Integrityhifi TRU-GLIDER Pendulum Tonearm

Yes, I can see that.   The mass of a tonearm has to decrease as the length increases.   Most modern arms and certainly most carbon fiber arms are already low mass, so it becomes difficult for the mass of longer arms to compete. 

It was the floating part that really made me wonder how it held geometry.

Thanks for the comments!   

The VIv Lab Rigid Tonearms is a very interesting design.   The concept of using a liquid for bearings goes way back in time.  Light houses used mercury to float the huge and heavy light assemblies for almost no friction.  Does anyone on this board have one?

@tomwh Yes, I agree - ears count in the long run.   But before I buy, the unit has to make sense to me that the manufacturer is onto something good.   I skim through the audio ad hype and look for real meat in the ad, if I don't find it or what they are selling makes no sense to me, then it never gets into my stereo.  I could be wrong, but that is where I draw the line.    

@larryrs That is a good datapoint, thanks.  I wonder how it sounds compared to a Kuzma 4 point?  

@drvinyl01 - Yes, although that comment pretty much applies to everything, right?   

A test drive means buying it, installing it, which also means cutting a new plinth, and then doing some listening.   A very expensive approach if you decide you don't like the given tonearm.   I'd rather get opinions and find a dealer first.   The problem with dealers is some of them have systems that don't sound as good as mine, so it makes buying decisions difficult.

That is a very good point! 

In that case the table the turntable is mounted on becomes part of the tonearm system.

Yes, two years.  Frankly, in all that time, my philosophy has not changed.  If it doesn't make any engineering sense to me, then I don't spend the effort to buy it and listen to it.  The high end audio world is filled with snake oil and other junk equipment that doesn't work and it is just someone wanting to make a quick buck.  This arm might sound great in my system or it may not, but if I can't see how the designer is thinking and follow his/her philosophy, then I won't spend the effort to give it a try.  Perhaps I missed out on some great gear, but I've never been bitten by the snake oil monster either.  For this arm to take a spin in my system, it will have to have some overwhelming 3rd party evidence that will work like a champ. 

Well, that is a data point indeed!