2. analog
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Why are modern arms so ugly?

OK.......you're going to say it's subjective and you really looove the look of modern tonearms?
But the great tonearms of the Golden Age are genuinely beautiful in the way that most Ferraris are generally agreed to be beautiful.
Look at the Fidelity Research FR-64s and FR-66s? Look at the SAEC 308 series and the SAEC 407/23? Look at the Micro Seiki MA-505? Even the still audacious Dynavector DV-505/507?
But as an architect who's lifetime has revolved around aesthetics.......I am genuinely offended by the design of most modern arms. And don't give me the old chestnut....'Form follows Function' as a rational for ugliness. These current 'monsters' will never become 'Classics' no matter how many 'rave reviews' they might temporarily assemble.
128x128halcro
geoch's avatar
geoch
354 posts
 
Can we please stay in tune? I wish to overcome this unpleasant situation as quick and harmless for both of us. Like as it never happened.
Now what about the azimuth adj. How you can manage to live with a tonearm without this?
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear Daniel, I have both : the Reed 2A ,12'' and the Triplanar VII. The Reed is on an arm pod because this was the only possibility to use two tonearms with my Kuzma Stabi Reference. I don't look at them as the objects of art
but as instruments for specific task. The task however is
more related to the carts then the tonearms. In the Reed I
have the Phase Tech P-3G an LOMC with low compliance. In
the Triplanar the Benz Ruby 3S. Depending on the music kind
I prefer one above the other and vice versa. No conflicts
at all. BTW thy are not able to contradict me.

Regards,
thuchan
1,009 posts
 
Dear Geoch,

I have two SAECs, the 8000 and the 506/30. I have no problems with the azimuth adjustment cause both arms are precisely levelled. When you are using SME headshells you can also adjust the position a little. I know that many DaVinci users complained about the fixed headshell's position where you could not adjust the Azimuth.
Agree that Azimuth control is important!

best @ fun only
dertonarm
1,042 posts
 
Dear Nikola, may I suggest that you give the Phase Tech a listen in the Triplanar and vice versa the Benz in the Reed.
As a matter of fact the Triplanar is better suited to low compliance (although I wouldn't really call the Phase Tech P-3G low in compliance ... but it is lower in comparison to the Benz for sure) having a slightly higher effective mass than the Reed.
Aside from this I was only pointing to the similarities in outer shape to return this thread to it's topic.
Cheers,
D.
dertonarm
1,042 posts
 
Azimuth adjustment shouldn't be necessary - alas, it often is due to lack of precision in way too many cartridges (and sometimes idiotic platter surfaces with ever so slight slope to ensure better contact of record to platter - kind of jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire...).
Cheers,
D.
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