Korf Audio TA-SF9 9” Armtube Tonearm
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Korf Audio TA-SF9
TA-SF9R is a complete rethink of what a tonearm should be.
The revolutionary design in a familiar easy to use shape.
- Excellent rigidity and quality of motion
- Zero-stiction flexure bearing
- Drop-in replacement for 9" Linn and Jelco tonearms
- Unique ceramic Korf HS-A02 headshell included
The Korf tonearms are a clean sheet rethink of what a tonearm should be. We focused on our audio priorities: quality of motion, rigidity, low energy storage, signal integrity, stability and longevity.
- Korf tonearms are the only ones in the world to use aerospace-grade, zero stiction flexure bearings
- Korf Audio is the world's only maker of fully ceramic headshells
- Stainless steel arm tube is 3x stronger than aluminium, 2x stronger than titanium
| SPECIFICATIONS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 9" | ||
| Effective length | 229 mm | ||
| Pivot to spindle distance | 214 mm | ||
| Removable Headshell | – | ||
| Effective mass | 19 g | ||
| With included HS-A02 headshell | – | ||
| Arm tube material | Stainless Steel | ||
| Horizontal bearing | Flexure | ||
| Vertical bearing | Hybrid ceramic | ||
| Internal wiring | OFC Litz | ||
| Antiskating | Magnetic | ||
| Azimuth Adjustment | ✔ | ||
| Fine VTA Adjustment | ✔ |
Not included, but needed for operation:
- 5-pin MDIN cable to connect your tonearm to your amplifier
- Pickup cartridge. If you are curious about compliance and effective mass compatibility, please use our calculator.
- An electronic downforce scale
If you are mounting the tonearm on a wooden plinth, suitable wood screws should be sourced separately.
Flexure Pivot Horizontal Bearing
Monolithic flexure pivots are almost a hundred times more expensive than the usual rolling bearings. For that, you get amazing advantages:
- Zero starting torque/no stiction
- No bearing chatter
- Great tracking of warps
- Less inner groove distortion
- Lasts forever — no servicing, no lubrication
- Not influenced by temperature/humidity/dust/age
- Easy to replace if broken
Steel Arm Tube
Based on a large study of arm tube materials, we chose a steel tube with 0.5mm wall thickness.
Why is steel seldom used in today's tonearms? It's not possible to simply replace an aluminium or titanium arm tube with a steel one. A whole new design is called for.
- High bending resistance: 3 times higher than aluminium, 2 times higher than titanium of the same mass
- Low energy storage
Why is steel seldom used in today's tonearms? It's not possible to simply replace an aluminium or titanium arm tube with a steel one. A whole new design is called for.
Widely Spaced Vertical Hybrid Ceramic Bearings
We did a study of vertical bearings's influence on sound, and chose hybrid ceramic rolling bearings for the task:
- Better strength and precision
- Less chatter compared to closely spaced bearings
- Low starting torque/stiction
- Better resolution
- Sharper dynamics
- Better sibilance control
- Less inner groove distortion
- Need no servicing or lubrication
Clamping Plinth Mounts
For tightest plinth attachment possible. They give:
- Better mounting precision
- Ease of adjustment
- Better plinth coupling
Magnetic Antiskating
Magnetic antiskating has zero stiction.
It would be a real shame to spend so much effort (and money) on our beautiful bearings, and then ruin their performance with a weight on a pulley. Or with a sliding lever.
Our magnetic antiskating is calibrated and uniform—the biasing force remains the same from the outer to the inner grooves.
It would be a real shame to spend so much effort (and money) on our beautiful bearings, and then ruin their performance with a weight on a pulley. Or with a sliding lever.
Our magnetic antiskating is calibrated and uniform—the biasing force remains the same from the outer to the inner grooves.
Custom Headshell Connector
To fully preserve the mechanical performance of both our unique ceramic headshell and the armtube, we designed our own connector:
- Steel load-bearing part; aluminium alloy locking collar
- Press-fitted into an armtube
- Spring loaded, gold plated contact pins
- Nylon isolator
Simple and Effective Alignment Gauge
To align your cartridge, with most other tonearms you need a protractor. It is fiddly, imprecise, hard to use, and puts your valuable cartridge or stylus at risk of damage.
TA-SF9R comes with a precise alignment gauge. It's easy to set up your cartridge exactly right in minutes. Even away from your turntable, at a comfortable well lit desk.
TA-SF9R comes with a precise alignment gauge. It's easy to set up your cartridge exactly right in minutes. Even away from your turntable, at a comfortable well lit desk.
What Makes Korf Tonearms Special?
The Korf tonearms are a clean sheet rethink of what a tonearm should be. We focused on our audio priorities: quality of motion, rigidity, low energy storage, signal integrity, stability and longevity.
You will immediately hear the sonic benefit: Korf tonearms offer unmatched clarity, holographic imaging, real life dynamics, true tonality, sparkling highs and a really deep bass.
- Korf tonearms use aerospace-grade, zero stiction flexure bearings
- Korf Audio is the world's only maker of fully ceramic headshells
- Stainless steel arm tube is 3x stronger than aluminium, 2x stronger than titanium
- There is a lot more—click the button below to discover!
You will immediately hear the sonic benefit: Korf tonearms offer unmatched clarity, holographic imaging, real life dynamics, true tonality, sparkling highs and a really deep bass.
