Why the sudden popularity of 12 inch arms

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.

With all these "Sirs," being bantered about, I feel like I'm in season one of Law and Order and listening to Michael Moriarty trying to face down a criminal.

Anyone else ever get that feeling?

My Dearest Sir Mr. Porter Sir, Sir is short for Sirspeedy, Sir. Although this gentleman commands the respect, I call him Sir mostly because he agrees with me! We aren't facing down any criminals, just attempting to convince another gentleman to remove his head from way too deep inside of his you-know-what. So that he might be better able to hear the voice of reason. Can I borrow the 312S, Sir? Z.