why is a 13" tonearm design really superior?


we just mounted the SAEC WE-8000 on my Nakamichi and I can´t really believe what kind of fantastic sound this tonearm is able to reproduce. Is it because this is a very special 13" design or because of the extraordinary headshell design? I think it is the only tonearm with such a long straight alu-pipe. Am i right? Also the lift design is unique, this lift stops at every level you like to use.
Why are todays tonearm developers not anymore going for a 13" or 14" design?
thuchan

Showing 1 response by ct0517

Hi Thuchan and Moonglum

This is an old article but still I would dearly love to try out and own all of the arms mentioned in the article.

Regarding the ET 2.5

It used a stock VPI MK IV which came suspended from VPI. I owned one - a MKIV with an ET arm. I have learned since that all ET arms need to not move at all to sound their best. A suspended platform moves and is therefore not recommended.

The article does not state how much pressure was at the arm - The ET 2.5 arm works best at 19 psi per testing by Arthur Salvatore members. Below that and you are not hearing all detail - above and you start to lose detail. It still sounds good with 10 psi but you are not hearing it at its best. To deliver 19 at the arm requires much higher from the pump source. Pretty sure an aquarium pump can’t deliver 19 psi at the arm – correct me if I am assuming wrong.

I am using a JMW 12” under an armpod and it is working out quite well. If I had a longer arm I would not hesitate to try it.

Cheers Chris