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The FINALE Tonearm
T h e s a m e degree of engineering finesse that distinguishes the P R E M I E R E
turntable is evident in the d e s i g n of the F I N A L E tonearm. W h i l e the goal of the
turntable is to isolate the groove from extraneous vibration, the goal of the
tonearm is to isolate the cartridge. W e have explored the role of e a c h element
m a k i n g up a tonearm in order to reach a n e w standard of performance for the
F I N A L E .
The Head Shell
T h e non-detachable head shell on the F I N A L E and the main arm tube are made
of an a l u m i n u m / m a g n e s i u m alloy w h i c h provides rigidity a n d l o w m a s s . T h e
diameters of the head shell a n d the main arm tube are carefully controlled at the
coupling juncture s o that an extremely rigid c o n n e c t i o n results w h e n they are
pressure-fitted. T h i s m e t h o d ensures that the coupling will remain rigid through
changes in humidity and temperature due to the harmonious expansion and
contraction of the alloys u s e d .
Finally, to further reduce the resonance, the head shell is m a d e of t w o rigidly
a s s e m b l e d sections.
The Arm Tube
T h e arm tube must be rigid in order to resist flexing w h e n subjected to the
vibrational energy radiated by the cartridge, but rigid materials are inherently
prone to resonances w h i c h if reflected back to the cartridge w o u l d result in
coloration. D e s i g n s that e m p l o y rubber decouplers (for e x a m p l e at the head
shell) achieve l o w coloration at the e x p e n s e of rigidity, hence information lost.
T h e F I N A L E ' S arm tube has been broken up into t w o sections, joined t o w a r d s
the pivot e n d by t w o rigid c o u p l i n g braces. Due to the differing characteristics
of each element c o m p r i s i n g the arm tube, the resonances are split up into many
frequencies of diminished amplitude, and m a n y of these are converted to a
frequency range a b o v e the b a n d w i d t h of the cartridge.
This m e a n s that the F I N A L E a l l o w s the m a x i m u m a m o u n t of information to be
retrieved from the groove w i t h o u t the penalty of high coloration. A further
design benefit arising from this approach is that the counterweight, m o u n t e d on
the lower arm tube, has its centre of gravity at the s a m e plane as the stylus.
This results in superior warp-riding characteristics.
The Bearings
T h e bearings of a tonearm are faced w i t h the near-impossible task of providing
rigidity and l o w friction at the s a m e time. T h e four bearings of the F I N A L E that
control vertical a n d horizontal motions in a gimbal configuration, are S w i s s -
sourced a n d manufactured to the highest standards that m o d e r n t e c h n o l o g y can
provide.
Vertical Tracking Angle Adjustment System (VTA)
It is essential to adjust the tonearm s u c h that the cantilever effects the proper
V T A w h e n the stylus is set in the groove, in order for it to accurately retrace the
action of the cutting m e c h a n i s m at the time of the d i s c ' s manufacture.
Conventional tonearm manufacturers instruct the user to raise or lower the arm
base s u c h that the tube is parallel w i t h the d i s c ' s surface w h e n the stylus is set
in the groove. T h i s procedure is unsatisfactory for a number of reasons.
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