Linear Tracking or Not?, Any Experiences and Recs

Hi DGAD,
as a owner of the (Graham Phantom,Triplanar,SME V and two
Kuzma Airline TA), if you would like to go for a linear tracking tonearm, try to get a Kuzma Airline.
You won't regret it.
The only small drawback is that one should place the air
compressor in a different room. But kuzma suplied
a 25 meter hose for it.

Regards Karl-Heinz

Karl-Heinz,

How is the low level bass on the Kuzma? I have heard that linear tracking tonearms can have problems w. the disipation of energy since they are more similar to a Unipivot in this point. Also, they sometimes preclude using an outer ring due to the positioning of the arm. To me unless you have a vacuum platter you are making a compromise. Firmly fixing the record to the platter yields much a much quieter background & increases dynamics considerably.

My friend has been using an Air Tangent for about ten years.There has been no problems,whatsoever.He does not have a table with a vacuum system,yet the sound is absolutely stunning.Clearly a cut above any pivot I've ever heard.I'm intimately familiar with his set-up,and can attest to the fact that,though a linear arm needs some extra attention,there is NOTHING that has the ebb and flow of music,like an arm,of this type.I only wish I had the time to deal with the issues involved in it's care and feeding!

Best regards!

I 've been using a tweeked Maplenoll Ariadne signature for about 13 years with great results. I won't throw my hat in the ring with comparisons since I haven't done any controled test since th Maplenoll is an integrated unit. I will however throw in a little tweek that has worked very well for me in liu of an outer platter ring.

I made two little brass wire brackets kinda like an L shape with just a bit of a point extending out from the top to barely catch the record edge, the bottom leg going under the latter at a slight upward angle, and the vertical length sprung slightly and just over the height of the platter. With these I could clamp the record edge to the platter in two places if needs be. Definitely fiddley but cheap and effective. Email me at piedpiperprod@yahoo.com if you want to see pictures. Should work on most tables.

Dgad, Your comment on a vacuum table as being necessary for optimun performance of a tangent tracker is of interest to me , as I have just purchased the Kuzma Air Line and do not intend to use it on a commercially manufactured table.
Would you please expound on your opinion. thanks, Ken - kftool