This is a very intelligent, reasoned discussion. It seems we all agree on certain major points as regards the advantages and disadvantages of unipivot designs vs fixed bearing designs. And I like that Hiho mentioned the issue of azimuth adjustment (AA) when it takes place upstream from the headshell (cannot avoid also altering both VTA and the angle in space between cantilever and LP surface). But that would be the same for both basic types of pivoted tonearm. As far as I know, the only "modern" tonearm that permits AA at the headshell itself is the Reed, when ordered with the optional AA headshell. I hope you unipivot guys will agree also that it is the cartridge that needs to follow the groove and that Ralph is quite correct to say that if the tonearm per se were to respond to the groove undulations, there would be no music. What lies in between those two extremes is probably what actually happens with most unipivots. Still, I have to explain the ethereal quality of the Talea that I heard locally. It made me want one. Obviously, the Talea "works". In thinking about what I heard from it, I came to the tentative conclusion that in part I was responding to highly euphonic "imperfections" that I have heard before with unipivots in my own system. I think this is what Mike was trying to get at; there is a certain sense of freedom (still not a perfect word for it) associated with unipivots that is very beguiling. And that's perfectly OK in my book.
