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Are linear tracking arms better than pivoted arms?

My answer to this question is yes. Linear tracking arms trace the record exactly the way it was cut. Pivoted arms generally have two null points across the record and they are the only two points the geometry is correct. All other points on the record have a degree of error with pivoted arms. Linear tracking arms don't need anti-skating like pivoted arms do which is another plus for them.

Linear tracking arms take more skill to set up initially, but I feel they reward the owner with superior sound quality. I have owned and used a variety of pivoted arms over the years, but I feel that my ET-2 is superior sounding to all of them. You can set up a pivoted arm incorrectly and it will still play music. Linear tracking arms pretty much force you to have everything correct or else they will not play. Are they worth the fuss? I think so.
mepearson
hiho
451 posts
 

Well said, Dertonarm. Well said.

A tonearm is a mechanical device, let's stick to talking about its mechanical operation and design issues, regardless of one's sonic impression either pro or con. Unless someone can articulate well enough to relate the sound to the tonearm's physical attribute, it's still mostly a bunch of impressionistic ramblings. I am sure many people just can't wait to jump on talking about how wide the "soundstage" or "PRaT" or other pornographic details. Spare me.

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samujohn's avatar
samujohn
291 posts
 
Have we then decided that the charge against liner arms ".......(they) put excessive side force on the stylus, in a way that would lead to poor performance and quicker wear of the cartridge" is unsupported, and are now simply discussing the theory of the best tonearm design?
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,099 posts
 
Samujohn, in a word, no. Fred's point about using vacuum is well-taken; record warp will contribute to the issues of air-bearing linear trackers. This quote
The problem is that most tangential arms have historically not been well designed or executed.
is the most telling.

Mikelavigne, about 20-25 years ago someone figured out that the Reynolds number for a bumble bee's wing was not being calculated correctly. Once the right Reynold's number got into the math, it turned out that bumble bees fly just fine. That example does persist though, just like most people still think that Marconi was the inventor of the radio.
samujohn's avatar
samujohn
291 posts
 
So, my Souther mounted on a vacuum turntable does not cause excessive wear because I do not play warped records; or it does cause excessive wear, only I don't seem to be able to notice because.....................?
Or, is it more accurate to say that poorly designed liner arms, and arms out of adjustment, cause excessive wear, and liner arms are more likely to stress the cartridge tracking warped records than pivoted arms?
darkmoebius
900 posts
 
Ok, I phoned techs at both Grado and Soundsmith (since they also do retipping) if they have found that linear tracking arms cause excessive wear and/or damage to cartridges.

Both techs were fairly clear in saying "no", given that the arms are properly set up(level, etc). The only caveat offered is that there could possibly be more issues with highly compliant carts as compared to medium compliant ones.

If anyone is in the same time zone as the European and Japanese cart manufacturers(ZYX, Dynavector, Shelter, Koetsu, Van de Hul, Benz Micro, etc) give them a call see what they have to say.

I just want to know if premature or excessive wear/damage due to modern linear arms is common since I own both linear and pivoted arms.
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