Don, It's interesting that you're running this thread right next door to a thread on Class A cartridges. We only now need a thread on "the best tonearm/cartridge combination".
I think that a world class pivoted tonearm MUST have:
(1) Decoupled counter-weight with center of gravity in the plane of the LP.
(2) Adjustable azimuth
(3) Easily adjustable and precisely repeatable VTA adjustment, but not necessarily "on the fly".
(4) Medium effective mass but adjustable effective mass would be even better.
(5) Relatively non-resonant arm tube. (I say "relatively" because no material is non-resonant. The best one can do is to spread the resonant peak out over a broad range of frequencies thereby reducing its maximum magnitude in a narrow band.) I have no beef with using wood; it may in fact be the best solution when done right.
(6) Fixed headshell so as to permit one set of wires from the cartridge to the phono stage, but lately I have come to appreciate the advantages of a removable headshell.
(7) Anti-skate. What is the best method? Magnetic?
(8) I prefer gimbal bearing vs unipivot but I am open-minded.
(9) I love the Schroeder LT, in principle.
Reed, Durand, Triplanar, Schroeder.
I think that a world class pivoted tonearm MUST have:
(1) Decoupled counter-weight with center of gravity in the plane of the LP.
(2) Adjustable azimuth
(3) Easily adjustable and precisely repeatable VTA adjustment, but not necessarily "on the fly".
(4) Medium effective mass but adjustable effective mass would be even better.
(5) Relatively non-resonant arm tube. (I say "relatively" because no material is non-resonant. The best one can do is to spread the resonant peak out over a broad range of frequencies thereby reducing its maximum magnitude in a narrow band.) I have no beef with using wood; it may in fact be the best solution when done right.
(6) Fixed headshell so as to permit one set of wires from the cartridge to the phono stage, but lately I have come to appreciate the advantages of a removable headshell.
(7) Anti-skate. What is the best method? Magnetic?
(8) I prefer gimbal bearing vs unipivot but I am open-minded.
(9) I love the Schroeder LT, in principle.
Reed, Durand, Triplanar, Schroeder.