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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
thuchan OP
1,009 posts
 
Hi Moonglum,
yes Clearaudio offers a Unify in a 14" format. I never have listened to it.It is not that expensive...need to check.

Hi Myles_b-astor,
I think the market did not ask for longer arms, this is changing. So Bob responded to the market`s requirements and now is offering a good 12" Phantom. regarding antiskating you have some advantages on this longer designs too.

Best & Fun Only - Thuchan
rockitman's avatar
rockitman
417 posts
 
Clearaudio also offers a 13" arm for their top of the line radial arm, the Universal. I have the 9". A fantastic arm. Perhaps I will get a 13" some day to put on my table's other arm pod.
moonglum
619 posts
 
Hi Thuchan...some interesting comments about the use of carbon fibre in this article (see the Wilson Benesch arm)

http://www.positive-feedback.com/pfbackissues/0605/gordon.tonearm.6n5.html

The author/s have tried as hard as they can to assess the properties of these tonearms. It's a good read... :o)
thuchan OP
1,009 posts
 
Hi Moonglum, thanks for the article. I do share the impressions regarding the ET 2.5. I do not know the Wilson Benesch arm but do respect the quality and musicality of Wilson Benesch products. Is it really the carbon fibre, who knows?

I like this material very much. Of course costly but light and stiff.

best & fun only - Thuchan
ct0517's avatar
ct0517
2,041 posts
 
Hi Thuchan and Moonglum

This is an old article but still I would dearly love to try out and own all of the arms mentioned in the article.

Regarding the ET 2.5

It used a stock VPI MK IV which came suspended from VPI. I owned one - a MKIV with an ET arm. I have learned since that all ET arms need to not move at all to sound their best. A suspended platform moves and is therefore not recommended.

The article does not state how much pressure was at the arm - The ET 2.5 arm works best at 19 psi per testing by Arthur Salvatore members. Below that and you are not hearing all detail - above and you start to lose detail. It still sounds good with 10 psi but you are not hearing it at its best. To deliver 19 at the arm requires much higher from the pump source. Pretty sure an aquarium pump can’t deliver 19 psi at the arm – correct me if I am assuming wrong.

I am using a JMW 12” under an armpod and it is working out quite well. If I had a longer arm I would not hesitate to try it.

Cheers Chris
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