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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 4 responses by tbg

tbg
5,263 posts
 
Tracking error is reduced with increasing length, but rigidity is reduced and weight increases. I use a 12" Shindo arm and love it.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Tracking error is reduced with increasing length, but rigidity is reduced and weight increases. I use a 12" Shindo arm and love it.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Thuchan, there is another solution, namely a straight-line tracker. There are many issues with it also. I did see a pivoting straight-line tracker at CES, which used a second arm to keep the headshell and cartridge always tangential to the grooves. I don't remember that name, perhaps because the arm cost $15k.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Yep, I loved the entire table, and it sounded great. Too expensive, however.
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