Brinkmann Tonearm 10.5 & 12.1
The 10.5 is considered one of the best tonearms in the world and is used as a reference (and highly recommended) by magazines and reviewers alike throughout the world.
The 10.5 is a true all around tonearm.
With a dynamic mass of 12 grams, it works well with any modern cartridge; and with 10.5” length, it is still short enough for most turntables designed for 9-inch arms, yet also long enough for 12-inch arm bases.
For optimum resonance control and high torsional stability, the 10.5 is made from aluminum and stainless steel; a high tech synthetic material is also used.
For the same reasons, the headshell is nondetachable and the surface of the arm tube has also been treated with special anodising.
A double gimballed suspension, with precision ball bearings free of play, ensures precise and frictionless tracking.
The vertical downforce and the dynamic mass can be adjusted over a wide range thanks to the split collar counterweight.
Skating is compensated for without any contact by magnetic force.
Because simply put, the better a tonearm works, the more you’ll hear what has been cut into the vinyl: music!
The 10.5 features an infinitely variable Azimuth adjustment.
A small clamping screw from under the arm tube holds the headshell in position.
The headshell can be rotated by about ± 5° after untightening this screw.
A precision-made plastic part mounted instead of the cartridge allows for aligning the headshell parallel to the platter or record surface.
Tonearm 12.1
By definition, when tracking a record with a pivoted tonearm, the cantilever is aligned perfectly perpendicular to the groove in only two instances.
The longer the tonearm, the smaller the offset error will be between these two instances, resulting in lower distortion.
This explains why LPs tracked with the 12.1-inch long tonearm sound just a tad more poised, relaxed and natural.
By the way: The 12.1 is not just a 10.5 with a longer armtube.
Since a longer arm tube offers lower torsional stability and is more prone to resonances, they had to implement quite a few structural changes.
Brinkmann Tonearm 10.5 & 12.1, are proud of the fact that you will probably not notice any them at first sight, and even more proud of the fact that the 12.1 sounds even better than the 10.5
| Brinkmann 12.1 | Specifications |
| Distance platter center to tonearm bearing center | 292 mm |
| Effective length | 305.6 mm |
| Overhang | 13.6 mm |
| Cartridge mount | 1/2” connector, long holes |
| Minimum distance between mounting surface and platter top | 25 mm |
| Mounting depth | 30 mm |
| Cartridge weight | min. 4, max. 16 g |
| Dynamic mass | ca. 14 g |
| Total weight | ca. 350 g |
| Counterweight | 200 g |
| Scope of delivery | tonearm with flying leads (unterminated), tools |
| Options | tonearm with standard 5-pin connector (SME type) |
| Brinkmann 10.5 | Specifications |
| Distance platter center to tonearm bearing center | 244 mm |
| Effective length | 259.8 mm |
| Overhang | 15.8 mm |
| Cartridge mount | 1/2” connector, long holes |
| Minimum distance between mounting surface and platter top | 25 mm |
| Mounting depth | 30 mm |
| Cartridge weight | min. 4, max. 16 g |
| Dynamic mass | ca. 12 g |
| Total weight | ca. 300 g |
| Counterweight | 180 g |
| Scope of delivery | tonearm with flying leads (unterminated), tools |
| Options | tonearm with standard 5-pin connector (SME type) |
