Comparison of sonic qualities of some tonearms

Why do so many cartridge manufacturers and after market modders (e.g. Zu) offer different cartridge shells? If certain pundits in this thread were correct that a tonearm can only be neutral or degrade the sound than what is happening when the wood, choice of stone (Koetsu, Etsuri), composite, or alloy cartridge shell is applied to a given motor? The answer is rather obvious; the manufacturer understands that for any given motor assembly a shell choice can compliment and not detract.

Nothing is more imperfect than audio reproduction via vinyl records! It is laughingly crude. Think of The Flintstones and Barney putting the bird’s head and beak down to a record rotating on a round rock. A mere harmless cartoon and yet ironically not far from the truth.

The fact that there is so much beauty, love, and enjoyment to be had from playback of vinyl records is testament that the process is part science and a very healthy part art.

@drbond Theory?? No tracking angle error and very little if any skating force? Those are huge benefits, not that you can ignore other aspects of tonearm design. Schroder and Reed arms are otherwise well designed and built with only very minor quibbles. I have no doubt both will handily outperform any offset pivoted arm including the SAT and Saphir. I would and will bet my own money on that. IMHO the only reasons that the SAT and Saphir sound so good is the looks and the price. The Mark Levinson Rules of Audio Performance. In order to sound good a unit has to look sharp and cost a fortune. 

@pindac Panzerholtz attractive? Fancy plywood? There is so much beauty in nature and natural wood that is every bit as functional as panzer holtz. The only problem is these woods like Ebony, Cocobolo, Lignam Vitae and other rosewoods are expensive a h-ll. If you want constrained layer construction it is child's play to throw an aluminum layer in there. Panzerholtz, yuk! 

@mijostyn No, the problem is that some, like ebony, have huge peaks and valleys in frequency response. Koetsu uses rosewood, Grado uses Cocobolo, and can make cartridges that sound exquisite - but there are better choices for tonearms.

You say, "There is so much beauty in nature and natural wood that is every bit as functional as panzer holtz." So you say - proof? Evidence? You know -= anything other than assertion?

Oil - yuk! its just rotten remains of plants. And Rembrandt used OIL paint! Yuk Yuk Yuk.

Reed, the tonearm manufacturer, did extentensive testing on metals and exotic woods. They took down many of their test measurements, but some remain available. I tried to link to that part of their site, but was unsuccessful. You might try their site and see.

I’ve used all aluminum and all Panzerholz in a commercial LT, and in my own air bearing LT have compared sapphire, Panzerholz, cocobolo, katalox, and pampas grass for various parts of the wand. Supporting cast includes silk, aluminum, brass, stainless, epoxy. The best is pampas grass / cocobolo / katalox composite, but all Panzerholz is not far behind. I use cocobolo only for the cartridge mount, because I use that wand for a cartridge which is made of cocobolo.

I’m too impatient (and too poor) to do exhaustive comparisons of each part, so theory dictates what gets made into prototypes. Every material has its own characteristics and may be suitable for a different use. I discriminate against none.

@mijostyn 

Yes, I would agree, that, all else being equal, a LT tonearm should best a pivoted tonearm; however, there are all sorts of other variables in the equation, such as materials, bearings, etc.  
Thanks. 

Dear @drbond : The issue is not really if the LT beats a pivoted one because that is only theory.

The @mijostyn " huge " differences are only in the " mind " does not exist in true. . This is only an example with the SAT 12" Löfgren B alignment where the average RMS distortion is 0.32% that no one can be aware off it but additional and through the LP grooved surfaCE THE TRACKING LEVEL DISTORTION AT EACH CONSECUTIVE GROOVE CHANGES ONLY 0.009%. Mijos, you, me or any one else can't detect it.

So, what are we really talking about? only theory and good intentions.

R.