New Schroeder linear tonearm, any thoughts?


I noticed Frank Schroeder has a new linear arm without servo motors, pumps, etc. seems like a promising direction. Did anyone hear it at RMAF?
crubio
10-23-12: Larryi
I don't see any pictures depicting a tangential tracking arm. I only see pictures of their hanging on a thread/magnetic attraction version of a conventional pivoting arm.

What, if any, mechanism provides for tangential tracking?

Larryi, The new Schroeder arm is not a standart tangential tracking arm. It is a pivoted arm track like a linear-tracker. "The Schroeder arm has an ingenious mechanism whereby the pivot point of the arm mounted on a cam is pulled out in an arc by the stylus to achieve tangency." You can find good pictures here:

http://www.stereomojo.com/Show%20Reports/RockyMountainAudioFest2011Showreportp3.htm
And thankfully, a beautiful looking arm at last.
Makes the Kuzma 4 point appear as gross and ungainly as Quazimodo's goitre.
Pity Frank didn't include a detachable universal headshell?
I would have seriously considered this.....although if it has the same waiting time as Frank's other arms............?
Dear Dgad: I don't know which is that price but I would think that the price could goes with the tonearm advantages in this new design over other tonearms.

The tonearm quality performance level is the factor that justify a price other than marketing.

Anyway, till we don't experienced we can't have a grading on this " novel " tonearm design but knowing the very good job of this designer ( Frank. ) I assume this one will have very high quality performance and will has success.

Btw, the japanese tonearm in the link I posted is interesting too, it is a straight one from headshell to tonearm bearing that the designer say " there is no contact at all " and comes with universal removable headshell design as Halcro asked.

Good that the analog is growing up on something so important as tonearms with " fresh " ideas.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
Raul,

Very tempting, but when do I leave well enough alone? I have seen so
many great designs and Wally measured Tonearms a few years ago to
rotational inertia (the force needed by the groove to move the stylus)
across the LP. This basically would be demonstrated by the Tonearms
pulling back against the cartridge and produce excessive force on the
cantilever. Something that most of us take for granted. It was truly
educational. He mentioned some of the best arms he has tested we're the
SME, TW 10.5, and Breuer. He also showed some unconventional designs
to "stick" along portions of an LP. The reason I bring this up is
that my Schroder SQ obviously would excel in such a test beyond all arms
and might be why I am so enamored with its sound. I wonder if this new
design from Frank would have similar problems. I doubt any bearing that
traverses over a pivoting area would have as low friction - inertia. This can
honestly be tested. Franks claims to the contrary might be true and then we
have something special. I believe linear tracking arms of the true linear
variety all suffer from needing high forces against the cantilever to move
the stylus.