Glossary · Turntables
Tonearm
The pivoting arm that carries the cartridge.
The tonearm holds the cartridge at the correct geometry and lets it trace the groove with minimal friction and resonance. Effective mass, bearing quality and adjustability (VTA, anti-skate, azimuth) define how well it partners a given cartridge.
Terms on the same stage
Tracking Force (VTF)
The downward weight the stylus presses into the groove, in grams.
Anti-Skate
Force that counters the tonearm’s inward pull toward the spindle.
VTA
Vertical tracking angle — the tonearm’s height at the pivot.
Azimuth
The vertical, side-to-side alignment of the stylus in the groove.
Overhang
How far the stylus sits past the spindle when swung over.
Null Point
The two radii where a pivoted arm has zero tracking error.
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