For analog record enthusiasts, the tone arm is an important part that determines much of the sound quality. The difference in shape between a straight arm and an S-shaped arm is often talked about, but the actual difference in sound quality lies in deeper aspects: inertia, bearings, materials, and side force handling.
A record cartridge is like a ``microphone'' that picks up sound, and the tonearm is the ``skeleton'' that supports the mic's movement. If the arm is too heavy, the bearing has play, or it picks up unnecessary vibrations, no matter how expensive the cartridge you use, you won't be able to produce the original sound.
In other words, the tone arm is the part that supports the core of sound quality.
It may actually be the tone arm that prevents the cartridge from achieving even half of its performance.
Knowing this fact, many people become interested in tone arm replacement.
1. The essential difference between a straight arm and an S-shaped arm that cannot be explained by “shape”
In general, straight arms are said to be lightweight and quick to react, while S-shaped arms are said to have excellent stability. But this is just a superficial story; what really matters is How accurately can you track the movement of the needle without obstructing it? That's all.
A heavy arm, low precision bearings, and a large moment of inertia - if these factors accumulate, the sound will become dull regardless of the shape. That is why in recent years, rather than shape, Thought and precision is becoming more important.
2. Side Force (Force towards inner circumference)and “fluctuations in the time axis”—the biggest blind spot in analog playback
When playing a record, the frictional force of the groove constantly pulls the stylus forward. especially Fortissimo (FF: very strong, powerful sound) At this point, the amplitude of the groove increases, which increases the friction and pulls the needle forward more forcefully. At this time, the side force of the arm with an offset angle fluctuates greatly, causing the cartridge to sway from side to side, resulting in a ``time axis oscillation'' that slows down the rise of the sound and makes the attack sound delayed. This shaking can affect the sound quality more than the tracking error, and is one of the reasons why the low range becomes blurred and the sound image becomes vague.
3. “Needle degree of freedom” determined by bearing accuracy and moment of inertia
The movement of the needle tip is extremely precise, and even the slightest play or resistance in the bearing will cloud the sound and diminish the sense of energy.
Jewelry bearings, one-point bearings, high-precision ball bearings, knife edges──
Both methods have one purpose,"Do not disturb the movement of the needle tip to the utmost" It is.
In particular, Fidelix 0 SideForce The "1.01 point" motion adopted by the needle has a structure that uses jewel bearings and micro-contact points to suppress side-to-side vibration while ensuring an almost ideal degree of freedom for the needle tip.
4. Differences between arm pipe materials: metal, carbon, and wood
The material greatly influences the properties of the arm.
Metal (stainless steel/aluminum)
・Fast reaction speed
・Clear outline
・Feeling energetic
Carbon/hybrid material
・Excellent vibration absorption and calm tone
・High S/N feeling
The sound of the material is combined with the “character of the cartridge” to create the final sound, so
Compatibility with the cartridge is also important.
5. Characteristics of arms handled by our store and direction of selection
**● Fidelix
A design philosophy that pursues the essence of a straight arm**
Fidelix views the arm as a "tool that completely eliminates time fluctuations."
especially 0 SideForce Ha,
・Pure straight structure
・Horizontal movement structure that brings side force closer to zero
・Jewel bearings
・SUS304 precision processing
This is an arm that fundamentally solves the weaknesses of analog playback by combining these.
The stability of the low range and the clarity of the sound image are unique,
Ideal for users who want to bring out the capabilities of high-performance MC cartridges.
0 Click here for SideForce tonearm
https://exclusive-audio.jp/products/fidelix-0-sideforce-tonearm
**● Jasmine Audio
A modern tone arm that is flexible and easy to use, inheriting a classic design**
The Jasmine tonearm is a model that evolves the classic analog design philosophy through modern precision machining techniques and material selection. Rather than emphasizing flashy individuality, it aims for **'neutral playback' that naturally brings out the information engraved on the record as it is**, and it is characterized by maintaining smooth musicality across all genres.
Dynamic balance long tonearm is here.
https://exclusive-audio.jp/products/js-tb297-tonearm
Dynamic balance tonearm is here.
https://exclusive-audio.jp/products/ta-214j-tonearm
By taking advantage of the high internal damping and lightness unique to carbon materials while suppressing unnecessary resonance with its structure,it achieves a balance of smoothness and resolution, making it easy to handle even for first-time arm replacements.It does not lean excessively toward sharpness or heaviness, which allows it to pair well with a wide range of cartridges, and it is praised for being 'less troublesome in setup.'
Carbon arm is here.
https://exclusive-audio.jp/products/js-ta224-tonearm
The charm of Jasmine lies in achieving both the flexible feel typical of analog and modern-day precision.
6. Three Key Indicators for Choosing a Tonearm
More than the shape, it is important to first use the following criteria:
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- Bearing accuracy (freedom of the stylus)
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- Side force and temporal stability
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- Compliance matching with the cartridge
If these three align, excellent results can be achieved with either a straight or S-shaped arm.
The tonearm is 'the part with the greatest value for replacement'
It is no exaggeration to say that the tonearm is the 'most influential part' in analog playback.
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If you are dissatisfied with the current sound,
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not getting the most out of your cartridge,
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low-end sounds are unclear, or the sound image is blurry,
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you want fresher, more vivid sound,
then reviewing your tonearm alone could lead to a dramatic improvement.
