Why is the price of new tonearms so high

Dear Daniel,

I believe these are among the few key features of any great pivot tonearm design. All truely great pivot tonearms do have these 4 in common (except the Graham Phantom - which I would include in my list).

The DaVinci does not have azimuth adjustment. Do you not consider this arm "truly great"?

I disagree that the prices of 'new' tonearms is high.
Apart from the incredible investment in research and computer and materials modeling by a company like Continuum for their Cobra and Copperhead arms which sell in very small volumes, I believe it is the cost of new cartridges primarily, and new turntables secondly that inflate the relative pricing of new tonearms?

When it is fairly common for a LOMC cartridge to cost from $4,000-$6,000 and the new 'benchmark' cartridges $10,000-$15,000, how silly would it seem for the tonearm (which I believe to be more critical than the cartridge) to cost a mere $3,000?
When you include the fact that the cartridges will be worthless in 2 years whilst the tonearm will hopefully last 20-30 years, the equation looks fairly ridiculous?
And who in his right mind, would mount a $3,000 tonearm on his $60,000-$160,000 turntable?

All else took a piece of pipe and bend it so as to get the off-set angle, put a 'compass gimble' plus a counter weight.

I agree with you Axel.
Daniel, to say the physics governing the behaviour of tonearms hasn't changed is very simplistic and slightly disappointing to hear from you 'the rationalist'.
As Axel points out, the physics governing cable structures was understood by the Romans (a removable tent structure was erected over the Colosseum) but that hasn't stopped the knowledge being 'lost' for 2000 years and when finally being re-discovered, pushed to further and further limits?
The principles of the internal combustion engine haven't changed basically in 100 years yet the progress in engine design continues.
The principles of telescopic optics has been known since the time before Galileo and its physics have not changed but the use of computer analysis, design and construction has created unimaginable lenses in tiny digital cameras.
Sorry Daniel, not only don't I agree with you in this respect, but you continue to avoid the 'acid test' of your proposition.
For all the theory behind your support of the FR64 and FR66 tonearms, you have absolutely no answers to anyone who says it sounds mediocre and coloured and highly distorted?
And all your physics will simply not make it great if it in fact is NOT?

When you need to spend a lot of money, because you feel better that you can afford something the other one can't, fine too. Most do that.

Strange statement Syntax, from someone with 8 of the most expensive tonearms and 7 of the most expensive cartridges?
Not to mention turntables and amps that would be the envy of the treasury departments of some third world countries?

Dear Daniel,
I really like you and your passionate views and find your postings most entertaining.
For all I know, you may be right about the fact that the FR60 series of tonearms are the best that have ever been built, and I don't doubt that in your system (and those of your friends), the FR64 and FR66 beat all the other 'modern' arms in respect to your subjective preferences.
And that is the important point here Daniel, which you somehow ignore (although I suspect a little tongue-in-cheek?).
It is just your subjective opinion which is formulated by biases, preferences, likes and dislikes.
As (almost) everyone here acknowledges, there can never be a universal 'best' product or system.
If you had continued to contribute in all these Forums on the basis of 'your opinion' rather than an unarguable 'fact', you would not stir up such resentment.....but somehow I believe you quite relish this role of yours.

As an example of a similar Forum posting, look at Albert Porter's reviews on his Technics SP10 Mk2 and Mk3 turntables?
He likewise has a few friends who after listening to these turntables, sold their Walker Prosceniums, Basis Debuts, Ravens etc and bought their own Mk2s and Mk3s.
Never once has Albert issued a proclamation that the Technics SP10 Mk3 is the best turntable ever made and has never been bettered. He simply claims that it is the best he has ever heard?
Now I'm sure that you would not agree with his assessment (and that of his friends), and that would not bother him one iota.
But he would never claim that if you didn't hear what he hears, then your system is 'not up to it?'.

A little humility and vision would go a long way towards making your increasingly hysterical claims a little more balanced, and hence your obvious knowledge and experience, of greater benefit to all the readers of your posts?

You must not change your style too much (as that is part of your charm and entertainment value), but perhaps a little?

Tcheuss
Halcro
PS I never receiver that Email you promised me?

You're going well Daniel.........but I didn't mean for you to be cryptic with your knowledge?
Give us the full Detonarm information ego....... just a little less of the dogma?
Tcheuss Henry