Historical Product

Ortofon TA-210 12"
static-balance tonearm

The Ortofon TA-210 tonearm has gone to the next level by reducing unwanted vibrations in the tonearm.

Extra mass ring for heavier cartridge-and-headshell combinations

Extra mass ring

The extra mass ring may need to be attached to achieve proper tracking force.

The counterweight should be attached onto the rear of the tonearm with the inner number scale facing forward. If the extra mass ring is needed, it must be installed prior to attaching the counterweight to the tonearm. 

The extra mass ring should be installed on the back of the counterweight and may need to be twisted slightly to facilitate the installation.

Ensure that the extra mass ring fits tightly to the thick part of the counterweight.

Compatibility

TA-210 is a product with great benefits for the discerning analog use and can ideally be combined with the MC Windfeld TiMC A95SPU Series and the Ortofon Xpression. For SPU Series the extra mass ring may need to be attached to achieve proper tracking force.

The combination of Xpression, the ST-80 SE Moving Coil transformer and the TA-210 gives a supreme experience!

The high-end headshell LH-10000, incorporating damping technology similar to the TA-110/210 tonearms, will be a perfect interface between the tonearms and the Ortofon Cadenza Series,  MC Windfeld Ti  and MC A95.

The effect of the rubber and TPE damping properties

The TA-210 is given a precision machined slit in each end of the aluminum tube. A piece of Ortofon special vibration damping compound is integrated into each slit:

• Rubber insert with high vibration damping properties integrated in the bottom slit of the armtube

• Special proprietary TPE compound with excellent damping properties integrated in the top slit of the armtube

Due to these two different materials an extended damping effect is obtained in the largest possible range. Both inserts integrated in the tonearm tube are manufactured at the Ortofon technical facilities in Nakskov, Denmark.

TA-210 armtube is a less stressed than TA-110 and a lot less stressed than conventional armtubes due to the Technical rubber and TPE excellent damping properties.

TA-210 Vibration measurement


The armtube was mounted on the Brüel & Kjær Mini Shaker 4810, which was fed with a wideband pink noise signal. The vibration level was measured with a miniature Brüel & Kjær Accelerometer 4374 and a spectrum analyzer set to 1/3-octave resolution.



When taking the measurement uncertainty into consideration, the two armtubes show almost equal vibration levels, apart from the interval 1kHz to 4kHz (upper midrange/lower treble).



As it is well known from the Fletcher-Munson curves, this is the interval where the ear is most sensitive, and this interval is also very important for a high quality music reproduction.


The effect of the rubber/TPE damping properties is evident from the Vibration Measurement chart on the left.

Review quote TA-210

Hi-Fi World December 2012,
By Rafael Todes

Features

  •  TA-210 is a static balanced gimbal type arm, easy to use and adjust for optimal VTF settings
  • TA-210 has a standard 5-pin DIN connector for tonearm cable
  • The tonearm geometry allows for a Baerwald alignment (also the IEC recommendations)
  • Counterweight with Inner/outer scale
       - Inner scale to be applied with main counterweight
       - Outer scale to be applied when extra mass ring is added
  • Counterweight will work with headshell+cartridge mass approximately in the range 20 to 28g
  • TA-210 is fitted with a standard headshell connector and can easily be adjusted in accordance with the included mounting template
  • Extra mass ring for heavier cartridge and headshell combinations included (the extra mass ring may need to be attached to achieve proper tracking force)
  • Extra mass ring weight 45g

TA-210 Technical data

  • Effective mass without headshell: 5 g
  • Effective armlength (distance between the stylus and pivot point): 329.0 mm
  • Mounting distance (distance between the pivot point and turntable center): 316.6 mm
  • Offset angle: 16.5 degrees
  • Overhang: 12.4 mm
  • Tracking force adjusting range direct reading: 0-3 g
  • Tracking force adjusting range with extra mass ring mounted: 0-4 g
  • Height adjustment range: 35-55 mm
  • Diameter of the armbase mounting hole: 19-20 mm
  • Diameter of the center shaft of tonearm: 18.0 mm
  • Inner null point: 66 mm
  • Outer null point: 120.9 mm
  • Counterweight for cartridge + headshell mass between 21 and 28g includedHeadshell LH-2000E included, weight: 15.5 g
  • TA-210 total weight including headshell: 536 g
  • Set of tonearm cables 6NX-TSW-1010 included
  • Extra mass ring for heavier cartridges included, weight: 45 g