Are linear tracking arms better than pivoted arms?

Ok, I phoned techs at both Grado and Soundsmith (since they also do retipping) if they have found that linear tracking arms cause excessive wear and/or damage to cartridges.

Both techs were fairly clear in saying "no", given that the arms are properly set up(level, etc). The only caveat offered is that there could possibly be more issues with highly compliant carts as compared to medium compliant ones.

If anyone is in the same time zone as the European and Japanese cart manufacturers(ZYX, Dynavector, Shelter, Koetsu, Van de Hul, Benz Micro, etc) give them a call see what they have to say.

I just want to know if premature or excessive wear/damage due to modern linear arms is common since I own both linear and pivoted arms.

If I have read all of the responses correctly, the "argument" is that the physics associated with a high mass air bearing tone arm causes more stress on the cartridge stylus/suspension than does a properly set up pivoted arm. This problem is excaberated by warped records. The counter-argument is that people who have long term experience with a cartridge used in an air bearing arm that has shown no visible symptoms of damage may not believe that the theoretical problem exists. As I said once before, I used a Van den Hul MC 10 for around 5 years in my ET-2 and I saw no problems with it. Recently, I bought a new Denon 103R and it did develop a problem in my ET-2. The cantilever is now canted off-center. What I don't know is if the cartridge suspension was defective and this would have happened regardless or if the ET-2 caused this. I know that Bruce Thigpen advises using a high-compliance cartridge in the ET-2 which I thought ran counter to an earlier argument. The 103R is a low compliance cartridge. The other argument in favor of pivoted arms versus linear tracking arms is that pivoted arms have deeper/punchier bass.

I just received my new Stereophile rag last night which contains a review of the latest Walker table and arm written by JV with an interview of the Walker principles. JV used my same arguments that I started this thread with to explain why linear tracking arms are better than pivoted arms. It was also interesting that JV poised the question to Loyd Walker about pivoted arms having better bass than linear tracking arms and Loyd's answer was something to the effect that pivoted arms appear to have better bass because their bearings are chattering!

I think Dertonarm's argument is that you can't defy the laws of physics and because you don't see any apparent damage to your cartridge doesn't mean that it is not being stressed and therefore shouldn't be a concern. The flip side to this argument is that well, if I can't see it, it obviously doesn't exist.

Personally, I love the sound of the ET-2 and I wasn't convinced it could get much better in the arm world. For me, the ET-2 set up properly exhibits a master tape type sound which frankly I love. However, unless you have been exposed to something better than what you have, it is easy to delude yourself and think nothing can be better.

As I said before, Dertonarm has convinced me that there may be more in the grooves than I am hearing with the linear tracking arm and I am intrigued enough to give pivoted arms another shot. If it truly sounds better than my ET-2, I will be a happy man regardless of the additional benefits of less stress on my cartridge stylus/suspension. I hope to be up and running with my FR64s this weekend if my armboard is finished in time. Everything else is ready and waiting.

If someone here is an ME and can show through physics that Dertonarm is incorrect in stating that there is more force applied on a cartridge when installed on an air bearing linear tracking arms due to its high horizontal mass dragging the cartridge across the record, please speak up. Otherwise, those who don't believe it are basing their argument on how long they have owned their cartridge and the fact that they don't see/hear anything wrong with it after long-term use rather than denying that the laws of physics apply as Dentonarm has explained.

And finally, I can tell you that if the FR64s doesn't sound better than my ET-2, I won't hesitate to reinstall it to gain back the quality I had before I tore it down in anticpation of the FR64s. I will take my chances and hope it doesn't screw up my new Benz Glider SL if I lose the magic I had when I used the ET-2. Honestly, I am rooting for the new set up because we always want to improve our systems after we spend large sums of money-not take a step backwards.

I freely admit that I know next to nothing about either engineering or physics, however knowing nothing about a subject has never prevented a lawyer, like my humble self, from asking questions, or seeking precision in expression via words.
My inclination is to evidence not theory. I applaud Darkmoebius approach. Let those with evidence come forward. Theory is mere speculation.

03-11-10: Mepearson
The counter-argument is that people who have long term experience with a cartridge used in an air bearing arm that has shown no visible symptoms of damage may not believe that the theoretical problem exists.

I don't think that accurately summarizes the counter-argument.

I think most(or all) of us agree/accept Dertonarm's excellent description of why linear arms must exert greater lateral force on a cartridge's cantilever and motor assembly. The question for us is:

Does this greater force result in premature wear or excessive damage to most cartridges?

Dertonarm has offered his personal, subjective, experiences as proof that they do. Others, you included, have offered their own personal, subjective, experiences that it doesn't.

At this point, I'd only like to know from cartridge manufacturers or retippers what their observations are since they talk to hundreds of owners and see a lot of worn/damaged carts. I would guess that in a significant number of cases, they speak to or correspond with cart owners as to what type of arm they are using.

Perhaps, over the years, they have had a number of carts returned for service with deflected cantilevers, improperly worn stylus, or damaged motor assemblies and a significant number of those owners used linear arms.

Maybe they have not, and that would be telling in it's own right.

I can assure you that if the Grado tech said they had noticed a large number of repairs for linear owners over the years, I would not use my "The Statement" on my Cartridge Man Conductor arm. I love that cart and it was an expensive purchase, for me.

Even still, if I hear from a number of other manufacturers that linears cause more damage, I will stop using the Conductor.

Correction: Instead of saying

At this point, I'd only like to know from cartridge manufacturers or retippers what their observations are

I meant to say "At this point, the deciding factor for me is the observations of cartridge manufacturers or retippers" with regard to real world wear and tear on carts.