Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Delivers a vibrant, confident, and articulate sound
- Features a lovely clear, confident mid band
- Provides an authoritative and well-controlled bass character
- The bearings are astonishingly free-running, with low friction
- Is unfussy, and well thought out in terms of adjustments and use
Product Considerations
- The anti-skating knob is uncalibrated, requiring the user to adjust by ear
Takeaway: The AS-212R is a well-engineered tonearm that delivers a clear and confident sound. It's easy to use and well-balanced, making music sound engaging.
All
AS-212R
reviews
Manufacturer details
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.
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
Select products
OM Series
- Positioning: Positioned as an entry-level option for both vinyl enthusiasts and DJs.
- Description: Offers great value with its compatibility across a wide range of tonearms, making it ideal for those new to vinyl or on a budget. Features a lightweight design that ensures excellent tracking ability, which is a step up from the more basic models in the lineup. Compared to the Concorde Music series, it's more affordable and versatile, suitable for both home listening and DJ use.
SPU Series
- Positioning: A high-end option for audiophiles who appreciate classic analog sound.
- Description: Renowned for its rich, warm sound, making it a favorite among purists who value traditional analog playback. With models like the SPU Royal G MKII, it offers refined soundstage and detail. Compared to the Cadenza Series, the SPU focuses more on a vintage sound signature.
MC Cadenza Series
- Positioning: Positioned as a premium line for audiophiles seeking the ultimate in sound quality.
- Description: The Cadenza Series is celebrated for its precision and dynamic range, with models like the Cadenza Black offering exceptional stereo imaging and detail. It uses advanced technology to provide a modern take on high-fidelity sound. Compared to the SPU Series, the Cadenza offers a more contemporary sound profile.
Our take on the brand
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Used
Ortofon
What if you spend more?
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Unique bi-axis design separates horizontal and vertical movements, offering a stable platform for the cartridge and excellent tracking ability, even with warped records
- Extremely well-built, matching the high standards of SME tonearms in terms of fit and finish, with a robust and solid construction
- Cartridge swapping is made easy due to the detachable headshell and simple setup process
- Demonstrates wide cartridge compatibility, working well with both low and high compliance cartridges
- Sonically neutral and uncolored, allowing the characteristics of different cartridges to shine through
Product Considerations
- Heavy, best suited for turntables with solid plinths, making it potentially incompatible with suspended turntables
- DIN plug/cable exits straight down, requiring adequate clearance (around 70mm)
- VTA adjustments are not micrometric
- The detachable headshell, while convenient, introduces a joint in the armtube
- Soundstaging may not be as wide or airy as some other tonearms, tending to present a strong central image
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The DV 507 MkII matches SME standards in fit and finish and allows each cartridge to give its best
Takeaway: The Dynavector 507 MkII is a well-engineered, versatile tonearm with a unique design that promotes excellent tracking and neutral sound. Its solid build, easy cartridge swapping, and wide compatibility make it a worthwhile investment for serious vinyl enthusiasts.
Video review
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Our summary
Video review
Our take on the brand
Professional 12-inch tonearm for EMT Tondose, as an option also for other connections (SME, Ortofon A)
Our summary
Product Strengths
- The EMT 912-HI tonearm, along with the EMT JSD 6 cartridge, made every record sound dramatically more exposed, clearer, and punchier
- The EMT 912-HI tonearm looks sleek, sexy, and more refined in machining and finish compared to earlier EMT arms
- The EMT 912-HI tonearm seems better built than the 997s
Product Considerations
- Adjustments took a couple of weeks to settle in comfortably with the new EMT sound
- Comparing the 909 remake with the original 929 is essential to identify differences and limitations
- The EMT 912-HI with fixed headshell costs $6995 with fixed wire, $7409 with the DIN connector
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The EMT 912-HI arrived and, together with the EMT JSD 6 cartridge, threw everything he thought he knew out the window, compared to when he was using Thomas Schick 10.5' tonearm
Takeaway: The EMT 912-HI tonearm can significantly improve the sound of records, making them clearer and more dynamic. Its sleek design and improved build quality make it a luxurious addition to any high-end audio system.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The design skills of Frank Schröder are no where more apparent than in the CB tonearm. Visually simplicity with timeless aesthetic conceals cutting edge technology and mechanical wizardry.
Simple principles of physics applied in a masterful way like balancing the mass of the tonearm on the bearing to reject vibrations conducted through the mounting plate that originate from other turntable components such as the motor, plinth, bearing or airborne feedback, any force acting on that point will effectively eliminates external excitation by generating equal forces to all sides of the arm, maintaining the dynamic stability of the system and preventing a deflection of the cantilever effectively ignoring the incoming disturbance.
Another issue are the disturbances generated constantly by the cartridge. Problem here is energy reflected back to the cartridge due to the stiff bearings of tonearms. Here the issue is addressed with adjustable counterweight coupling to sink some of this energy and a wand that is super stiff and very well damped coupling those vibrations to the magnetic centring of the lateral bearing, operating as an eddy current brake, absorbing all the vibrations that reach it.
Different type of materials are used to create an impedance mismatch for all the vibrations travelling the path. This reduces energy coupling without being visually noticeable. The use of magnetic force is exploited in the anti-skating compensation. Here a system of 3 magnets takes care of this without any dangling weight or spring eliminating yet another source of signal contamination.
