Discuss The Viv Lab Rigid Arm

Red herring. I am not using a spring-suspended TT. In fact, the Lenco is mass loaded and then isolated from below by energy absorbing feet and shelf and stand sitting on a very inert floor. If you are saying that you use a SOTA or other spring-suspended TT, and if this issue is of vital importance to you, then perhaps you ought not to consider the Viv. Anyway, the tonearm mounting board on a SOTA moves in unison with the platter and bearing; you could mount a Viv on that arm board. However, I know you will say it’s not bolted down and therefore won’t make you happy, but actually how many tonearms are held in place with much more than 2 lbs of force?  (I actually think there may be threaded inserts in the bottom of the base that do permit holding it down with machine screws; I will have to check.)

lewm

Red herring. I am not using a spring-suspended TT.

Again, understood. I’m talking about the arm in general and remember, I’m one of the guys who isn’t questioning your assessment of this arm.

... if you are saying that you use a SOTA or other spring-suspended TT ...

Nope. From what I’ve read about the Viv arm, it would be no problem putting it on my VPI TNT. I’m just talking about the arm generally.

I know you will say it’s not bolted down and therefore won’t make you happy

Good grief. You obviously haven’t been reading the favorable comments I’ve been making about both this arm and the users such as you that refuse to allow specs and stereotypes to cloud their judgment.

@lewm, I will leave the last word for you. I'm done with this thread, where even positive comments are subject to attack.

I enjoy a spirited exchange, and I do apologize if my responses were offensive. I do appreciate your open-mindedness regarding the tonearm itself or at least my opinion of it. 

Maybe this indicates that zero tracking angle error is not the Holy Grail some claim it to be.

That's the designer's whole point, right?

I suspect there are a few other things at play here beyond the TAE vs. skating force.  From personal experience I can say that 3° TAE error on a conventional overhung setup is vastly different in sonic character than the same error on the 9" Schröder reference I set up as a 0 offset underhung arm.  I purposely chose 3° TAE since it is beyond properly setup traditional tonearm error but guaranteed to occur on any underhung design.

dave

Except where there’s a pre-existing zenith error of > or = 3 degrees. In that case even an overhang may have a >3 degree net TAE error.