Why is the price of new tonearms so high

Hi Axel, its not a lengthly scientific discourse at all.
Its very easy and fast to describe in 3-5 sentences.
As for the bearing-in-horizontal-line-with-stylus-thing......
When in horizontal line?
By correct applied and groove-compliant VTA.......
Or in static state with armpipe horizontal.....
Or with cantilever in a certain angle while tracking......

Most 12" tonearms do indeed have their bearing in line with surface level when the VTA is groove-compliant and the cartridge isn't with very little or very large outer dimensions.

Another nice episode of the endless struggle theory vs practice......
Funny isn't it?

Cheers,
D.

D.
actually one good argument for an SME 12", since it now will not touch the record any longer, if going that low.
I must remember that.
AND as you indicate between the lines ---- the cart has to play ball!!!

Cart too tall? Everything moves too high above the record surface (never mind 1/10mm) of cart suspension / cantilever change(s).

It once again give me a clue about all this mysterious synergy business.
A.

For that price range and to achieve the performance levels expected, everything must be in sync and tuned in exactly, which requires considerable expertise.

Otherwise buying an expensive tonearm must surely be a waste. You have to be seriously dedicated to accomplish this I believe. Otherwise, I would think you may as well save your money, unless just looking at a really nice tonearm alone turns you on.

Dear Axel: Yes I was in bed! The subject of dynamic/static balanced way in a tonearm design is one of the factors where we have to take a choice or to build both designs ( like the new ones from Ortofon. ).

It is obvious that the static one works strictly by the gravity forces where in theory and due to the record " waves " makes that the VTF " suffer " changes accros the record traks and according with those " waves " but this kind of behavior prevail ( in minor way. ) in the dynamically balanced design.

That behavior (vtf ) change in both designs according with the kind and quality of the tonearm bearings, the tonearm effective length and the total tonearm/cartridge effective mass. Now, we have to take in count too the left-right tonearm/cartridge movements that affects too.

Axel, this dynamic/ static tonearm subject is important but in real playback conditions we can achieve extremely good results with either design if the design is a good one, if the excution of that design is a good one too and if the tonearm build materials are the right ones.

But a customer can't know if all those tonearm design facts are acomplish in a tonearm till he put to work with a cartridge and see which is the quality performance level on that combination.

By design the tonearm ( static/dynamically ) must be neutral: adding no distortions ( any kind ), and this ( neutrality ) is the main goal in a tonearm design. A very hard task due to many relationship between different parts in the tonearm itself and with the additional cartridge own behavior of its design.

Regards and enjoy the music,
raul.

Raul,

are you building a tonearm yourself and if so could you shortly elaborate on the design goals/route you have chosen?
Tks
Pär