Jeffrey, I agree with you that the V-12 can sound good on both suspended and non suspended tables. For years, the V-12 was Albert Porter's reference arm on his unsuspended Technics SP10 mk 3. I don't know where this idea came from, but perhaps it is because the arm's release corresponded with the popularity of suspended turntables of the time. It is interesting to note that some mentioned that the new SME arms, in this case, all 9", were too heavy for the Linny Sondek tables and messed with their spring suspensions.
I agree with Bruce B. that the Modlel 30 is certainly no light weight suspended turntable. The SME suspension is very robust and not at all springy. I agree that there are many OEM SME arms sold as integrated solutions on tables of all sorts. Avid is another to add to Transrotor and Kondo. And let's not forget that early TechDAS and Kronos tables were demonstrated with the SME V-12.
Hello Peter,
Hope you are well.
The idea originates in practice.
Theory would suggest that an arm, robustly constructed, will perform at its best on any turntable it is fitted to (i.e.
static behaviour resulting in an
action). Practice, while certainly not invalidating the theory completely, suggests an arm and turntable have a more mercurial relationship than that (i.e.
dynamic behaviour resulting in an
interaction).
We are dealing with a complex system of a multiplicity of variables resulting in a greater degree of non-linearities. A solution to a problem is likely to introduce problems of its own, especially in complex systems. Theory alone cannot and will never be sufficient for accurately predicting whether those non-linearities will result in an asymmetric swing toward ones’ preferences or away from them. Only practice will.
And even though Albert Porter and Transrotor and Kondo and Avid and TechDas and Kronos (plus any others you care to name) have in the past or do currently use the V-12 as their arm of choice, those appeals to authority are not sufficient to definitively declare a V-12 can be used successfully on all turntables relative to the success other arms, especially given “success” in this context will be measured against the vagaries of individual subjective preferential choice (not to mention the issues associated with OEM manufacturing and marketing).
That’s not to say, as you and jeffrey_t allude to, that the V-12
cannot sound good on a
specific “world class” non-suspended turntable (even in as much as we appreciate “world class” will always be a matter of highly subjective opinion). But neither is it the same as saying it
will sound good on
all non-suspended tables (or for that matter, all suspended turntables as the LP12 is testament to (1)) and that its performance envelope is not best realised on specific decks, of which we must potentially include the 30/2 and 30/12.
I apologise if this all comes across as needless equivocation. I have no interest in modifying anyone’s behaviour toward or away from a particular arm. Perhaps it is true that I am one of the few, if not the only one, who feels uncomfortable suggesting an arm - because of its geometry, mass, engineering or pedigree (i.e. its static behaviour) - will therefore work on all turntables (when subject to dynamic behaviour). That’s not been my personal experience.
Nevertheless, I would also never suggest my experience is anything more of less than that. If users of the V-12 achieve the greatest level of possible performance from that arm on suspended and non-suspended turntables relative to their preferences and biases, who I am to argue - and why would I?
My argument is and continues to be that individual data points and collectivised ones are never enough reason to declare definitively that something
must therefore be true. The best we can say is that preference usually manifests collectively, because we as humans often look for others who reinforce our preconceived notions (2).
My best to you,
853guy
(1) This was one of the primary reasons I abandoned the LP12. Arm choice was always variations on a theme. It simply proved too limiting a factor for me, personally, given I also began exploring carts of the low-compliance variety.
(2) Hence the regular occurrence of the logical fallacy of appeals to authority pertaining to pursuits of preferential choice.