Long Tone Arms

CPP said:
So a well designed, constructed and adjusted tone arm when matched to a quality cartridge regardless of the tone arm length should be sufficient for the average home user. I guess I need to go listen to a TT with a 12" arm but the issue is finding a dealer or a person close that has a table with a 12" tone arm.
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Since when has this hobby ever been about "should be sufficient?" :) Does anyone know of someone who bought a high-quality modern 12" arm and ditched it to go back to a smaller arm? Size does matter and I have no plans to ever go back to a small arm.
 
mep said:
Since when has this hobby ever been about "should be sufficient?" :) Does anyone know of someone who bought a high-quality modern 12" arm and ditched it to go back to a smaller arm? Size does matter and I have no plans to ever go back to a small arm.
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:dunno:Don't have a clue, as I've never personally met anyone that had a 12" tone arm. :)
 
mep said:
Since when has this hobby ever been about "should be sufficient?" :) Does anyone know of someone who bought a high-quality modern 12" arm and ditched it to go back to a smaller arm? Size does matter and I have no plans to ever go back to a small arm.
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I did. (VPI 12.6 on VPI HRX to VPI 3D10.5 on VPI Classic 3). Larry
 
Garth said:
Has anyone done a A B with the same arm in different lengths how much improvement do you get. No one gets to caught up in what a cartridge weighs as in the lightest at all costs is a small mass gain that big a deal. I have heard you get more detail and better bass has this proved to be true.
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Yes, I owned both the 9" SME V and the 12" SME V-12. The latter is much better. I did a direct comparison over a two week period on my SME 30/12 turntable. The V-12 is smoother, more detailed, better bass, more transparent, more extended. The lower offset angle is an advantage as it means there is less skating force. There is obviously less tracking distortion also. SME calculates it as 27% less distortion.

Incidentally, cartridge weight can be quite important. My AirTight Supreme weighs 12 or 12.5 grams which is the perfect weight for the SME V-12 counterweight to balance the cartridge and be very close to the pivot point of the arm. This decreases inertia and makes the arm more responsive.
 
Garth...just wondering if you auditioned those Ayre interconnects before you got them...I also have an all Ayre system and was amazed at how much better other cables sounded. I don't mean to disparage your system....its great as you know, just saying that I got rid of my Ayre cables and replaced them IN MY SYSTEM got better sound.
 
astrotoy said:
I did. (VPI 12.6 on VPI HRX to VPI 3D10.5 on VPI Classic 3). Larry
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I have owned two VPI arms and was never a fan of them. I haven't heard the 3D arms so I can't comment on them.
 
PeterA said:
Yes, I owned both the 9" SME V and the 12" SME V-12. The latter is much better. I did a direct comparison over a two week period on my SME 30/12 turntable. The V-12 is smoother, more detailed, better bass, more transparent, more extended. The lower offset angle is an advantage as it means there is less skating force. There is obviously less tracking distortion also. SME calculates it as 27% less distortion.

Incidentally, cartridge weight can be quite important. My AirTight Supreme weighs 12 or 12.5 grams which is the perfect weight for the SME V-12 counterweight to balance the cartridge and be very close to the pivot point of the arm. This decreases inertia and makes the arm more responsive.
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Thank you for the reply I had a SME V- 9 inch for many years on a SOTA . I will keep in mind your findings . I have found comparing tables arms and cartridges very hard due to the set up need only to be out a fraction to change so much. Also break in times are variable from product to product . As you say it improves the bass, smoother and more detail is of great interest. The SME 30 is a table I also considered. Thanks again for your time and opinion.
 
Well that info must be dated. :) That came from when HW first released the 12-inch arm now what 15+ years ago. Maybe the lighter 3D arm and lower mass changes the equation. But thanks for the link!
 
Myles B. Astor said:
Well that info must be dated. :) That came from when HW first released the 12-inch arm now what 15+ years ago. Maybe the lighter 3D arm and lower mass changes the equation. But thanks for the link!
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The date of Harry's post says Jan 22, 2015. That's pretty recent.
 
Myles B. Astor said:
I assume the lighter arm allows him to do things he couldn't with metal arm tubes.
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3D printing is a game-changer for lots of companies. The space station now has a 3D printer and when they need a special tool they don't have on board, NASA just uploads a file to the space station so they can manufacture the tool they need with the 3D printer.
 
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