Tonarmen

Tonarmen, or tonearms, are the mechanical assemblies on turntables that carry the phono cartridge and guide the stylus as it traces the grooves of a vinyl record. Their primary purpose is to translate groove movement into an electrical signal while minimizing friction, distortion, and groove wear. A tonearm attaches to the turntable via a bearing, and typically includes a headshell, a counterweight, and adjustment devices for tracking force and alignment.

Most consumer tonearms are pivoted and range from about 9 to 12 inches in length. They use overhang and cartridge offset angles designed to minimize tracking error across the record. Some designs are linear tracking arms, which move the cartridge along a straight path to keep a closer-to-tangential contact with the groove. Bearings vary, including traditional gimbal or sleeve types, and some high-end models employ unipivot or air bearings.

Key components include the arm tube, the bearing assembly, the headshell, the counterweight, and adjustments for vertical tracking angle (VTA), azimuth, anti-skate, and tracking force. The tonearm houses the tonearm cables that carry the cartridge signal to the phono stage and may include a cueing lever for safe lowering of the cartridge.

Setup and operation involve cartridge alignment using a protractor (Baerwald, Stevenson, or Lofgren schemes), selecting the recommended tracking force, and setting anti-skate to match that force. Tonearm mass, effective length, and cartridge compliance affect resonance and tonal balance. A properly matched tonearm reduces distortion and groove wear, while maximizing channel separation and fidelity.