What's your favorite arm type - Straight, S, or J?

[Aerobat]

 

[shelly_d]

I've used turntables with all 3 types and found that the J and S types were the easiest to get the correct setup on the cartridge, but once set correctly, they were all good performers.

Shelly_D

 

[gadget73]

I think everything I currently have in use is basically a straight arm, though that was not an intentional choice. The only turntable I own that I put an arm on got the one arm I had sitting around doing nothing, everything else is just what it came with.

If/when I get around to using the Syntec thats an S arm.

 

[flavio81]

Let's see...

Straight type always has the advantage that the tube is easier to make which might enable some extra optimizations, like better materials, more rigidity etc.
It also has the advantage that is inherently laterally balanced.
The disadvantage is that most straight toneams have no removable headshells.

J-type often allows removable headshells,
but it is laterally unbalanced, thus it requires a lateral compensator weight.

S-type is less unbalanced than the J-type, that's the reason S-type tonearm was invented. It will still require a lateral compensator on many cases, unless one uses the exact type headshell and exact type cartridge the designers intended.

In theory the straight type is the best starting point for maximum sound quality. In practice it depends of the implementation.

Straight tonearms i have had the RB220 and RB303 (Rega) tonearms, and I quite like them. My linear tracker (SL-DL1) also has a short straight tonearm, as did my former SL-10. I find these technics linear trackers sound good, perhaps with a bit less bass than I would like.

S-type I have the SME 3009/III which I find excellent, and besides that one, the tonearm on my Sony PS-4750 which so far is sounding very nice (i need to listen to it more).

J-type i have the SME 3009 II non-improved, which so far i'm finding very sweet sounding.

 

[Pythonman]

Straight, or S on the heavier side if possible.

 

[Aerobat]

I don't really have a preference as the arms are so different. The VPI comes in at a whopping 1lb 5oz. They all sound pretty good and I've been using the Jelco S arm lately. I grew up on Technics S arms but the VPI is pretty special too.

 

[ranf1970]

Agreed with what shelly_d wrote. I have also used all three and find S and J to be the best.

 

[enricosonic]

Sonically it's tough to say as I've not tried each type of arm on the same deck using the same cart, etc. I'll be superficial and say S and J are prettier to my eyes.

 

[Blue Shadow]

I have a couple different straight arms, Infinity and Magnepan and a couple different 3009s, S2 Imp and Series 2.

The Magnepan is my favorite with OTF VTA and no fiddling once a cartridge is mounted properly in the headshell. Install headshell, adjust tracking force, set VTA and azimuth then I’m done as antiskate is a moving target so I’ve set it and forget it. Less than a minute, accurate Baerwald set up.

 

[Mr Boochie]

Sonically it's tough to say as I've not tried each type of arm on the same deck using the same cart, etc. I'll be superficial and say S and J are prettier to my eyes.

I like the way the cartridge is parallel to the arm's end with J or S-shaped arms. The canted end of cartridges in straight arms seems wrong to me.

It's just me.

 

[enricosonic]

I like the way the cartridge is parallel to the arm's end with J or S-shaped arms. The canted end of cartridges in straight arms seems wrong to me.

It's just me.

I share that sentiment and I may also have a wee bit of negative association with cheap tables of my past with straight arms.

There are spectacular-performing straight tonearms of course, so you “straight-armers” needn’t attack. ;-)

 

[enricosonic]

And of course there are lovely to behold straight arms; the Infinity Black Widow and Mayware Formula 4 are two off the top of my head.

 

[Bicyclist]

I stick to duals since that is what I can afford and have some idea how to fix. So I like straight arms unless they are the ultra low mass ones. I don't like how they limit cartridge selection.

 

[NachoTemino]

S arms are Sexier. Soundwise I believe my ears wont tell the difference.

 

[Beobloke]

In performance terms, I believe the shape is irrelevant - it's the design that counts.

In pure looks terms, well there's nothing lovelier than a J-shaped SME 3009 is there?!

 

[Iansaudio]

J arms for me, Empire 98 arm, SME 3009/3012.

 

[Apreggiator]

I love the tangential on my Garrard Zero 100sb.
I am happy with the S arms on my various Technics turntables.
The straight arm on my Lenco L75 sucks, but I am planning to I have a dream to one day build my own arm for it.
I like wacky designs like Well Tempered's golf ball tonearm and Supatracs magnetic pivot underslung unipivot and will base my own arm on some of the features included in these.

I haven't heard enough 'great arms' to pick a favorite. Technics EPA 500, SME Mk V, Schroder LT, still on the list..

But it's not really shape, it's execution that counts.

 

[jbjsr]

I’ve had a number of arms including various models of SME, Rega, AudioQuest and Jelco. Also, VPI, Formula 4, Grado, etc.

I settled on Jelco S shaped since I use a number of different cartridges and a removable headshell is easier for me to mount / align cartridges correctly. Plus, I use various headshells of different weights which helps me achieve proper weight for each cartridge. Jelco also has fluid damping which can be useful.

 

[krautmaster]

The only difference I have noticed is that my S shaped arms are much better with warped records, the straight arm on my SRM azure table (Rega RB330) doesn't play nice with warped records- it dances around L-R / up-down way more than the Technics "S" arms. I use a Groovetracer under slung counterweight that helps dampen the dancing around.

 

[flavio81]

I like the way the cartridge is parallel to the arm's end with J or S-shaped arms. The canted end of cartridges in straight arms seems wrong to me.

Time for an underhung (zero offset) straight tonearm, then !

In performance terms, I believe the shape is irrelevant - it's the design that counts.

In pure looks terms, well there's nothing lovelier than a J-shaped SME 3009 is there?!

It is lovely.
But I nominate the Sony PUA-9 for even prettier tonearm: