There is no answer for your question because there is more than one variable involved. For any particular cartridge there may be an optimum mass but there is no mass optimum for all cartridges. During the race toward higher and higher compliance which occurred during the 70s it was determined that one cartridge required an arm with negative mass for best performance. With the trend to lower compliance cartridges the mass of arms has tended to rise, although some of the older arms were very high mass. The arm/cartridge system is a very complex one and no single parameter will govern it's performance. The weight of the cartridge should have no bearing on the antiskate force, it is determined by the tracking force , not the weight of the cartridge. The compliance of the cartridge determines the mass of the arm, low compliance-high mass and vice versa. If you get this wrong the resonance frequency of the combination will be either too high or too low. See sites like Vinyl Engine of Audio Asylum for fuller explanations.
How does tone-arm mass impact performance?
Specifically, how does increasing or decreasing the mass of the tone-arm impact the performance of the system? Please do not answer; it will improve your bass or; it will provide a wider sound stage, these are not types of answers I am looking for.
Hypothetically, could one have a 1 ton ton arm with a 1 ton counter weight and still be able to play a record?
I recently changed my catridge from Ortofon OM to 2M blue. The 2M is heavier, as a result I had to increase my anti-skate setting. Are there any other impacts?
Is a lighter tone-arm better then a heavier one or is there some optimal mass?
Thank you.
Hypothetically, could one have a 1 ton ton arm with a 1 ton counter weight and still be able to play a record?
I recently changed my catridge from Ortofon OM to 2M blue. The 2M is heavier, as a result I had to increase my anti-skate setting. Are there any other impacts?
Is a lighter tone-arm better then a heavier one or is there some optimal mass?
Thank you.