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 rauliruegas

Dear Thuchan: I agree with Plato, there are several factors that make the " quality performance " of a tonearm/cartridge combination.

I know very well the 8000 ST tonearm and one of its signature characteristics is that is " alive " against other tonearm designs.
It is a very well made and with a quality control second to none. Something that help to lower distortion is to put some kind of damping material all over the arm lift mechanism, I use sorbothane at both sides on the arm lift base.
I like this tonearm that miss an azymuth mechanism and VT on the fly to be " near perfect " device.

I run it with several different cartrdges and one of them that makes a very good match is the XV-1 by Dyna ( not easy to mount in the SAEC headshell. ).
With which cartridges are you running it?

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.