Why the sudden popularity of 12 inch arms

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.

Z(love that name-tag,btw),definitely agree about the willingness to listen "thing"!!
Many potential "new" hobbyists have no clue as to just how "supremely special" a superb high res system can be.
I had a few of my son's med school friend's hear my vinyl recently.They knew "Andrew's" dad was "into" music.I always told my son not to advertise my system/hobby,but this was one situation where this group was very curious about how the "old stuff"(LP's) sounded.They knew I had something "special" behind my "locked" door,to the music room.
One proclaimed that he had heard vinyl was "interesting",but had never heard a record.The rest of the group basically were curious,but not expecting much from the "old stuff".....Actually,when they viewed the walls "lined" with LP's there was an interesting sound of awe, seeing all that music,shelved to the max!
Heh,heh....here was my "shot"!!!I knew I had to open up the listening session with a bang,so I chose an old direct disc of "superb" percussion music."MUSIC",not percussive sound effects!!!Like works by Charles Wourinen,George Crumb,Ernst Toch.
Chose the prgm material carefully(for these fairly opinionated fellows).
Basically,after about two hours,they were "amazed" at what can be accomplished with a simple(not really),old,two channel system,using "almost gone" technology.There was a complete sense of "I didn't realize how great those old records could be",universally proclaimed by each guy.
I'm frequently asked to "play it again",whenever one of them comes over....Felt good!!Really good!!
Sorry,as I know I'm not being thread specific,and DO get carried away alot.Will stay on subject more often.
Best.

Dear Onlwy61: +++++ " 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". " +++++

Right on target: know-how!, well this is one way/road.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Sir, I have done more than my share of similar demos. I use a slightly different tactic: I start with their mp3 then play a CD, then the same mat'l on SACD. By this time there are several pools of drool to wipe up. THEN, the same mat'l on vinyl. I love to watch the head scratching, the audible questioning of their own sanity, and the inevitable "what is behind the curtain?" kids that just can't quite believe it. Big fun, you're fighting the good fight! We may actually be getting somewhere with "you know who" !! I see in the last response a glimmer of hope, "one way/road". Perhaps, there is another/several? Yippee!!! Pretty soon, we may see an aknowledgement that even perfectly executed 25 year old drum brakes are, in deed "second rate". I will not hold my breath for "I am/was wrong". But you Sir, can come over any time. Z.