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Schroeder Tonearms


Welcome to our Schroeder Tonearm page.

The Schroeder Tonearm is one of those rare audio products which has achieved classic status - before it has gone out of production. The demand for Frank Schroeder's creations however far outstrips the capabilities of a single craftsman to meet.

To produce a tonearm consistent with the quality standards of someone trained in the watch making profession (his previous craft), Frank controls every step in a tonearm's production. You are purchasing an item which is made one at a time, and not on an assembly line. A little bit of Frank goes into every Schroeder tonearm.

Taken in the context of a lifetime investment in musical enjoyment, your wait for your Schroeder is insignificant and will be well rewarded. We discuss this in detail on our Schroeder FAQs page.

As your Schroeder tonearm source, we can work with you to deliver a turntable in advance of your Schroeder. Talk to us if an interim tonearm presents your only barrier to owning the finest.

Frank Schroeder's innovative solutions to tonearm design may lead you to the false conclusion that this is a tweaker's tonearm which is difficult to set up. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We address this and other questions on our Schroeder FAQs page.

Schroeders are for music lovers and knowledgeable audiophiles. These designs once and for all render irrelevant the endless arguments of musicality vs. accuracy.

Models are primarily distinguished by their bearing, arm wand, and headshell construction. Click on the photos at the right for close-up comparisons between the models. At the bottom of this page, we have compiled a comparison chart to further aid in your understanding.



Bearing Photos

Bearing Details

(click on photo for more pictures)


Headshell and Arm Wand Photos

Headshell /Arm Wand Details
and Arm Wand Choices

(click on photo for more pictures)







Reference

Reference

(click on photo for more views)

Reference SQ

Reference SQ - Matching Bearing Tower Sleeve shown

(click on photo for finishing examples)

Reference

The Reference model is an expression of everything Frank Schroeder has learned about the Science and Art of making tonearms.

It is highly adjustable and comes in a variety of arm wand materials, ensuring perfect compatibility with any phono cartridge.

Effective mass is tailored to your specifications - ranging from 5 - 50 grams, with wand lengths available from 8.5" to 12"

It can be further customized with various finishing options, some of which are shown in the photo at the left.

Features

For a detailed model comparison, scroll to bottom of this page, or click here.
  • Choice of arm wand materials and length (carbon fiber, jacaranda, tiger wood, ebony, bocote, etc.) - click here for photos
    1. Effective length from 8.5" to 12"
    2. Effective mass range 5gr – 50gr
  • Two cartridge carriers included (1-aluminum, 1-brass) - to adjust effective mass for extended cartridge compatibility
  • Bearing Magnets: N-50 neodymium (stronger than DPS) resulting in a more authoritative presentation.
  • Wiring - continuous run of proprietary solid-core copper from cartridge clips to male RCA Plugs. See options, below.
  • Termination - Eichman Bullet Plugs (male RCA) or optional female RCAs on hardwood mounting plate.

Options:

  • Fine knurled screw adjustment of VTF (vertical tracking force) - no charge
  • Wiring - Nordost ($300). Standard (no charge) is choice of proprietary solid core copper or Incognito.
  • Finishing options - inquire (click photo at left for examples)

Reference SQ

The Reference SQ option package includes the following additional features:

  • Bearing Magnets - N-52 neodymium (stronger magnetic circuit replaces N-50 in Reference) - resulting in more authoritative presentation
  • Bearing Magnets - machined with mating curved surfaces, resulting in zero tracking force change when adjusting VTA
  • Wood sleeve replaces bronze bearing tower
  • Nordost wiring
  • Silver Eichman Bullet Plugs (RCA's)
  • Silver cartridge clips







DPS


3/4 View

Bearing

DPS

(click on any photo for more pictures)





DPS

The DPS has replaced the Model-1 in the product line. This tonearm more closely approaches the performance of the Reference, at a price closer to that of the discontinued Model-1.

To achieve these design goals, the bearing tower design was adapted - sacrificing a bit of ease of adjustment in order to achieve these sonic goals.

