Why are modern arms so ugly?

Copperhead and Cobra are no mainstream designs.
When I first saw pictures I had the same impression.
You need to see it in reality or better listen to it.
When you see the bearing and structure, have the tonearm in your hands you will look at it differently- I am pretty sure.
I think you would be not the first changing your attitude - and this is not an easy process. Don't mind if you stick to it.

best @ fun only

Ugly is ugly. I never did like that stream-lined look. If you put a grill on the front you could call it a 1950's Studebaker, or some fins on the ass end and call it a 59 Caddy.

I only saw it at a dealer, and at first I didn't know what it was. I think Stereophile made it more known. Actually, If there wasn't any review from any one like them, it may not be known know. One thing I noticed is the counterweight is to far back (IMO) from the pivot point. I would think that when the arm is tracking a slightly warped record, that added length extending the weight back that far is going to cause it to be slower dealing with upward and downward motion. That slower response time would make this arm ideal for a perfect record. That doesn't happen in the real world. This looks like something that would fit the laws of something in motion, wants to stay in motion. With the added length, the arm may want to stay in its upward motion longer than if the weight was closer, and more capable of keeping the tracking force closer to where it should be. That added length will also slow it down while tracking a record that has a hole slightly of center. That would cause more of an anti-skate problem too. Extra side to side, and up and down movement for the cantilever, causing a tracking problem in both cases, if not tracking that perfect record. This is just my opinion.

there are more beautiful and more elegant, higher build quality tonearms, and less beautiful and less elegant, and lower build quality tonearms, but from my perspective they are all beautiful and elegant. i'm trying to think of a tonearm which does not cause me to smile at least a little in anticipation....i cannot think of any.

ugly tonearms? no.

not to my taste? sure.

if i had a collection of iconic vintage tonearms i might feel differently.

Dan_ed, thanks. I did not want to say that myself. Halcro and I must have very different taste :)