Dertonearm, if I understand you consider a short arm to be the Achille's heel. I can only offer anecdotally that the shorter I adjust my tonearm the better it sounds. I can think of no explanation other than that improved resonance control of shorter arm is of greater importance than maintaining absolute VTA. Designers of top pivot arms obviously give much thought to controlling vibration with particularly elegant arm tube compositions. But it is remarkable how many long pivot arms appear to be casually designed in this respect.(Based on appearance I would include Thales in this second group. I would also include any arm with a detachable headshell.) But all things being equal regarding arm tube composition, a short arm should win at least with respect to vibration control.
Taken from another angle, is it conceivable that micro-variations in VTA(which long pivot arms also suffer albeit to a lesser extent), are any more detrimental than out-of-tangency tracking errors with pivot arms?
Finally, what pivot arm approaches a linear arm in clean portrayal of inner grooves?
Taken from another angle, is it conceivable that micro-variations in VTA(which long pivot arms also suffer albeit to a lesser extent), are any more detrimental than out-of-tangency tracking errors with pivot arms?
Finally, what pivot arm approaches a linear arm in clean portrayal of inner grooves?