High-end audio seems to be filled with those products that offer the promise of exceptional performance but are held back by some flaw or another. Those products that you know in your heart can be fixed if given a little TLC. Then you find out after spending ages with that component that no matter what you do that issue will never be resolved.
One such product is linear tracking (air and mechanical). I'm sure that many of us here at one time or another (or still do) in their audio journey mounted a linear tracking arm on the turntable. Yes, in theory linear tracking arms offer the ultimate in LP playback. But in reality, linear tracking arms are held back many issues not the least of which include:
Movement and ability to maintain tangency to the groove
Solidity and low octave reproduction
Susceptibility to warp wow with short arms
High horizontal mass
Air flow issues
Machining issues eg. the best air bearings might have a 1/10,000 of an inch tolerance and finding a material that isn't susceptible to temperature fluctuation is challenging
Freedom of movement
Inability to maintain azimuth across the record
Setup can be frustrating
Yet, some of the best sound I've ever heard is from air bearing arms such as the now sadly discontinued Air Tangent tonearm. The arm's resolution, sense of spaciousness and soundstage were something to behold. But at the same time, the arm wasn't the equal of a pivoted arm when it came to reproduction of the lowest octaves. The of course, there's the issue of convenience. After a while, who wants to hassle with air compressors, filters, tubing running everywhere in the room. Especially in smaller apartment quarters as opposed to someone with a house who could put the compressor in another room, garage or basement.
But honestly, I do miss listening to those arms and sometimes I ponder putting a linear tracking in addition to a pivoted arm on my turntable. Maybe one day.
One such product is linear tracking (air and mechanical). I'm sure that many of us here at one time or another (or still do) in their audio journey mounted a linear tracking arm on the turntable. Yes, in theory linear tracking arms offer the ultimate in LP playback. But in reality, linear tracking arms are held back many issues not the least of which include:
Movement and ability to maintain tangency to the groove
Solidity and low octave reproduction
Susceptibility to warp wow with short arms
High horizontal mass
Air flow issues
Machining issues eg. the best air bearings might have a 1/10,000 of an inch tolerance and finding a material that isn't susceptible to temperature fluctuation is challenging
Freedom of movement
Inability to maintain azimuth across the record
Setup can be frustrating
Yet, some of the best sound I've ever heard is from air bearing arms such as the now sadly discontinued Air Tangent tonearm. The arm's resolution, sense of spaciousness and soundstage were something to behold. But at the same time, the arm wasn't the equal of a pivoted arm when it came to reproduction of the lowest octaves. The of course, there's the issue of convenience. After a while, who wants to hassle with air compressors, filters, tubing running everywhere in the room. Especially in smaller apartment quarters as opposed to someone with a house who could put the compressor in another room, garage or basement.
But honestly, I do miss listening to those arms and sometimes I ponder putting a linear tracking in addition to a pivoted arm on my turntable. Maybe one day.
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