S-Arm vs Straight Tonearms

Clearing up myths about s-shaped tonearms vs straight tonearms.
A Guide to Rega Tonearms - www.vinylengine.com/a-guide-r...

[@Grrrr3FKAGrrrrGrrrrGrrrr]

The two types are different in their resonant behaviour. Straight arms will have one major resonance node, ‘S’ arms have a more diffuse array of resonances. As a rule of thumb,you can expect a straight arm to have a bold punchy sound, and ’S’ arms to be softer and warmer

[@stereoazimuth]

True, there may be some slight differences as you say, but mostly my video was to show there is no difference in tracking or alignment. There will always be differences in arm design and all of their aspects.

[@len9518]

Bullshit!

[@Grrrr3FKAGrrrrGrrrrGrrrr]

@@len9518 Not at all. Hi-Fi World magazine regularly measured tonearms with an accelerometer and acquired consistent data over several years

[@Bolation]

Thanks for clarifying this, my friend!

[@NickP333]

Another fantastic video. Great explanation of a topic that some find difficult to understand. When I replaced my M3D’s tonearm, I put in another Technics arm with KAB upgrades. Besides the surgical tubing to dampen the arm, I also separated the new Cardas wires by putting each through PTFE tubing. (The same I use on capacitor or resistor leads when hand wiring a piece of gear) My thought behind it was that it’s not good to have say an interconnect running parallel to a power cord, so separating the tonearm wires as much as possible couldn’t hurt… Thanks again, man! 🔊😊🎶

[@stereoazimuth]

Cardas tonearm wire is very thin, so I can only see PTFE tubing helping in handing and as you say, not getting wrapped up together.

[@jblesser]

Very interesting. Thank you.

[@stereoazimuth]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Trojan0304]

Got a 1600 mk2 with S arm & MA1 with straight arm. Like both😊

[@billmellater]

Was out in my shed the other day and unearthed my sl-l1. Haven't had a chance to plug it in yet. Anyway you can do a quick maintenance video on one of these?

[@gotham61]

I think people get confused because of some of the DJ turntables that use underhung straight arms with no offset angle, like the Stanton STR8. These arms have terrible tracking angle error, but are made this way for turntablists to minimize skipping when spinning the record backwards.

[@stereoazimuth]

Correct. They are "underslug" just like the cheaper turntables like the Audio Technica AT-LP60 and they do this for tonearm stablilty.

[@gotham61]

@@stereoazimuththe LP60 has a fixed cartridge, but the cartridge is offset and has overhang

[@len9518]

Should make no difference if properly implemented. All that matters, is that the cartridge is at the proper angle to the groove.

[@ptg01]

Yamaha's highest end turntable today has straight tonearm with no offset angles where you attach the cartridge. That's very different and I wonder why...

[@KevinWoodsWorkshop]

An s arm rides over an uneven record compared to a straight arm , apparently.

[@colinhathaway9493]

I have an SL1210 that I’m planning of putting an RB250 so would be interred in seeing more videos when you do the swap

[@stereoazimuth]

I wanted to do a video on it, but mostly it is the removal of the Technics tonearm that is the most difficult and there are a few already out there. Mounting the RB250 was easy, but I did have to cut out some of the rubbery bottom to accommodate the bottom of the tonearm since it is not quite centered, that is about the only odd thing, then it is just reassembly of the bottom plate. Just follow these instructions - www.originlive.com/images/pdfs/Instruction-Manuals/Technics-Owner-Manuals/Arm-Board-Fitting.pdf

[@colinhathaway9493]

@@stereoazimuth so is there an improvement in sound now you’ve put the Rega arm on as I’ve heard lots of people say the arm on the Technics is the weak link

[@stereoazimuth]

@@colinhathaway9493 It is an improvement for sure. Although I did upgrade the tonearm wire and my RB250 has the upgraded Mitchell underslung counterweight, which also are attributing factors. However, it does track extremely well and an improvement overall. The tonearm wire is one big weak link in all SL-1200's below the MK5.

[@colinhathaway9493]

@@stereoazimuth this is a project that might be more long term. My main turntable is an Avid Diva ll SP with a Michell Technoarm and Dynavector xx2 mk2 cartridge but the arm is the slight weak link so I’m replacing it in the next 12 months so I might wait and put the Technoarm and the technics instead of the Rega. The Technoarm is basically a highly modified Rega RB250

[@bilditup1]

I just wish that this was easily customizable, instead of having to choose a turntable based on tonearm type. Having to rewire cartridges to a given arm or headshell (coming from S-shaped ones) is just a pain, and buying one in and modifying your turntable is pretty costly just to avoid having to redo your cartridge installation.

[@fruit_smoovie]

There are some vintage Denon tables that had this feature, the tonearm tube was removeable and could be configured with a straight or S-shaped tube to match your preference. Probably some other brands that did this but Denon is the first that comes to mind.

[@derekclark7545]

The RB330 arm is tappered and that in its self, due to its ridggidity outways any gain an S arm might have in tracking.

[@richardelliott8352]

The main difference between these two particular arms being discussed is that the Rega arm was specially developed as a low resonance single casting, where the other is a conventional bent tube stuck in a mounting , where the bend is thought to help dampen any bell like tube resonances , back in the days when precision manufacturing was more difficult , and stamping out a bent tube was easily repeatable and valid for the use.

[@BruceFrazer100]

I was always told that a "S" arm was used for heavier carts. Chek it out.

[@stereoazimuth]

Most S arms are high to medium compliance. The weight or mass of the cart has more to do with the compatibility of compliance rather than the actual shape of the arm.

[@user-xr3qi5cc7q]

How about a Z shaped tonearm!!

[@stereoazimuth]

What’z that?

[@xburgos1]

More mass on s arm Different resonance Sounds different Convince always has some compromises

[@stereoazimuth]

Not always more mass.

[@jedi-mic]

t's not an s arm s it's a j ram