[Grbluen]

All,
Thanks for helping me understand all of this! With my new understanding of effective tonearm mass and my new capability in making adjustments, I'm going to take a shot at matching the vertical and horizontal compliances. I'm hoping that I might realize some gains by optimizing in this fashion. It seems to me that if there is a vertical and horizontal component involved when cutting records, they should match. I could be wrong, but I'll give it a shot!
 

[neobop]

Dongrb,
"Matching vertical and horizontal compliance"  How do you mean this by adjusting arm eff mass in both planes?   This might not be desirable depending on what you mean.  Compliance describes a cart, not an arm, so you're going to match compliance with mass?   Lateral compliance can be slightly different but is usually close to vertical cu figures.  Ortofon is one company that specs their carts for lateral cu. 

As evidenced by David's lateral mass thread, it might be desirable to have very high lateral mass, but maybe that's what you mean?
neo

[Grbluen]

Of course your correct!  I meant that I would attempt to match the resonant frequencies in both planes.  I'm not having difficulties in any way, just seeking to optimize the system by changing the resonant frequencies. Currently,  the system is running at about 7 hz in both directions. Who's to say that the system won't sound different/better at say 9,10, or even 11hz? At any rate that's the path I'm on.
Grb