knife edge bearing !

www.monoandstereo.com/2017/08/new-jelco-knife-edge-type-tonearm.html

Why ? Wasnt one of the criticisms of the old SME tonearms the use of chattering knife edge bearings ?

Mass-loaded may be OK.
Just like unipivots.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Dec 19, 2017 16:31:43 GMT 12 guitardude said:

Why ? Wasnt one of the criticisms of the old SME tonearms the use of chattering knife edge bearings ?

As I understand it, Ball races chatter too, the degree dependent on tolerance.  I think the 'chatter' of the old SME Knife edge bearings has been somewhat over played, and the 'mythology' has more do to do with cartridge matching.......... throws that one out to das experten....

Also: In my ignorance  I understood the basic difference between an SM IV and V, apart colour and method of VTF application was ABEC 3 vs ABEC 7 bearing's..and thence the difference in sound..

Never play Leapfrog with a Unicorn.

the V also has fluid damping and better quality internal wiring.

Ball-race bearings always have some 'chatter/rattle', there is never 'zero' play.

OTOH, unipivots (& knife edges should) inherently not have any 'chatter'.
Except at high energy situations (low freqs) where mass loading helps - in a similar way that Effective Mass and/or fluid damping increases LF stability.

IMHO

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

That is my understanding too, Owen.. but didn't say it for fear of foot in mouth disease... 

Never play Leapfrog with a Unicorn.