Linear Tracking Turntables - Best??

how much are you willing to spend? if price is truly not an obstacle, you should go for the rockport serius. i haven't heard much played on the latest iteration but spent some time with the penultimate model. i have used an airtangent arm on a tnt to good effect, tho it's a bit tricky to setup and keep properly tweeked. same goes for the clearaudio tt/arm combo; the newest version, however, is a good deal better than prior ones. i would avoid going into the used market after a classic goldmund; they are a real setup nightmare. IMHO, you will find it easier to deal with a pivoted arm on a really good tt and, as a consequence play more lp's more frequently than you might with the much more finicky linear trackers. my personal choice is the basis debut vacuum with a graham 2.0 ceramic and koestsu onyx platinum cartridge. whatever your alternative, as with any component, cable, etc.: AUDITION IT IN YOUR SYSTEM. IF YOU CAN'T DO THIS FOR ANY REASON, DON"T BUY.

I owned the Goldmund Studietto turntable/arm and found it to be extraordinarily revealing. Once set up and dialed in for optimum performance, it was very straightforward to operate. This linear tracker was also a relative bargain ($3,000 new) compared to the Goldmund Studio model ($5,500+), which was considered the best TT/arm at the time. Unfortunately, Studiettos rarely come up for sale on the used market. Hope this helps. Daddy-O.

A good pivot tone arm is every bit as good as line tracking. They both have advantages, it is not as simple as one is better than the other.

Najo, I disagree strongly. I have spent years and thousands of dollars trying to find a pivoted-arm combo that did not have the ever-present graininess, harshness, and spittiness which happens at the end of records. It's physically impossible with traditional pivoted arms. Records are cut in a straight line and should be played back that way. Sorry, but that's the truth. Pivoted arms have geometric error which is easily heard near the ends of records when the groove velocity is the slowest. Once you hear a good linear tracking system, like a Goldmund or Forsell, you will never want to go back to pivoted arms like Regas, SMEs, Grahams, etc. I've owned all of them! The record will now sound beautiful from start to finish. So, my advise is go find a good used Goldmund.

Have to put in a word for the Eminent Technology arm which not only maintains it's position today with the finest but is seriously unfussy. The few shortcomings, less bass than others and the poor wiring on the original are solved by the five gallon gas can and the litz (?) wire upgrade of the series II. Paired with the VPI HW-19 IV which has the TNT bearing it's 95% of the Goldmund and Basis for 1/10 the price.