ARO vs SME Series V-12
The Series V-12's effective mass is 12 g against the ARO's 11 g and its effective length 308.8 mm against 290 mm.
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Estimated price (community-sourced)
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The Naim ARO is a unipivot tonearm with an overall length of 11.42 inches (290mm) and an effective length of 9.055 inches (230mm). It has a pivot center to platter center distance of approximately 8.37 inches (212.5mm) and an overhang of 0.75 inches (18mm). The tonearm has an effective mass of 11 grams and supports an optimal cartridge weight range of 5.5 to 12 grams using the standard counterweight, with other versions available. Cartridge mounting height ranges from 1.6 to 2.2 inches (40-55mm). The ARO is engineered to provide precise and delicate support at audio frequencies with freedom of movement outside them, allowing for excellent tracking and sound reproduction. It is highly regarded for its smooth, euphonic presentation and excels in rendering delicate sounds such as cymbals, acoustic guitars, and vocals. The arm was originally designed and manufactured by Naim Audio Ltd. in the UK and has been used extensively with the Linn LP12 turntable. A next-generation version of the ARO tonearm was introduced as part of the Naim Solstice Special Edition package, featuring improved materials including tungsten and carbon-fiber, and enhanced bias, arm height, and azimuth adjustments. The original ARO tonearm was The Solstice Special Edition package, which includes the updated ARO tonearm, was priced significantly higher as a complete system.
Tonearm specifications
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions
Components that show up alongside the ARO in real systems. A verdict means the pair has been checked for compatibility and headroom — open it to see how the two get along.
The closest alternatives on specs, description and the systems they turn up in, with the specs they share set side by side.
The Series V-12's effective mass is 12 g against the ARO's 11 g and its effective length 308.8 mm against 290 mm.
The 12.1's effective mass is 14 g against the ARO's 11 g and its effective length 305.6 mm against 290 mm.
The 10.5's effective mass is 12 g against the ARO's 11 g and its effective length 259.8 mm against 290 mm.
The Raven 10.5's effective mass is 14 g against the ARO's 11 g and its effective length 267 mm against 290 mm.
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