Has anyone had experience with the Schroeder Arm

Sirspeedy,
Thanks for having the nerve to fess up for your pal's attitude. I've been in your shoes, usually at the poker table. Sometimes we truly deserve the "I'm With Stupid" T-shirt.
I'm a little surprised at your comments re: the Wheaton. Which version was it. Do you think the current model suffers from the issues you describe? Cheers,
Spencer

I have owned many tonearms including the Wheaton when the Mod Squad sold it as well as six straightline trackers. The Schroeder Reference on my Garrard 501 gives the greatest dynamics and plausible sense of being at the recording even that I have ever heard. I use the Decca Jubilee cartridge which responds well to the magnetic dampening control.

On my Tri-Planar there IS play in the threads of the VTA tower. This is easy to overcome however. Once you've decided where on the scale you want to be, always approach that setting by moving the arm UP to it. This way gravity and the resistance of the grease in the threads are both working to ensure precision. If you move the arm DOWN to some setting then the grease in the threads can prevent it from being truely as low as the scale indicates.

It also requires a simple mod to cue straight. Takes only a minute so no big deal, though why Tri-Mai hasn't fixed this is a mystery.

Paul recently said he wouldn't trade our TriPlanar for a Schroeder Ref even in a straight swap. That's a pretty strong statement, since the Ref is the best sounding arm we've heard. It had a lot to do with our new ZYX UNIverse, which seems to be a perfect companion for the TriPlanar.

The Wheaton that I had was from about 4 years ago.I know that there is a newer model out.I spoke with the new owner of Wheaton at HE2004 and while I was trying to compliment his product I,at the same time told him of my concerns about the play in the vta scale as well as the fact that dialing in an EXACT tracking force required a "HUNT AND SEARCH" approach (with the non-exacting)way of sliding the counterweight as opposed to the EXACT threaded rotation of the GRAHAM.Tiny increments in downforce make all the diff. in a high res set up.His response to me was that he felt his counterweight system was good enough.I also noticed there was still play in the top vta scale so I politely wished him good luck and went my merry way.The Wheaton arm,as current,is,I'm sure,wonderful--just not my cup of tea.AS for EBM he won't get mad that I outed him but may come back with some stupid comment.LOOK OUT!

EBM.Sorry if I came down hard on your post.For all those here and now EBM is a very nice person with a very fine system,just not a very fine practical joker.P.S. I don't recall Barbara RANTING VEHEMENTLY at YOU when you sold me 3 records for $450.oo that you paid $60.oo for.She wasn't happy either!