Technics EPA-100 Tonearm
Universal Tonearm Developed to Address the Major Challenge of Low-Frequency Resonance Damping in Pickup Systems
This universal tonearm incorporates a damping mechanism with variable dynamic damping control, which effectively suppresses low-frequency resonance across a wide range of compliance types, from high-compliance to low-compliance cartridges, bringing out the best characteristics of the cartridge.
The main weight is supported on one side by a spring and, on the other side, it floats due to the magnetic attraction between two magnets positioned at the rear of the weight and the damping selector. The resonance of this weight is damped by viscous silicone oil and a damping cylinder, effectively controlling the overall resonance of the pickup system and successfully reducing resonance to less than half of traditional systems.
Depending on the compliance of the cartridge, the damping frequency of the main weight can be adjusted via the damping selector at the rear of the main weight, allowing the damping force to be set to the optimal value.
The tonearm pipe, with an outer diameter of 9.5mm and a wall thickness of 0.5mm, is made of titanium that has been further hardened by nitrogen treatment to create a titanium nitride pipe. This material is not only lightweight but also boasts significantly higher mechanical strength, approximately 1.6 times that of conventional aluminum pipes, while reducing weight by 85%. This results in greater internal damping.
For the support structure of the tonearm, a gimbal suspension system is used for both horizontal and vertical rotation parts, incorporating high-precision pivot bearings made in-house. The horizontal and vertical rotation axes intersect at a single point, minimizing initial motion sensitivity and differences in sensitivity across any rotational direction.
The rubies used for the bearings, with a friction coefficient approximately one-third that of steel, are finished into perfect spheres with a roundness of ±0.5μ, with 20 stones used in total. Combined with the gimbal suspension system, this achieves an initial motion sensitivity of 5mg, offering exceptional sensitivity.
A dedicated balance weight is available separately.