Linear tracking arms

Inna, Twl has said it pretty good. i would add as a linear tracking arm owner that if you don't go for the best (read air-bearing) then a pivoting arm will be better. for the linear arm to track along a friction shaft properly you would need to be a total fanatic....and smart and lucky too.

i had 2 versions of the unipivot Graham arm over a 5 year period and was always very happy with the performance and never frustrated. if you do deciede to go the Linear route be prepared to do what it takes to do it right.

Tobias, when a linear arm is cued, as the canteliver and stylus drop onto the lead-in groove; if the arm is not level or there is undue friction on the shaft, the canteliver will take the sudden shock of a side load from the leverage of the lead-in groove. this "jolting" action will eventually disable the canteliver attachment assembly. if there is very little or no friction (a properly designed air bearing) and the arm shaft is level, then the Jolt will be minimal and no problem will develop. the other issue is the mass of the arm assembly, which if too great will make this issue more probable. a unipivot arm has some "slop" and a very slight deflection angle (whereas the deflection angle on the linear arm is direct) to absorb the jolt so this is essentially a non-issue with them.....but, of course, this slop (and the geometry) is the design limitation of the unipivot.

this might sound like all the trouble isn't worth it......but i assure you it absolutely is. the only trouble is checking the shaft level about every 2 or 3 months and sliding the shaft back and forth once before playing to remove any dust from the shaft. with such a high-mass turntable nothing really affects the set-up.