Unipivot vs Linear Tracking

Incidentally, I have thought about using an LT with the Scheu Premier. Any recommendations? Naturally, I would have to make separate base, can this work?. LT arms to consider, Air Tangent, ET 2, Clearaudio and Airtech MG-1.

Quote from
Cjfrbw

I spent some time playing with one of John Elison's spreadsheets from vinyl asylum, plugging in values for tracking error for pivoted arms. I find it difficult to believe that a properly set up pivoted arm, even a 9 inch arm, has enough error to significantly "hear" the tracking error unless the arm is not set up correctly. I tend to think the audiophile imagination "knows" there is some tracking error and runs rampant to fill in the blanks to believe that 12 inch arm and linear trackers are audibly superior "because" of the geometry advantages. If somebody states they can "hear" the superior qualities of a linear tracker vs. a properly set up pivoted arm, I would be very skeptical.

BTW, that Cartridge Man Conductor LT looks to be
beautifully engineered, must sound great.

I've used an ET2 now for 11 years. In many ways it can still offer state of the art sound, and relatively inexpensively for those looking. I'm certain it has it's flaws, but I know I've mentioned elsewhere on these forums that I just can't be beat for groove distortion, especially towards the end of an lp where grooves are tighter.
I like the look of the "Conductor" tonearm and hope it does well. It seems to offer a reasonable alternative to the big boys of pivoted design.
On some comments regarding tracking error made above, I wonder if those who can't hear .8 of a degree of error can hear the differences in cables????

Alun, the problem with many air bearing tonearms is that the lateral tracking mass is much greater than the relatively normal vertical tracking mass.

This causes the cantilever of many cartridges to 'walk' back and forth as it produces all the forces needed to move the excessive mass of the arm toward the center of the LP as it spins. The result is that often the tracking error caused by the cantilever bending is much more pronounced that that of a radial tracking arm. This can be reduced by using a cartridge that has less compliance but you run into troubles with the effective mass vs the mechanical arm resonance (which is usually between 7Hz - 12Hz for best results).

A linear tracking arm that relies on a servo to move the rear tone arm will have a much lower tracking error and no need for a low-compliance cartridge. The Rabco was one of the few arms to use a system like that, but otherwise was a terrible arm. The 1960s for the most part was not a good time for tone arm designs :)

I only been using a linear tracking arm for a few months before then I had a silver wired SME 4 and to be honest the Terminator is just in a different class in every department. It has no hiss coming through the carrier
I am now totally convinced that this is the way to go to get the best out of your turntable