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Sorane Abis SA 1.2 Tonearm
Unique design, unique sound, unique value for money high quality tonearm.
The sound of the Sorane SA-1.2 tonearm is quite unique, due to its ridged design and construction, the main arm component is engineered from one billet of aluminum and assembled with great precision and care. There is virtually none of the resonance associated with S-shaped arms and far more strength plus lower 'critical' resonances than virtually all straight arms.
The weakness of low mass tonearms is that they make poor matches for medium and low compliance cartridges. The Sorane SA-1.2 gives you precise radial-bearing performance and very low resonance, while providing the necessary mass for medium and low compliance cartridges.
A major influence in the performance of the SA-1.2 (Silver anodised) and SA-1.2B (black anodised) is the use of very high quality bearings. The bearings used for horizontal movement are axial-loaded (angular-contact) thrust-bearings. These thrust bearings have zero play and are held in contact by gravity - think of them as acting like a unipivot but with more than one contact point. Because of their design with two tapered seats, they self-align in the presence of a load (gravity) and have exceedingly low friction.
In contrast to classic tonearms from the past (which suffered from resonance and lower quality bearings), the SA-1.2 provides the ideal mass for classic cartridges like the Denon DL103 or Ortofon SPU (also, mono cartridges like the DL102, or even antique cartridges like the GE VR and Fairchild) along with most moving coil cartridges.
The Sorane SA-1.2 arm has very low tracking error, the superior sonic signature of the billet aluminum arm parts, and the mass equivalent to most 12″ arms, offers a 12″ arm sound in a compact 10" arm length. A protractor is supplied to ensure the manufacturers optimum geometry but can be altered (simply) if required. It is ideally suited for low to medium compliance cartridges, especially good at controlling problematic cartridges when it comes to miss-tracking, such as the older 'classic' designs.
How does the Sorane sound? It has superb tone and timing, with a 'liquid' mid range to match the very best tonearms. Bass is tight and integrated with the whole, top end is clean and precise. The Sorane SA-1.2 and SA-1.2B offer exceptional value for money, will work well with most cartridges, particularly Moving Coil types, getting the best out of them.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Whole Length: 310mm
- Effective Length (Tonearm pivot – stylus): 239mm
- Practical Length (Tonearm pivot – Spindle): 223mm
- Overhang: 16mm
- Offset angle: 22.25°
- Horizontal moving sensitivity: 30mg
- Vertical moving sensitivity: 20mg
- Vertical Tracking Force (VTF) range: 0-4.5g (2.5g + 2.0g)
- Cartridge + Headshell weight range: 15-45g
- Height Adjustment(Plinth to arm wand centerline): 15-55mm
- Vertical Bearing: Miniature Radial Bearing
- 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: 750g
- Attached standard Headshell Net Weight: 17g
Reviews
Hi-Fi News and Record Review, 15 March, 2017
...an absolute delight in form, function and perceived sound quality.
83%
Stereophile, 24 March, 2016
Abis SA-1.2 tonearm selected for the 2016 Stereophile Magazine top 500 components.
Stereophile, 14 March, 2016
'I'd put the combination of Abis SA 1.2 and Denon DL-103 [cartridge] up against all but the priciest competitors.'
Class A Recommendation
Stereophile, 15 Nov., 2015
Few recent tonearms have more impressed me than the Abis SA-1 ... the Abis SA-1.2 tonearm deserves my strongest recommendation.
strongest recommendation
Stereo Times, 15 Sept., 2015
the Abis SA-1.2 tonearm is the one that I believe made the biggest impact on improving the sound of my analog setup and is the one piece that I have made a permanent part of my system.
Highly recommended
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