Ortofon Reference AS-212R 9″ Tonearm

Description

We are pleased to be offering Ortofon’s new Reference AS-212R 9″ tonearm, as well as the longer 12″ AS-309variant.  Keen vinyl enthusiasts will know that Ortofon used to offer the TA-110 9″ and TA-210 12″ tonearms, which were made in Japan for Ortofon by Jelco; in fact these arms were heavily re-worked versions of the entry-level Jelco SA-250.  Several years ago, Jelco ceased trading, so those old arms became unavailable.  Ortofon have now started making these new Reference tonearms in Japan, in the spirit of those old arms, but actually to a much higher standard of quality and engineering.

A prime example of how Danish design philosophy and Japanese craftsmanship can produce a truly exceptional product

Since 1953, Ortofon has been designing tonearms with the philosophy of combining craftsmanship and technology. The Reference tonearm is the culmination of decades of experience and expertise in the field of audio engineering. It upgrades the great build of the AS-212 and AS-309, combining exquisite design, precision manufacturing, and attention to detail, resulting in a beautifully designed tonearm that delivers outstanding performance.

In the words of Leif Johannsen, Ortofon’s Chief Officer of Acoustics and Research, “I am delighted to reintroduce a tonearm to our line-up, especially since it’s with the Reference inspired by our classic tonearms. Our exceptional cartridges demand an equally outstanding tonearm, and the Reference delivers exactly that. And I must admit that I am experiencing a whole new level with the new tonearms compared to our previous series.”

Precision Level

Each component of the Reference tonearm is designed with high mechanical precision and advanced engineering, ensuring that it will move smoothly and accurately across the record surface. The improved high grade bearings ae meticulously crafted to provide smooth and accurate movement of the tonearm as it tracks the grooves of the record. This precise movement ensures the stylus stays aligned with the grooves, minimizing distortion and providing excellent audio quality. The look and feel of the mat finished alloy surface provide a tactile feel, enhancing the premium experience.

User-Friendly Design

Based on well-known Ortofon technology, the tonearm is designed to be simple to install and operate with intuitive controls that make it easy to adjust settings and achieve the perfect sound.  The tonearm is statically balanced, simplifying needle pressure adjustment by setting the weight and an easy-to-set anti-skating feature. Furthermore, the tonearm is built to fulfill Baerwald alignment resulting in minimum tracking error.  The AS-309R is a 12-inch tonearm and is also available in 9 inches as the AS-212R.

Compatibility

The Reference Tonearm is a highly versatile accessory designed to cater to the needs of many turntable owners. It is available in two lengths, 9 and 12 inches, and can be adjusted in height to fit a wide range of turntable models. The tonearm is a great option for vinyl lovers who wish to change between different setups. It is equipped with a universal connector made of brass, making it easy to match and connect with cartridges mounted on different headshells, offering maximum flexibility and compatibility with your existing setup.

The AS-212R follows Baerwald geometry with mounting distance of 214mm which is identical to the latter Jelco 9″ tonearms.  This means that the AS-212R is fully compatible with our Ammonite Audio Improved Jelco Mounting Collar and with our collar it becomes a direct drop-in replacement for a 9″ Jelco tonearm, where the turntable armboard is already cut for those arms.

The 5-pin DIN tonearm connector ensures you can use a broad range of tonearm cables, making the Reference Tonearm even more versatile and user-friendly.  Moreover, each tonearm comes with the premium Ortofon 6NX-TSW-1010 Tonearm cable (worth £250) and includes two counterweight options, allowing it to fit a wide range of cartridges from the Ortofon Concorde Series to the SPU Series, including all cartridges mounted on a suitable headshell, providing adaptability and versatility to meet your specific needs.  Please note that no headshell is provided, but Ammonite Audio has a range of compatible headshells.

The AS-212R fits extremely well on a Technics SL-1200 turntable, using our Ammonite Audio SL-1200 armboard, with Jelco centre plate.  Here it is fitted to our own SL-1200GR:

What We Think of the AS-212R

The AS-212R was very quickly and easily fitted to our Technics SL-1200GR turntable, using an Ammonite Audio Jelco armboard, and Ammonite Audio Jelco Mounting Collar (fully compatible with the new Ortofon arms) and the Ortofon SPU#1S cartridge shown in the picture above.  The tonearm is physically heavier and more robust than it appears in the pictures, but at 7g effective mass it’s definitely a relatively light arm.  Balancing the arm out level showed that the bearings are astonishingly free-running, with really low friction – we did not measure that but we would not be surprised if horizontal and vertical sensitivity is as low as 10µg, matching the very best arms.  The headshell collet turns freely and grips the cartridge/headshell easily and with great security, as you might expect from an arm costing approaching £3k.  Anti-skating is easily applied uisng the rotary knob, which is uncalibrated – we like that since the user has to engage brain and preferably adjust anti-skating by ear, but there are guidelines in the manual.  Two counterweights are provided, with the larger one being necessary for heavy cartridges like SPUs.  Overall, the arm is unfussy, and well thought out in terms of adjustments and use.

Connected up to our reference system (Phasemation EA-350 phono amplifier, Naim SuperNait3, KEF LS50 Meta speakers), the new AS-212R with entry-level Ortofon SPU#1S cartridge immediately grabbed our attention with a really rather lovely mid band, combined with an authoritative and well controlled bass character that we did not expect from such a low effective mass arm.  Sonically, it is extremely well balanced with a clear and confident voice that made the SPU#1S sound much more expensive than it is.  Musical is an oft-derided term in audiophile circles but this arm, with the SPU, does play music in a most engaging manner, which is not always the case with every tonearm!

Overall, the AS-212R delivers a vibrant, confident and articulate sound that transcends its undramatic looks.  This tonearm looks quite expensive until you hear it, and then it all makes sense.

AS-212R 9″ Tonearm Technical Data