Top linear trackers


I’m in the market soon for a linear tracking tonearm. Two in particular have piqued my interest, the Kuzma Airline with damping trough and the Bergmann Odin. From what I can tell, these designs have especially benefited from lessons learned during the evolution of linear tracking, incorporating features like longish tonearms to minimize warp wow, ultra low friction, low air turbulence, and mitigation of the high horizontal mass issue by use of a damping trough (not sure of the Odin on that). The Odin is known to have a very quiet pump. The lift on the Kuzma may be easier to operate. I would love to hear from anyone with long term experience with these arms or comparable other ones. I would be mounting this on my current VPI Classic 4 and most likely using my Soundsmith Sussoro Mark 2 ES. That cartridge should work with either arm based on the resonance calculations. Down the road I may consider moving the arm to a Sota Cosmos Eclipse or a Technics custom SP10R or another high value setup. I cannot afford the Bergmann Galder with Odin. If I could I probably would have reached the end of my journey.
earthtones

Definitely consider the ET 2.5.  Bruce is still making them, but you need to order direct from him I believe.  He also has spares and does a great job on repairs and he's a pleasure to deal with.

Using the right combination of arm wand and leaf springs on the counterweight assembly, you can accommodate a wide variety of cartridges from moderately high compliance (such as Grado woodies) to low compliance cartridges.

I've owned mine since 2001 on my TNT4, and I would not consider replacing it.

This will not even register in your search radar, but as someone has mentioned the Trans-Fi Terminator should be on your list. 

Look at the manifold, an inverted ‘v’ as opposed to a circular tube in most other cases. It is an inherently more stable ( no tendency to roll ) platform for the cartridge / wand assembly to glide on. It is low pressure / high flow operating as low as 0.5 psi ( I run it at 1.25 psi ), which can easily accommodate surge tanks for elevated SQ and aquarium type compressors are more than adequate. And the value proposition is out of this world.

Please review discussion of this arm on another thread : 2019 update Trans - Fi Terminator. You will find users of other ‘higher caliber ‘ arms, LT or otherwise, moving to the Terminator. Most recently a Clearaudio TT5 user taking up the Terminator, resulting in the purchase of a second Terminator to boot!

While I use a linear tracking arm, I do not subscribe to the notion that one technology is superior to the other. It is in the implementation / execution. However, to find a matching pivot arm at Terminator’s price range is impossible.

@ledoux1238 I am aware of the Terminator and read a number of threads on it. Anyway, may I ask you: In your experience does the Terminator function better with lighter / higher compliance carts or the opposite?

@solypsa I am using a ZYX Ultimate Omega ( medium compliance, 12 ) and Audio Tekne MC-6310 ( med / high compliance, 20 ). These work very well with the Terminator.  My own experience has been limited to various  medium / high compliance cartridges. 

 

On a seperate thread, @terry9 reported that Koetsu RSP, 12g and low compliance, did not work with Terminator's aluminum arm wand. He then developed a heavier Panzerholz wand which then worked very well. And Someone is using a Clearaudio GFS, 16g, though med compliance. Due to Terry's experience, I have held off on venturing into low compliance territory. While I feel that the newer carbon fiber wand which I use should work with Koetsu's, I would think twice about putting a stone body Koetsu.