,is that SO often I've been exposed to less costly,or somewhat older(but fine) gear,in very well thought out set-ups.Seriously well thought out and carefully matched!Yet,not close to new,but amazing for it's own values.Charles King,the Stelavox tape player re-mod specialist( a genious) demonstrated this to me,with a "low brow,but face on the floor good" little set-up,that blew away anything I had heard for the previous six months.I was exposed to the BIG NOLA four tower system "two months prior",and with the ASR stuff,in "the" room,to "do" that particular system,and liked it,but no lovefest,after realizing the Charles King set-up just "had magic"!.Hey,it's just my ever changing taste!
I may have definitive critical views,when in "my moods",but after being at this hobby as long as me,exposure to unique/different takes on how some folks like their music reproduced is very enlightening!
I am a very open minded listener,and won't pigeonhole myself into believing the latest has to be the best.Too often it isn't!Though my pal's new Magico Mini/Rowland/Audio Research/Phantom/Orpheus set-up sounds amazing!!...Well,it just does!!
It takes a long time to "voice out" a really good system,and having new stuff(probably half of what I own is quite new,and too expensive,btw)is not the road's end.
Of course next week,someone will probably put out a thread which will more than likely ignite the other "snobby" side of me.I'll embarrass myself,by going on about how my exposure,or ownership,of some new "figamajig" is the "only way to go",and that the "someone" does not have it maxxed out!
That's one reason why all my posts(from day one)should not be taken too seriously.Just hobbyspeak!
Best.

Sirspeedy, we agree once again. Openmindedness (is that a word?) is at the crux of this forum. Halcro puts it so perfectly. I, as an example, continue to listen to some old lps. It is the rare exception, rather than THE RULE, that the old ones sound better than the latest crop. The thing is, neither you nor I are in a position to "decree" that old stuff "unfortunately" is so much better than the current SOTA. Or that only new is good. SO WE DON'T! Our community is "blighted" by any member who opposes this common sense approach. Like I said, my mail box is full to overflowing. At retail, I have in excess of 100k just in cabling in my system. You better believe that I tried VERY hard to take a different perspective, to stand back, to ask, not answer, before opening my wallet this wide. Then I tried again! (MY wife) You and I Sir, we get it. As does most of the membership. Our mission, should we choose to accept it (we must) is to spread, even if just a little, this common sense, this perspective, this openmindedness (once again), this willingness to listen and (maybe) learn. You can still come over any time... Z.