TriPlanar tonearm outward skating issue


Hi all,

I have been trying to research a solution to a recent issue with my TriPlanar VII UII tonearm that I bought  a couple years back.

The tonearm seems to want to skate outwards, even with zero anti skate applied and the weight removed from the little anti skate arm. It is evident at various settings of VTF, VTA, etc. The platter is very level and everything seems to be aligned OK. This outward skating force is very light in the outer grooves and becomes stronger as the cartridge gets closer to the end of a side. In fact, as it traces the lead-out grooves at the end of a side, the tonearm sometimes thrusts outwards across those grooves back into the last track. Very scary!

A visual check of the cantilever azimuth seems to confirm an outward pressure from the tonearm since the cantilever is leaning with the stylus end closer to the spindle.

I can’t seem to find any information online about this phenomenon.

Any insights and recommendations would appreciated.
shayes002
Post removed 
Post removed 
Dear @atmasphere here  /friends: @cardani / Carlos is a symphonic Orchestra player in Xalapa ( way different place that México city where I live. ). He is a young gentleman with a huge musical talent, I was lucky to know him years ago because our mutual love for the MUSIC.

At random Carlos had to comes to México city 10 days after both terrible earthwakes here and was when I meet him at my place.

He is the only gentleman that not only see my unique tonearm design but the only person to listen my room/system with.
Normally my audio friends come to my place not only to enjoy MUSIC but to talk on what we like and meet other common friends but since I have my prototypes under testing and deep evaluations no one came here.

He had this privilege and I know was a privilege to listen it because I know that for him was an unexpected audio experience.

As you know this tonearm " adventure " started around 9 years ago and gone so slowly because I'm not in the audio comercial market ( I'm an audiophile. ) but the more important issue was that the design targets were and are a true challenge and very demanding due that not only had to fulfill the cartridge needs in deep but that I must be satisfied with.
Btw, these are the words in a Mexican song: " the important issue is not to arrive faster but to know how to arrive ", something like that. At the end this is not my way of living$$$.

As Carlos said my tonearm design is a unique a truly unique one, it's not " more of the same ". My target was similar that when we designed and manufactured the Essential 3160 PhonoLinePreamp " no more of the same ", even today has no competition at any price. 

Our tonearm design competes with no other tonearm in the market, is just unique and the best is that any cartridge always shines and shows it at its best when mated with: a true universal tonearm design. This is not marketing slogan, I made " thousands " of tests with almost all vintage and today top LOMC cartridges looking for that " shines " and the tonearm performance level always " made " it. 

Due to its manufacture complexity I'm evaluating the financial needs to build perhaps no more than 25 units additional to the ones I will own. If we put on for sale this will be not through the net and will be direct sales. I'm not totally sure yet how to handled it.

Anyway, the tonearm exist.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.





Pretty cool, Raul.  I, and I am sure many others, will look forward to photos and further details about the design.  I am fully in sympathy with you as regards the length of time needed for projects like this, when one is not really "in the business".
Dear @lewm : Rigth now I'm not sure if you or other audiophiles will see photos or design explanation through the internet because I'm thinking to do it very personal with each single gentleman that can be interested with. 
The tonearm already has a name: PCTI Limited Edition.

A kind of desiogn and targets as my tonearm is almost an " endless " audio item. Through the years I think that always existed something else to fulfill the targets.

Btw, it's a unique universal tonearm design  but not perfect ( nothing is in audio. ) and with its own trade-offs that have to be chhosed because the targets and " sacrifice " nothing against its quality performance ( neutral item. ) to mate with any cartridge at its best.


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.


Well guys FWIW I have a Triplanar VII UII and have had zero issues with this design flaw as some are calling it. In fact once setup my arm has been flawless!!! I absolutely love this arm and like it was stated earlier with a little care and common sense this arm just works!!!
jsman, I well recall the very first time I heard a Triplanar, which must have been back in the early 90s.  That was the first time I appreciated that a tonearm could have a dramatic effect on the "sound" of a system, particularly the effect of correct azimuth adjustment.
Lewm,
I couldn't agree with you more, and that's part of what's so good about this arm. The ability to adjust it 9 ways from Sunday!!!