KOSMIC Tonearm

KOSMIC Tonearm shown mounted to a Hanss T-60 turntable

The KOSMIC Tonearm is a collaboration between AudioMods in the UK and KOSMIC to create one of the worlds finest tonearms at the lowest possible cost. KOSMIC builds on the outstanding AudioMods rebuilt Rega arm tube and takes it to the next level. The KOSMIC arm is exclusive to the North American market. Each arm is hand made and built to order utilizing high precision machine work in small quantities. It is not just another mass produced product with OK tolerances. No, on the contrary, it is a high precision arm including accessories for optimizing the performance of your phono cartridge.

Cartridge/Tonearm Optimization

Music information is cut into the record in the form of a side-to-side modulating groove. Low frequency modulations can be quite large in size. So if low frequency modulations were not reduced in size, there would not be sufficient playing time on a typical record. So a form of equalization is designed into records to reduce the amplitude and therefore the size of low frequencies, while the mid and high frequencies are unchanged. This is called RIAA equalization. Since the low frequency modulations are smaller, more playing time is available on each record. In order to playback records then you must use a phono preamp which includes the reverse RIAA equalization on playback. Why is this important to know? The reverse RIAA EQ amplifies the low frequency portion of the signal on playback so it back to it's original recorded level. So any low frequency distortion is greatly amplified also. That is why turntable rumble, low frequency feedback due to footfalls on a suspended wood floor and even local vehicle traffic can have a significant impact on sound quality.

Due to the wide range of arm masses and cartridge mass/compliance combinations, you are lucky to get optimum performance. Most arm/cartridge combinations are a compromise at best. The importance of optimizing the cartridge and arm should not be taken lightly. Because the cartridge and arm are a system, there is only one ideal tonearm effective mass for each cartridge. We shoot for a tonearm/cartridge resonance of 10Hz which we feel is ideal, it is above a tables rumble characteristics but below the audible range. Therefore, each KOSMIC arm Effective Mass and counterweight are calibrated to match your cartridge mass an compliance.

For example, If the KOSMIC arm is optimized for the Lyra Titan i cartridge, the Effective arm mass is 9.5g (including the headshell pins) and the counterweight is 135g (including the micro-adjustment weight).

In addition, a second counterweight and two headshell weights are provided for future flexibility. If the supplied counterweights or headshell weights are not optimal for any future cartridge, other masses are available.

Cartridge/Tonearm Interface

Some of the best sounding phono cartridges available today are moving coil designs with very low output, some with output lower than 0.2mv. The KOSMIC tonearm is designed to get the most out of low output moving coil cartridges which require arms with ultra low resonance, friction free bearings and mechanical stability.

The ultra low voltage sent to the phono preamp is generated by coils moving in a magnetic field. The coils sensitivity to movement (vibration) boggles the mind. Movement of a fraction of a micron (millionths of an inch) are easily resolved. However, the phono cartridge does not know the difference between the intended vibrations created by the record groove modulations and unwanted vibrations created by reflections from the cartridge itself and other vibrations from feedback. So resonance control is a key aspect of the KOSMIC arm. The goal is to provide a mechanical ground path away from the cartridge so that vibration and resonance traveling away from the cartridge is not reflected back to the cartridge from the cartridge/tonearm interface.

Balanced Design

Moving coil phono cartridges are inherently balanced. To get the maximum signal to noise ratio, we recommend balanced operation if your phono preamp has that option. Due to the implementation of the single cable design the KOSMIC arm can be used for single ended (unbalanced) RCA connection or balanced XLR or balanced RCA connection.

Unlike typical arms which use coaxial cables for unbalanced connection as illustrated above, the KOSMIC arm is wired like the balanced connection in the illustration. With the KOSMIC arm fitted with RCA connectors, the left and right shields are connected to the ground wire. So in addition to unbalanced connection, the RCA connectors can be used with phono preamps that can operate in balanced mode using RCA connectors such as the ASR Basis Exclusive phono preamp.

Pure 5N SILVER from input-to-output

Due to the very low output of most high quality moving coil cartridges, the wire and connectors used have a tremendous impact on the sound of the arm. Simply put, the fewer the connectors, the better. As long as the wire is shielded properly for EMI and RFI, the shortest, highest quality cable with the fewest connections usually sound the best. Separate phono cables add flexibility, however, they are less likely to sound as good as the singe wire approach for the cost.

The standard arm includes a continuous pure 5N SILVER 7-strand Litz wire from the head shell clips to the connectors. The head shell clips are sourced from JA Mitchell and are machined from nonmagnetic solid brass billets, then electroplated with pure SILVER for superior conductivity. The cartridge pin entrance hole has a spring loaded easy-entrance chamfer, with a raised, contact area for better pin contact. And has an integral solder barrier to prevent solder wicking to the cartridge pin side, and a gas exit hole to allow for void-free soldering. Single ended connectors are 5N SILVER Oyaide SLSC RCA connectors. Balanced cables use Oyaide FOCUS 1 reference XLR connectors with SILVER/RHODIUM plated pins. The cables and connectors act as an almost continuous single 5N SILVER conduit for maximum signal transfer.

Cryogenic Treatment

The KOSMIC arm also feature deep cryogenic treatment for the arm tube, arm yoke, cartridge tags, phono plugs and signal wires. After all of the machining operations on the arm, the die-cast arm tube will benefit from the stress relief the treatment gives and the improvements to the wiring are well known. We've been careful to select only those parts that will actually benefit from the treatment. It’s an expensive and lengthy process but a detail that is worth doing when we are looking for the ultimate performance.

Value

We have done our best to keep the price as low as possible, but without compromise. The results speak for itself and must be heard to believed. The KOSMIC arm competes sonically with cost-no-object tonearms from SME, Linn, Graham, and others at a fraction of the price.

Features

• Inert Tonearm is high tensile strength cast aluminum alloy, drilled and cross-braced to control arm resonance.

• Isolated Bearing Assembly machined from solid aluminum and decoupled from arm tube and outer base.

• Ultimate Bearings are ULTRA HIGH PRECISION ABEC9 Ceramic hybrids (the worlds highest quality available).

• Damped Counterweight ultilizes constrained layer damping construction to absorbs energy. Includes secondary fine adjustment weight for accurate tracking force adjustment.

• Quadrant Antiskate mechanism allows fine adjustment and the unique design allows variable force from outside to inside of record.

• VTA On-the-fly utilizes a Micrometer for adjustment that can be adjusted while playing back music and a bubble balance at the pivot point indicates level and allows fast adjustment of VTA without looking at micrometer scale.

• VTA Locking Screw is rotated by hand and does not require a tool. Allowing fast lockdown for optimal performance.

• Continuous Balanced Cable design with pure 5N SILVER 7-strand Litz wire from the JA Mitchell SILVER plated head shell clips to the Oyaide connectors. 1 meter shielded cable extends from base of arm as standard.

• Rega Mount Compatible. The KOSMIC tonearm is a straight drop-in replacement for Rega originals, using the same geometry and set-up measurements.

Options

• RCA Connectors: Single or Balanced ended connection uses 5N SILVER Oyaide SLSC RCA connectors

• XLR Connectors: Balanced connection uses SILVER/RHODIUM Oyaide FOCUS 1 reference XLR connectors

• Optional 5-Pin DIN connection at base of arm, and cable with 5-Pin DIN connection not included

Because the micrometer adds over 100g to the arm weight, it may not be suitable for lightweight suspended decks.

Specifications and pricing subject to change at any time without notice.