Arm Differences ...... ,etc.

Viridian - Thanks for the help. But, "Listen and Compare", is not possible where I live so most of my audio choices are accomplished through homework and faith.

BTW, if you had 5k retail to spend on an arm and cartridge, what would you get?

I've just purchased an Avid Volvare table.

Also, I have a Rogue amp and 100db speakers. Does having very efficient speakers effect analog choices?

If it were me, I'd buy an Origin Live Illustrious and a Shelter 901 cartridge, but you probably already knew that.

Tom's suggestion is just great. I believe that the table was designed around the SME arms which can be an important consideration as far as synergy is concerned, so a model V, or better yet, a IV.VI may prove to be a viable alernative. I'm an old fart and my cartridge preference leans to the Koetsu's, which are a lot more linear now than in the days of old. I have not had the pleasure of hearing the Shelter line. Either the Origin Live or SME arms should be able to accomodate a wide range of cartridges so this may be the point at which to tune to your system. Having high sensitivity speakers will be more of an issue in your choice of phono preamp and preamp than your choice of analog front end.

Audiophiles love arms because there are so many complex angles and dangles to adjust!

The dirty little secret is that a Linear Tracking arm eliminates all these sources of error, many of which cannot be eliminated over the full range of arm motion across the record. Linear tracking arms can have problems of their own, but not as many as a pivoted arm. A decent linear tracking arm beats any pivoted unit.

Excuse me now...I must go to the bomb shelter.

I don't think that the advantages of a linear tracking arm are much of a secret, dirty or clean. Given a much larger discretionary budget.....