Why the sudden popularity of 12 inch arms


VPI was the only mainstream manufacturer for years, now we have 12 inch arms from
Kuzma, Schroder, SME, Consonance, Brinkman to name a few.

Why is this?? fad or long term

Would a 12ich Grahham, Triplaner or Basis be a better sounding product??
downunder
Two quick points(less than 1000 words) about the "better thing",and live music exposure..."my take only"(God how I like how that gets me off the hook).
Firstly,there can be a real benefit to hearing superior equipment,even if one is not planning to make a major purchase.Here,the "active" and "thinking" hobbyist has the oppurtunity to realize that "part" of the superior performance may be achieved with a bit more attention to some parameters our own system might be able to pull off.Like a bit more tweakery,or something as simple as better tubes,or those cute(and effective )HiFi Tuning fuses.Even attention to clean connections,or resonance control etc,etc, obviously can move us up the ladder.I've surprised myself many times(even if looking in a mirror-:)
You DO have to really know your set-up,and be a hands on guy!Also,make the attempt to hear alot of stuff.
The other point,where I am at odds with the "must hear real/live music regularly" camp is....You only have to know what live music sounds like!!...You will do far better,IMO,if you expose yourself to the "best systems"!
Here,the "obvious weaknesses" in our own set-ups more easily stands out,because we just KNOW that live music is not going to be easily reproduced in our lifetimes,with a stereo system!!To hear a "better system" though,and if you are a good and open minded listener(not a rationalizer, where you believe that everything you have is the best,anyway...I've got friends like "this"),AND willing to actually "think through" some of the perceptions of the "why" it sounds better,you stand a real chance to improve your current set-up...Whew,I think that was a run on sentence.
Hearing my friend Sid's suped up Air Tangent rig started me on this route,as I ultimately became acutely aware that the little annoyances that peeved me,in my own rig,was "groove" related."That" was the exact moment(a few years ago)when I rolled up my sleeves,on my old Graham 2.2 and learned it's hidden secrets.Quite a few,actually!Like this thing is a pain in the ass to voice perfectly,but it was so much fun "learning"!
Best.
Not bad Sir, not bad. One must hear live music, however. One must. Playing, better yet. Wouldn't hurt to see how much anything reinforced just the tiniest bit is compressed, gated, distorted (deliberately) and otherwise messed with. Reproducing THAT sound is a goal for the room as well. Analog is in the tweaks, yes it is. We agree again. I can't quite afford to have the 'Stones play in my Great Room, so I do try to keep current and expose myself to a variety (but not that gawdawful stuff Down buys!) to better assist in my quest for the next best thing. (my run-on) Keeping ones head ABOVE the sand and out of ones you-know-what can be a tremendous advantage as well. "You can try it!" Z.
Swampy, Rather than have you think I am a xe... big words... Since it is you who hasn't been reading, let me quote someone with more credibility than I. This gentleman speaks (spoke) to the crux of this thread: "He, who will not reason, is a bigot; he, who cannot, is a fool; and he, who dares not, is a slave." William Drummond 1585-1649 Please read this, perhaps several times, and get back to me. Happy listening! Z.
Rather than posting on a new thread, I thought I'd use this thread to ask anyone out there on their experience with a couple of 12" arms: Ikeda IT-407 and Ortofon 309D. And from reputation only, the Da Vinci Grandezza would provide much better performance than the Ikeda and the Ortofon (albeit at a cost)? Thank you very much.
Selfdivider,I have heard the Davinci/Dynavector combo to excellent results.It appears to be a superb arm,and has a great reputation.The other two arms also have fine reputations,with the "right" cartridge,but I've not heard them.

From a point of interest standpoint(as it effects sound/music)....I have a dear friend who had a "magnificent" linear arm design,mounted on a high mass table/stand/air suspension....
It allowed for a "stunning",almost unmatched musical presentation,that I and others felt would not be equalled by "any" pivot(regardless of length).

Yet,my friend had owned this linear design for a number of years,and got tired of putting up with the "maintenance" issues,though minor.

So,he switched to a commonly known 12.5 arm,which did not match the air bearing/linear design,in that gorgeous relaxed,colorful presentation the set-up previously had!

Some friends(myself included) were quite dissapointed,because he had something "special" going on in "that" system.......Well-----

My friend must have had something going on,in the intuitive area of what he was looking for....because....

Two skilled,highly experienced and quite gifted fellow hobbyists(Richard Foster,and then Luis Cardona)showed up and "rolled up their sleeves" on my pal's table arm combo....

The results were "astounding"!!!

True high fidelity performance is now being had,from this 12.5 inch arm,and I had always thought it to not approach the performance of the linear design.....I sure was wrong!!

I and many others now feel it "almost" approaches the linear/air bearing" virtues....My pal is now ecstatic,and I must admit to being quite impressed with what a good "long" pivoting arm has to offer....

I can hear "music"!!....Go for it,if it makes you happy!!

Best