Tonearm effective mass is controlled by the use of different material cartridge mounting plates allowing the use of almost any cartridge on the arm. Last but not least the use of continuous wire from cartridge to preamplifier with no intermediate contact or joints maintains cartridge signal integrity.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- The design allows for fine-tuning to maximize sound quality
- Instructions are included outlining how to tune by various degrees of screw tightening
Product Considerations
- There are options for screw tightening
Takeaway: The Schröder CB tonearm allows adjustments to get the best sound. It's designed to work with modern turntables.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Jewel-like quality and non-fiddly competence
- Precision machining, ease of setup, and an attractive price for such a well-designed and manufactured arm, make for an attractive combination of enticements
- Provides removable head shell convenience and versatility without paying a sonic price for it
Product Considerations
- The AS-309R has an unusually long 323.5 mm effective length and pivot to spindle distance of 311 mm, so be sure the turntable can handle it
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Pro-Ject EVO 12 Premium HG—in terms of build quality and feel, the Pro-Ject is 1080p, while the Ortofon is definitely 4K or 8K, the Ortofon is in a different precision league
Takeaway: The AS-309R is a well-designed and manufactured 12' tonearm with easy setup and precision. It would make an excellent choice if head shell swappability is a priority.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The 9W2 tonearm is beautifully made with superb execution, smooth bearings and no play in the two dimensions
- Excellent fit and finish, with quality in the packaging and clear instructions
- The AMG Giro provides a very low noise floor, allowing more details to be revealed in recordings
- Musically satisfying, the Giro has a sense of lively confidence and direct musical communication, is quick, clean, and presents players with verve and vitality
- Offers the ability to adjust each geometrical aspect of cartridge setup and alignment, including VTA/SRA, overhang and offset, azimuth and bias
Product Considerations
- The Giro's controls do not always respond to one's first fingertip touch
- Azimuth and bias adjustments may be exacting, as they are devoid of any sort of incremental scale or zero point
- The bottom end definitely loses weight as it goes deeper, but it's not as great a loss as first impressions suggest
- The Teatro moving-coil cartridge was found to be unusually sensitive to dust accumulation on the stylus' tip
- The 9W2 arm only uses one grub screw to hold the arm in place, and some feel two screws are a more effective method of holding an arm in place
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Rega RP10: the AMG Giro is richer and warmer sounding, has a slightly quieter noise floor, a bit more weight and power at the bottom end, as well as a bit more dynamic oomph
- Vs AMG Viella: The AMG Viella has a bit more weight and scale and better detail retrieval—advantage of a 12 inch arm over 9 inch?
Takeaway: The AMG Giro turntable and 9W2 tonearm are beautifully made with stunning levels of fit and finish, offering clear set up instructions and sound quality to match. It provides deep levels of musical pleasure to make you forget about the gear and immerse yourself in the beauty of the music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Expertly produced to be one of the most versatile hi-end arms on the market for real-world use
- The build translates into musical delivery, achieving high levels of low frequency grip and dynamics
- Made of an ultra-rigid Grade-9 titanium designed to resist torsion and bending
- Fitted with high-specification ball bearings and incorporates high-precision bearing shafts to ensure minimal friction and precise movement
Product Considerations
- The headshell is a one piece design, being permanently fixed to the main wand for rigidity, meaning there's no easy way to adjust azimuth
- Setting anti-skate is a bit more manual than most
- The review sample had a quirk where flicking the cueing lever would cause the arm to stop halfway down—requiring assistance
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Nexus at £4,500 is still around a grand cheaper than what SME was charging for its Series V before it went off sale
Takeaway: The Nexus tonearm is a superbly engineered and simple to use piece of equipment designed to work with a wide-range of pick-ups and it can hold its own on any turntable that's up to its standards. It's a worthwhile option for those seeking a versatile hi-end tonearm.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The Fatboy brings each cartridge's strengths to the fore as well as revealing the sonic differences among the cartridges
- The tonearm's preciseness and linearity parallels and complements the sound of the Vanquish table
- The tonearm's strongest suit is its dynamics and that special ability to rapidly move and shift between dynamic levels
- The Fatboy's ability to recreate a ginormous soundstage
- The Fatboy's slightly heavier mass also allows for the use of lower compliance and heavier massive cartridges
Product Considerations
- The Fatboy falls slightly short of ultimate in the areas of finesse, refinement, and total sense of ease
- There's also some decrease in bass texture
- The tonearm can also at times sacrifice harmonic integrity for detail
- Setting up the dual pivot version of the Fatboy tonearm, in particular azimuth, can be a little tricky and trying
- The character of the new VPI 3D printed Fatboy tonearm lies ever so slightly to the yang side of neutral, no part of the frequency spectrum is emphasized to the detriment of another
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to VPI's earlier all JMW Aluminum-based tonearm, the Fatboy is superior when it comes to resolution, speed, and dynamics—and eliminates much of the sonic signature from the previous 3D printed tonearm
- Compared to earlier 3D generation VPI arms, the new Fatboy tonearm is a sizable step up from VPI's earlier 3D printed arms
Takeaway: The VPI Fatboy tonearm is a stunning product and could easily be many audiophiles' final tonearm. The Fatboy's slightly heavier mass allows for the use of lower compliance and heavier massive cartridges.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The Arko tonearm allows the 7075 aluminium arm to float delicately above the record with as near as possible to no resistance
- The 7075 grade aluminium used from the gimbal base all the way through to the headshell helps filter unwanted resonance away from the cartridge and down through the sub chassis
- The Arko/Kendo combination work beautifully, the Kore then stiffens the chassis to keep things tight and pacey
- The overall result is a fast and detailed sound that's not fatiguing, with a smooth warmth
Takeaway: The Arko tonearm elevates the Selekt LP12 with its meticulous construction and resonance-dampening design, working in tandem with other components to deliver a detailed and enjoyable listening experience. Records sound amazing with the Arko.
Video review
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