Are linear tracking arms better than pivoted arms?

Well, after starting this thread and reading everything everyone has written, I have decided to give pivoted arms another shot. After numerous emails with Dertonarm, I have decided to buy a Fidelity Research FR64s tonearm. I know Raul thinks the AT is superior, but based on its low resale value, I decided against it. If for some reason I decide I don't like the FR, I am confident I can get my money back. I am looking forward to all of the parts coming in (I bought the arm, a new TNT armboard from VPI, and a NOS Orsonics headshell). It is my hope that this combo will sound better than my ET-2 in all parameters. If it does, I will gladly sell the ET-2 and be done with linear tracking arms once and for all. Since the arm is coming from Australia, the headshell from Hong Kong, and the armboard from VPI, it will be awhile before everything arrives. It should be interesting and I hope worthwhile. There must be a reason why the FR64s has a cult following and the value continues to climb.

Livemusic, Good point about lateral mass. I have lately started using a Dynavector tonearm, which is deliberately designed to present a high mass in the horizontal plane. I can only say it is a great sounding tonearm with lovely bass response. However, I think the possible negative effect of high mass in the horizontal plane is ameliorated (at least) by the pivoted design of the Dyna tonearms.

In terms of trackability and distortions, not neccesary.
In terms of sonic performance, not neccesary.

I am inclined to think an air-bearing linear arm could sound better than a DC-servo one. There are some good designs during the past few years.

Dan

Mepearson, not to muddy the waters too much but I spotted a comment from Dertonarm that needs correction: the bearings in the Triplanar as good as you can find. They are custom-built by an aerospace bearing supplier, and are 3 or 4 grades higher in hardness and polish than the bearings found in the SME 5. There is only one manufacturer in the US than can make the bearing and they are the most expensive part of the arm as I understand it.

See - in most every high-end device there are 2 or 3 custom-built/designed and extremely expensive parts that are built by a division of the NASA or at least by a very special secret JAN-company which usually would never manufacture them due to cost reasons.
But as high-end manufacturers would never spare any $ if they can spend it for the better of their customers and the equipment they do grace this world with - they go for this special part.
So much for marketing.
Raul and I are both a bit into tonearm design and as a side-effect into ball-bearings.
In Germany there are a few nice companies in the area of Schweinfurt/Bavaria - not too far away from me.
Ever heard of SKF Kugelfischer, Fichtel & Sachs ?
If you drive a high-performance car (Porsche, Audi, Maybach, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes to name but a few...) you will find them in the critical areas.
This was the heart of precision ball-bearing manufacturing in Germany even 100 years back (and a prime target on the bomb list of the allies during WW 2 - for good reason).
It still is now. Their best miniature sealed ball-bearings (I mean: the very best the german ball-bearing industry has to offer to the public - precision grade AEBC 11) will set you back about US$70-90 each if you buy them in very small quantities. With 100+ the price drops fast and to about 60%.
But of course - these are no match for custom grade ball-bearings for audio applications.
So let me correct my initial comment on the Triplanar's bearings:
it ( the Triplanar ) has of course the one and only best ball-bearings and the bearings used in it are several grades above the best used in any other device on this planet - money no object.
I hope my humble apologies for not getting this right in the first.