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Are linear tracking arms better than pivoted arms?

My answer to this question is yes. Linear tracking arms trace the record exactly the way it was cut. Pivoted arms generally have two null points across the record and they are the only two points the geometry is correct. All other points on the record have a degree of error with pivoted arms. Linear tracking arms don't need anti-skating like pivoted arms do which is another plus for them. Linear tracking arms take more skill to set up initially, but I feel they reward the owner with superior sound quality. I have owned and used a variety of pivoted arms over the years, but I feel that my ET-2 is superior sounding to all of them. You can set up a pivoted arm incorrectly and it will still play music. Linear tracking arms pretty much force you to have everything correct or else they will not play. Are they worth the fuss? I think so. Mepearson  (Threads | Answers | This Thread) 02-16-10

Responses (1-50 of 282)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it. 02-16-10   In the interest of full disclosure, i own a souther, which i ...   Samujohn 02-16-10   I have had liner tracking arms in the past, starting with th ...   Stanwal 02-17-10   I would say linear arms separate the 'set and play' crowd fr ...   Elizabeth 02-17-10   Both linear track and pivot arms have their advantages, just ...   Albertporter 02-17-10: Mt10425 I swapped out a Linn LP12 for the Mitsubishi LT-30 I currently use. Without question, they are different animals. My LT-30 is far easier to set up than a pivoted table. Although my table has had a few upgrades (WBT connectors, extra damping, upgraded caps-transistors-tonearm wire) for higher torque speed control and overall cleaner sound, I hesitate ever going back to pivoted. I have a pivoted as a backup. To each their own. Mt10425  (Threads | Answers | This Thread) 02-17-10   Have had both too. i used a souther for quite some time, the ...   Bostonaudi 02-17-10   Mepearson, linear trackers are specifically designed to add ...   Larryi 02-17-10   Well, as far as the "twiddle" factor, once my et 2 ...   Mepearson 02-17-10   Dear mepearson: it is obvious that you start the thread to t ...   Rauliruegas 02-17-10   Depends. as you mentioned they are fussy, and require worki ...   Buconero117 02-17-10   Mepearson-now that raul, audiophile's audiophile has deemed ...   Mt10425 02-17-10   Dear mt10425: please don't take my post in the way you take ...   Rauliruegas 02-17-10   ..... no   Syntax 02-17-10   I currently use an maplenoll apollo with its linear tracking ...   Oilmanmojo 02-17-10   Well raul, i didn't mean to get your dander up. i certainly ...   Mepearson 02-17-10   I own both a unipivot and linear air-bearing tonearm - scheu ...   Darkmoebius 02-17-10   In 1980 i met lou souther when i was living in boston and in ...   213cobra 02-17-10   Phil, your post was probably the best post i have ever ...   Baranyi 02-18-10   Wow phil, thanks for the great ride through a specific point ...   Darkmoebius 02-18-10   Happy to post some history and perspective, bob. now, if thi ...   213cobra 02-18-10   unfortunately, it's just left me wanting to hear more! well ...   213cobra 02-18-10   Dear phil, what an beautiful 'holistic story': persistence, ...   Nandric 02-18-10   Thanks phil, my souther has been a stable, unfussy (after a ...   Samujohn 02-18-10   I have owned several linear tracking arms. air bearings don ...   Atmasphere 02-18-10   Ralph, i suspect some of us currently using the walker audio ...   Rushton 02-18-10   "air bearings don't work" is quite a generalizatio ...   Dgarretson 02-18-10   Bravo phil! what a well written post.   Semi 02-18-10   Geez ralph, i didn't know my et-2 couldn't work. of course ...   Mepearson 02-18-10   Aaaah, to be able to afford a high quality table with two to ...   Darkmoebius 02-18-10   Well, et-2 arms are fairly cheap when they come up for sale. ...   Mepearson 02-18-10   Phil,i would love to hear about julius futterman. at one po ...   Baranyi 02-19-10   Atmasphere wrote a very good - and true - comment. that's th ...   Syntax 02-19-10   I own both types, the rockport sirius iii linear tracking ar ...   Mikelavigne 02-19-10   "make sure you use a surge tank with it and an air filt ...   Lewm 02-19-10   Hey 213 cobra (phil), i too was a friend and customer of jul ...   Lewm 02-19-10   Syntax, i have no idea what you mean when you say linear tra ...   Mepearson 02-19-10   Dear friends: imho trying to achieve a precise conclusion of ...   Rauliruegas 02-17-10   In 1980 i met lou souther when i was living in boston and in ...   213cobra 02-19-10   Well raul, i own a system that "can play clean in that ...   Mepearson 02-19-10   Dear mepearson: +++++ " linear arm is incapable of rea ...   Rauliruegas 02-20-10   I have owned air tangent 2b, 10b and reference, et 2.5 mod. ...   Dertonarm 02-20-10   Dertonarm-thank you for your very well-reasoned response. y ...   Mepearson 02-21-10   Mark, i would just give the triplanar, davinci, new ortofon ...   Dertonarm 02-21-10   Also look into the basis vector arm. a. j. conti use to dist ...   Jwm 02-21-10   Dear mepearson: this " humble " audio technica 10& ...   Rauliruegas 02-21-10   How about the dynavector dv-507 mkii? how does that, and it' ...   Darkmoebius 02-21-10   02-19-10: mepearson well raul, i own a system that "c ...   Darkmoebius 02-21-10   Dear darkmoebius: agree with you. there i'm talking more on ...   Rauliruegas 02-21-10   Agreed, raul. but clean reproduction of the fundamental note ...   Darkmoebius 02-21-10   Well darkmo, i have a purpose-built dedicated audio room. m ...   Mepearson

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