Ortofon AS-212R Tonearm
In stock
Available - Usually ships within 2-3 days
Features
| Brand Color | None |
|---|---|
| Warranty The length of time your product is protected by warranty | 2 Years |
| Product Type | Other |
Tech Specs
- Cartridge weight - 18 to 26 g./26 to 38 g. (standard weight, including headshell/heavy weight, including headshell))
- Mounting distance - 214 mm
- Effective length - 232mm
- Overhang - 18mm
- Offset angle - 23.75
- Arm shaft diameter - 18 mm
- Recommended arm shaft hole diameter - 22mm
- Tonearm weight - 600g/630 g. standard weight/heavy weight
- Height above mounting surface - 59 – 79 mm (up to top of the tonearm)
- Counterweight radial clearance - 80 mm for standard weight; 89 mm for heavy weight (measured from pivot point)
- Distance from the mounting surface to the top of the platter - 20 – 48 mm
- Effective arm mass - 7 g
Description
Each Ortofon tonearm has been precision crafted using decades of experience. The Ortofon AS-212R Tonearm is the 9” model. Notably, a 12” version is also available. Every component has been upgraded using optimized materials that minimize unwanted vibration and distortion.
As a result, the sound is crisp clear, and accurate. Each part is designed to be durable for a long life. Setup is easy, as a mounting base and connecting cable are included. Lastly, the universal headshell connector can take standard headshells and the Ortofon SPU range of pickups.
Precision built
There are over 130 redesigned components in the Ortofon AS-212R Tonearm. The arms are made in Japan with a tradition of mechanical precision and advanced engineering. Moreover, skilled craftsmen assemble, adjust, and test the system at every assembly stage.
Only the best, all metal parts are used. Top quality bearings ensure precise tracking and there is a universal headshell connector that can be used for both standard and SPU cartridges.
Maximum flexibility
Two lengths of tonearm are available 9” and 12”. The Ortofon AS-212R Tonearm is the 9” version. Moreover, the height of each arm is adjustable so that they can fit a wide range of turntable models. The arms are a good choice for those who want to change cartridges frequently as they have a universal headshell. Lastly, both arms come with an Ortofon premium tonearm cable.
Setting up a tone arm
The Ortofon AS-212R Tonearm is easy to install and operate. It has intuitive controls and is statically balanced. Moreover, it is very precisely aligned to minimize tracking errors. Additionally, there is a standard 5-pol DIN tonearm connector that can be used with most tonearm cables.
Two counterweights are provided, a normal one and a heavier one. As a result, most types of cartridges can be used. The arm comes with a mounting base that is used to attach the arm to the turntable plinth.
Cartridge types
Modern cartridges come in two types, moving magnet and moving coil. Ortofon pioneered quality moving Coil cartridges in 1960, with the SPU system. These are still available today. More on this later. However, let's take a look at moving magnet cartridges first. Moving magnet cartridges have a tiny magnet mounted on the end of the cantilever.
The cantilever holds the stylus at the other end. The magnet moves inside two coils and this generates the stereo signal. The output is around 5mV with an impedance of 47K.On the other hand, moving coil cartridges have coils mounted on the cantilever.
This reduces the mass of the assembly for better tracking, particularly at high frequencies. However, MC cartridges have a much lower output and need a special type of phono preamp.
The Ortofon SPU cartridge
In 1960 Ortofon pioneered the SPU cartridge, which stands for Stereo PickUp. The SPU cartridge patent featured several innovations that are still used in moving coil cartridges today. The Ortofon sound was born. Notably, the SPU range is still available today and can easily be plugged into the Ortofon AS-212R Tonearm. At around the same time, Ortofon also developed a stereo-cutting head.