Has anyone had experience with the Schroeder Arm

On my Tri-Planar there IS play in the threads of the VTA tower. This is easy to overcome however. Once you've decided where on the scale you want to be, always approach that setting by moving the arm UP to it. This way gravity and the resistance of the grease in the threads are both working to ensure precision. If you move the arm DOWN to some setting then the grease in the threads can prevent it from being truely as low as the scale indicates.

It also requires a simple mod to cue straight. Takes only a minute so no big deal, though why Tri-Mai hasn't fixed this is a mystery.

Paul recently said he wouldn't trade our TriPlanar for a Schroeder Ref even in a straight swap. That's a pretty strong statement, since the Ref is the best sounding arm we've heard. It had a lot to do with our new ZYX UNIverse, which seems to be a perfect companion for the TriPlanar.

The Wheaton that I had was from about 4 years ago.I know that there is a newer model out.I spoke with the new owner of Wheaton at HE2004 and while I was trying to compliment his product I,at the same time told him of my concerns about the play in the vta scale as well as the fact that dialing in an EXACT tracking force required a "HUNT AND SEARCH" approach (with the non-exacting)way of sliding the counterweight as opposed to the EXACT threaded rotation of the GRAHAM.Tiny increments in downforce make all the diff. in a high res set up.His response to me was that he felt his counterweight system was good enough.I also noticed there was still play in the top vta scale so I politely wished him good luck and went my merry way.The Wheaton arm,as current,is,I'm sure,wonderful--just not my cup of tea.AS for EBM he won't get mad that I outed him but may come back with some stupid comment.LOOK OUT!

EBM.Sorry if I came down hard on your post.For all those here and now EBM is a very nice person with a very fine system,just not a very fine practical joker.P.S. I don't recall Barbara RANTING VEHEMENTLY at YOU when you sold me 3 records for $450.oo that you paid $60.oo for.She wasn't happy either!

Has anyone had experience with the schroder #2 arm on any Teres TT?

I spoke with the new owner of Wheaton at HE2004 and while I was trying to compliment his product I,at the same time told him of my concerns about the play in the vta scale as well as the fact that dialing in an EXACT tracking force required a "HUNT AND SEARCH" approach (with the non-exacting)way of sliding the counterweight as opposed to the EXACT threaded rotation of the GRAHAM.Tiny increments in downforce make all the diff. in a high res set up.His response to me was that he felt his counterweight system was good enough.

Sirspeedy,
I recently contacted him with exactly the same concern (lack of fine control of VTF). I even offered an easily-implemented fix/upgrade that would provide the needed control. I got a similar response, polite but noncommital. :-(

OTOH it's not at all difficult to devise your own fine VTF control. We set our C/W for the top end of the likely range for the cartridge. If we want to reduce VTF then one or more O-rings slipped over the end stub reduce downforce by .01-.02g each. Pretty simple and very quick.

When someone makes the perfect arm I guess we'll all buy one. Until then we each have to choose our favorite set of compromises. If the Schroeder Ref had tool-less VTA adjustability with a scale for repeatability, there'd be one mounted on my table today.