Special Announcement:  Abis tonearms will be sold under a new name, Sorane.  The production and design are exactly the same, being produced in the same facility.  The ownership of the design has reverted to the OEM.  Please click HERE to be redirected to the Sorane page.

The Abis TA1L 12.7″ Gimbal Tonearm

 

Art Dudley’s Review of the TA1L.

 

If high-end audio is an arms race, then the Abis TA1L tonearm is the weapon system for the value minded audiophile.  Nearly thirteen inches of fine-tuned, hand-assembled tonearm, built by Japanese craftsmen who are serious about their business, and winning the tone-arms race.  

While a number of tonearms are wrapped in quasi-science and Rococo aesthetics, the TA1L, and its progenitor, the TA1, are from the conservative Japanese tradition of 間(Ma), or negative space, best typified by Japanese architecture with a preponderance of open (essentially empty) space.  This idea of minimalism seeks to perfect the basic ingredients, strip away the non-essential, and allow the beholder to interpret the space (or negative space) in a way that personalizes the experience for each beholder.  The TA1L does not seek to suggest a sound, or to overlay “special sounds” over the pure tones of a good phono cartridge.  By choosing a traditional tonearm form, using carefully selected materials, and by employing skilled craftsmen to carefully assemble the components, the Abis TA1L will fill the needs of the music lover.

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The TA1L is ideally suited for two groups of people:

• Value conscious audiophiles, looking for a reliable and trouble-free tonearm, and who want to play their records, not earn an engineering degree;
• Record collectors that want a fantastic sounding arm, that is affordable, and that is flexible.  It will allow them to quickly change from stereo to mono, MM to MC to VR to Strain Gauge, and from 1 mil round, to .7 mil round, to fine line, to Shibata, and to 3 mil round, all in a few minutes (not days).  It has the correct mass to balance the vast majority of cartridges.

 

If you are looking for a no-nonsense package, with performance to exceed that of much more expensive tonearms, then the TA1L will reward you with years of musical non-interference.  

$1,875 MSRP

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

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As a value added feature, and to accurately adjust your new tonearm, all Abis arms will come with an Accutrak arc protractor.  Click below to see the details.

 

 

Jasmine SME2R10 Tonearm Base Converter

The SME2R10, created by Jasmine, is a very high quality adapter that will allow Abis tonearms to be adapted to armboards drilled for the SME tonearms. They are made of quality billet aluminum and both finish and machining are excellent.

Though the situation is somewhat dependent on the competency of whoever drilled the original armboard holes, the range of adjustment of the SME2R10 will allow an Abis SA1.2 to be used in place of a 3009 or 3010.

To compare the practical distance, or spindle to pivot, here are a list of arms of similar length.

Abis TA1	216 mm
Abis SA1.2	223 mm
SME 3009 R	215.4 mm
SME 3009 series II improved	215.7 mm
SME 3010 R	222 mm
SME 309	215.35 mm
SME 310	222 mm
SME M2 10”	222 mm
SME M2 9”	215.4 mm
SME Series III	215.4 mm
SME Series IV	215.35 mm
SME Series V	215.35 mm

It can be seen immediately that the TA1 is very close to the 3009, and the SA1.2 is very close to the 310 and 3010. What is not as apparent is whether or not the SA1.2 will fit in place of a 3009. If the center of the SME base for an 3009 is drilled at 215 mm, then the SA1.2 will definitely work. There is a difference of only 7.3 mm (0.287” or 19/64”). The range of adjustment for the Abis SME2R10 is much greater. It will work.

What is a slightly tougher fit will be going from SME 3012 to Abis TA1L, with a difference of 14.6 mm, or 0.574”. It is possible that some boards will allow enough room. Again, it depends on the choices made when the armboard was drilled for the 3012.

Obviously, if the SME base is mounted on an adjustable armboard or “pod”, there shouldn’t be a problem with geometry, and the Jasmine SME2R10 will allow any Abis arm to be quickly substituted for the original SME arm.

The cost of the Jasmine adapter is $60 with the purchase of an Abis tonearm.  

Custom made in Japan for SIBATECH, Inc., Tokyo, Japan

 

 

 

 

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