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why is a 13" tonearm design really superior?

we just mounted the SAEC WE-8000 on my Nakamichi and I can´t really believe what kind of fantastic sound this tonearm is able to reproduce. Is it because this is a very special 13" design or because of the extraordinary headshell design? I think it is the only tonearm with such a long straight alu-pipe. Am i right? Also the lift design is unique, this lift stops at every level you like to use.
Why are todays tonearm developers not anymore going for a 13" or 14" design?
thuchan
antslappy's avatar
antslappy
14 posts
 
One thing you all forgot, the 8000 has 1.25* tracking error at the lead in of a 12" LP which gets less & less as the arm goes toward the center of the record. At the lead out the tracking error is 0!!! No other arm on this planet does this!!!
dertonarm
1,042 posts
 
Dear Antslappy, that was a common concept of SAEC with their top-of-the-line tonearms.
The SAEC 506/30 is very similar.
However - you can get that kind of alignment with most every 12" tonearm which allows for some alternation of offset angle and overhang.
It is not an exclusive built-in-feature of the two big SAEC tonearms only.
It is a matter of concept and whether you wish to align that way.
Cheers,
D.
myles_b_astor's avatar
myles_b_astor
134 posts
 
One designer(who makes 12 inch arms) told me that they didn't hear any sonic improvements above a length of 12 inches.
thuchan OP
1,009 posts
 
Hi Myles_B_Astor. The designer may listen to a WE 8000 and he will change his opinion quickly. Promise.

Best & Fun Only - Thuchan
pryso
1,986 posts
 
Dfelkai, you suggested "Baerwald was helped by 12 guys from nasa".

I assume this was tongue-in-cheek since Baerwald was awarded his patent in 1939 and NASA was not created until 1958.

But then maybe you were simply following Thuchan's motto, best & fun only!
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