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What defines a good tonearm

I'm in the market for a very good tonearm as an upgrade from an SME 345 (309). Most of the tonearms I have used in the past are fixed bearing except for my Grace 704 unipivot. I dont have a problem with the "wobble" of a unipivot, and they seem the simplest to build, so if they are generally at least as good as a fixed pivot, why wouldnt everyone use a unipivot and put their efforts into developing easier vta, azimuth and vtf adjustments, and better arm materials. Or is there some inherent benefit to fixed pivot that makes them worth the extra effort to design and manufacture
manitunc
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 
Mike and Dan, I assume that both of you have LPs that you recorded yourself and released commercially. What is the title of the LP? I'd like to get a copy.
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rauliruegas
13,060 posts
 
Dear Hiho: Due that you stated: +++++ " A unipivot can do that easily with very little friction..... " ++++++

even that no one posted a number/figure/spec on that unipivot bearing friction I would like that you think if that's possible: when all the tonearm weight is concentrate at one point.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Ah, atmasphere, the "I'm a Pro" trump card. I'll ask you a question. Just how much time did you ACTUALLY spend with any Talea.

At RMAF last year I watched a guy walk into a room, over to the turntable and mumbled something about Triplanar this or that. Then he turned and walked out. I certainly hope you spent more time with a Talea than that guy did.

I have never said the Talea is the BEST, but it is no doubt better than some. I still own my Triplanar after 5 1/2 years. It works very well for me. I've had a Talea, in one form or the other, for over a year.
lewm
13,045 posts
 
Halcro, You wrote, "Sounds like you are buying Raul's claim that anything which sounds good must be attributed to 'distortions'?"

In a word, no. Please don't re-interpret what I wrote. Further, IMO you are not even giving Raul's ideas a fair interpretation. He certainly never "claimed" that what sounds good must be therefore distorted.
lewm
13,045 posts
 
Dear Mike, Did you actually hear a difference between a Reed 2A and a Reed 2P? I thought the only difference between those two was the fine-ness of the VTA adjustment up and down.

Syntax, Thanks for the humor break. That is one of my favorite Monte Python bits.

Raul, What is the evidence that lowest possible friction at the pivot is a major determinant of goodness of a pivoted tonearm?

Lharasim, I am interested in linear trackers, but I am not interested in air pumps, filters, tubing, pump noise, etc, that inevitably go with them. Plus, if they are not perfectly adjusted in all planes, there is a kind of "chronic" tracing distortion across the entire LP. I agree they do sound "different" from pivoted tonearms, as a class.
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