Has anyone come across one of these, or more interesting, tried to do a diy one?
http://snvinyl.co.uk/Swing-Headshell-201A-107g
http://snvinyl.co.uk/Swing-Headshell-201A-107g
Seen them on flea bay, I have no idea how on Earth you would Aline your cartridge for a start! So whilst i’m Tempted to try one on my Jelco arm the price of the headshell has put me off.
As an owner of several Souther LTAs and an ET-2 air bearing arm I am completely sold on tangential tracking arms, (particularly the ET-2) that said I have no idea how this would work, to be effective it would have to autonomously find the null point in skating force and if it were really that simple my arms, and arms like the Thales and the latest Schroeder wouldn't exist.
And it's quite expensive. It does address a real problem though (whether it actually does or not is another question) and I no longer own any pivoted arms because inner groove distortion bothers me a lot.
It doesn't make sense to me that it could work...
And it's quite expensive. It does address a real problem though (whether it actually does or not is another question) and I no longer own any pivoted arms because inner groove distortion bothers me a lot.
It doesn't make sense to me that it could work...
Wouldn't the horizontal system resonance move way up in frequency,
and attenuate most of the bass (which on LPs is all lateral/mono)?
The Vestigal tone arm had a vertical pivot at the headshell, so no bass problem.
It actually did work reasonably well, while not attempting to reduce tracking error.
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I suspect it depends on the damping in that bearing assembly, and I still don't get how it could work.. LOL
My limited experience with LF resonances inadvertently shifted up into the audio passband is that it usually results in both severe tracking problems when the specific resonance is excited and exaggerated bass response (and usually not where it sounds "cool" 😉 ) Making modern low to medium compliance cartridges work in Southers is where I first understood a little of the cartridge/arm interaction, a very little. I still have a lot to learn.
My limited experience with LF resonances inadvertently shifted up into the audio passband is that it usually results in both severe tracking problems when the specific resonance is excited and exaggerated bass response (and usually not where it sounds "cool" 😉 ) Making modern low to medium compliance cartridges work in Southers is where I first understood a little of the cartridge/arm interaction, a very little. I still have a lot to learn.
BaloneySausage Re-visited
Went to the website:
Innovative and Creative Nasotec Swing Headshell
Upon revisiting this and looking at the website, I believe what I read was mostly sales hype BaloneySausage. But, there are some good photos that show how it works, and it's kind of interesting. There are two adjustable springs, one on each side of the bearing. The instructions tell you to adjust the tension on the springs such that under normal operation it remains in-line, same as a standard headshell, which makes sense. Their main claim appears to be for resonance control. Adjusting the tension of the springs will alter the resonance frequency of the spring joint and headshell/cart mass. I'm skeptical but if it's engineered right, there may be enough adjustment range in the springs to get the whole thing to function as an anti-resonator? Being able to see the patent claims would answer whether that's what they're trying to do. It looks like setting it up could involve endless fiddling as the manual says "The spring tension can be adjusted to suit individual tastes", which isn't very definitive when you're trying to tune out a resonance.
Biggest gotcha with this device is that the action (or anti-action) is horizontal and most LF garbage in vinyl is vertical. Also, if this thing flexes at the joint under resonance conditions it could cause more horizontal mode FM/scrubbing than from just the stylus flexing with a standard headshell arrangement.
Ray K
Went to the website:
Innovative and Creative Nasotec Swing Headshell
Upon revisiting this and looking at the website, I believe what I read was mostly sales hype BaloneySausage. But, there are some good photos that show how it works, and it's kind of interesting. There are two adjustable springs, one on each side of the bearing. The instructions tell you to adjust the tension on the springs such that under normal operation it remains in-line, same as a standard headshell, which makes sense. Their main claim appears to be for resonance control. Adjusting the tension of the springs will alter the resonance frequency of the spring joint and headshell/cart mass. I'm skeptical but if it's engineered right, there may be enough adjustment range in the springs to get the whole thing to function as an anti-resonator? Being able to see the patent claims would answer whether that's what they're trying to do. It looks like setting it up could involve endless fiddling as the manual says "The spring tension can be adjusted to suit individual tastes", which isn't very definitive when you're trying to tune out a resonance.
Biggest gotcha with this device is that the action (or anti-action) is horizontal and most LF garbage in vinyl is vertical. Also, if this thing flexes at the joint under resonance conditions it could cause more horizontal mode FM/scrubbing than from just the stylus flexing with a standard headshell arrangement.
Ray K
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