TA1 / TA1L Tonearm
$1,700.00 *Price subject to changeGimbal-type bearing design tonearm for excellent bass, dynamics and imaging
A successful tonearm must have the sensitivity and stability to retrieve low-level signals and the quality of the bearings (such as used in the TA tonearms) is paramount. Whilst tonearm mass and cartridge compliance set the low frequency resonance point, high quality bearings must be used that allow the arm to follow the advance of the groove, to navigate the vinyl groove without grabbing/resistance/noise generation.
Resistance to movement creates unwanted low frequency noise and cantilever deflection, skewing the image and moving the signal generating coils/magnet out their ideal geometric relationship. The TA tonearm range use a miniature radial bearing for horizontal movement and a miniature pivot bearing for vertical movement. Very high performance is achieved at a reasonable price.
The saddle and bearing housing are machine-tooled from billet aluminum, and the arm is formed of high quality tubing. The hand-assembled, tested and adjusted arm-tube and bearing structures guarantee vibration-free and noise-free reproduction. Reproduced sound is precise, focused and clean, without bearing noise and inconsistent movements. The TA1 comes with detachable headshell, phono cable (RCA output plug, or optionally as XLR), screws, washers, wrench and marking pin.
Though a conventional arm in appearance, the careful attention to detail produces an arm of outstanding quality. A spring activated anti-skating device offers consistant and precice adjustment, cartridge downforce is via rear counterweight adjustment. The removable headshell offers azimuth adjustment.
TA1 SPECS:
| Whole Length | 288mm |
| Effective Length (Tonearm Pivot – Stylus) | 232mm |
| Practical Length (Tonearm Pivot – Spindle) | 216mm |
| Overhang | 16mm |
| Offset Angle | 22° |
| Horizontal Moving Sensitivity | 30mg |
| Vertical Moving Sensitivity | 20mg |
| Vertical Tracking Force (VTF) Range | 0 – 3 g (6g* Option) |
| Cartridge + Headshell Weight Range | 15 – 29g (35g* Option) |
| Height Adjustment (Plinth To Arm Wand Centerline) | 15 – 55mm |
| Vertical Bearing | Pivot miniature bearing (Not Pivot Contact) |
| Horizontal Bearing | Miniature Radial Bearing |
| Output Plug | RCA (XLR: Option) |
| Output Cable | Single core shield copper |
| Tonearm Audio Lead Wire | OFC 4N Copper |
| Headshell Lead Wire | Copper with gold plated terminal |
| Headshell | Machine tooled Aluminum |
| Tonearm Net Weight | 580 g |
| Attached Standard Headshell Net Weight | 17g |
TA1L SPECS:
| Whole Length | 380mm |
| Effective Length (Tonearm Pivot – Stylus) | 322mm |
| Practical Length (Tonearm Pivot – Spindle) | 310mm |
| Overhang | 12mm |
| Offset Angle | 16.5° |
| Horizontal Moving Sensitivity | 30mg |
| Vertical Moving Sensitivity | 20mg |
| Vertical Tracking Force (VTF) Range | 0 – 5g |
| Cartridge + Headshell Weight Range | 15 – 24g (30g* Option) |
| Height Adjustment (Plinth To Arm Wand Centerline) | 15 – 55mm |
| Vertical Bearing | Pivot miniature bearing (Not Pivot Contact) |
| Horizontal Bearing | Miniature Radial Bearing |
| Output Plug | RCA (XLR: Option) |
| Output Cable | Single core shielded copper |
| Tonearm Audio Lead Wire | OFC 4N Copper |
| Headshell Lead Wire | Copper with gold plated terminals |
| Headshell | Machine tooled Aluminum |
| Tonearm Net Weight | 610g |
| Attached Standard Headshell Net Weight | 17g |
Since company foundation in 1974, Katsuaki Ishiyama-san established and collected designing and development knowhow for various tonearms (And other analog equipment), manufactured by only handmade and assembled process, with his belief the fine tuning is only available by craftsmen’s precise and sensitive hand for variety of analog gears.
Even applying for modern technology of CNC milling machine at their own plant for basic parts production, their expertise are still there to rely on their craftsmen’s process, in particular, during assembling process for many parts to have idealized mechanical surface contact with each other, by hand-tuned and hand-adjusted.
