12J2

About the 12J2

The AMG 12J2 tonearm, introduced in 2012, is a high-precision 12-inch tonearm designed with AMG's patented dual-pivot bearing technology, inspired by helicopter rotor head bearings. It uses two 0.5 mm thick spring steel wires for vertical bearing, allowing fine azimuth adjustment while eliminating bearing play. The horizontal axle is a hardened tool steel shaft with a backlash-free needle roller bearing, making it extremely precise and maintenance-free. The arm tube is made from aircraft-grade anodized aluminum optimized for resonance control, with an effective mass of approximately 12 grams. The counterweight is a two-piece design with a Teflon decoupled sleeve for optimal force/mass distribution and vibrational isolation. Internal wiring consists of multiple gauges of high-quality copper with a special winding pattern to cancel magnetic resonances, ensuring high acoustic transparency. The tonearm features a highly accurate adjustable magnetic anti-skating system, a precision locking VTA adjustment with integrated bubble level, and precise azimuth adjustment at the bearing for optimal channel performance. The armboard is machined solid aluminum with bayonet mount and overhang calibration, pre-cut for AMG and Graham mounts. Overall, the 12J2 offers balanced and powerful sonic performance with excellent spatial depth and dynamics across the audio spectrum, suitable for a wide range of phonograph cartridges.