Features

For a detailed model comparison, scroll to bottom of this page, or click here.
  • Two arm wand choices (effective length = 239mm, pivot to spindle = 222mm) -
    click here for photos:
    1. bocote (12 gram effective mass)
    2. jacaranda (15 gram effective mass)
  • Two cartridge carriers included (1-aluminum, 1-brass) - to adjust effective mass for extended cartridge compatibility
  • Bearing Magnets almost as strong as the Reference.
  • Wiring - continuous run of proprietary solid-core copper from cartridge clips to male RCA Plugs. Incognito also available.
  • Termination - Eichman Bullet Plugs (male RCA) or optional female RCAs on hardwood mounting plate.
  • Mounting pattern - one bolt pattern, compatible with Model-2.


Options:

  • Fine knurled screw adjustment of VTF (vertical tracking force) - no charge

    • Note: Azimuth fine adjust is not available on the DPS.






Model-2



Model-2


Model-2

Model-2

(click on any photo for more pictures)


Model-2

The Model-2 was designed to compete sonically with tonearms twice its price. To reach this more affordable price point, some ease of adjustment was sacrificed along with arm wand selection and other options.

Features

For a detailed model comparison, scroll to bottom of this page, or click here.
  • Arm wand material - Carbon Fiber standard or optional Pertinax (resin impregnated paper - see below).

    Both materials have a constrained layer damping construction. The Pertinax looks more like wood and has none of the carbon fiber's sonic signature - bringing it closer to the wooden wands in this respect.


  • Effective length - 239mm (222mm pivot to spindle)
  • Effective mass - 12 g. - compatible with most popular moving coil cartridges
    (mass range is extendable with optional brass cartridge carrier)
  • Wiring - continuous run of proprietary solid-core copper from cartridge clips to male RCA Plugs. Incognito also available.
  • Termination - Eichman Bullet Plugs (male RCA) or optional female RCAs on hardwood mounting plate.
  • Mounting pattern - one bolt pattern, compatible with DPS.



Options:

  1. Extra cartridge carrier (brass) to extend cartridge compatibility range - $50.00
  2. VTF Fine Adjust (knurled screw on end of arm stub) - $50.00
  3. Pertinax arm wand - $100.00






Model-1



Model-1


Model-1

Model-1

(click on any photo for more pictures)


Model-1 - Special Order

Note: The Model-1 has been replaced by the DPS model. It is currently available only by special order.

Features

For a detailed model comparison, scroll to bottom of this page, or click here.
  • Choice of arm wand materials - carbon fiber or wood (jacaranda, ebony, acacia, bamboo, pertinax etc.).
  • Choice of effective length - 8.5" to 12".
  • Effective mass range 5gr – 35gr.
  • Interchangeable arm wands.
  • Wiring - continuous run of Incognito from cartridge clips to RCA connectors.

Bearing:

  • dual thread, torsion - magnetically stabilized and damped via eddy currents.
  • virtually no bearing friction or "chatter".

Adjustment:

  • VTA - fine and repeatable screw adjustment (can return to previous setting).
  • Azimuth - coarse adjustment by rotating counterweight.
  • VTF (vertical tracking force) - coarse adjustment by moving counterweight (set screw lock).




Comparison Chart


Reference


DPS


Model-2



Headshell and Arm Wand Photos

Arm Wands
Effective length: 8.5" to 12"


Materials (eff. mass 5-50 grams)
  • Bamboo
  • Bocote
  • Jacaranda
  • Tiger Wood
  • Ebony
  • More sample photos and woods to follow ...

Supplied with second cartridge carrier (brass) which adds 5 grams to effective mass.

Reference SQ Bearing Tower

  • Wood sleeve replaces bronze bearing tower (see photo, above).
Effective length: 239 mm (222 mm pivot to spindle)

Materials:
  • Bocote (12 grams)
  • Jacaranda (15 grams)






Supplied with second cartridge carrier (brass) which adds 5 grams to effective mass.
Effective length: 239 mm (222 mm pivot to spindle)

Materials:
  • Carbon Fiber (12 grams)
  • Pertinax (12 grams)






Optional brass cartridge carrier available which adds 5 grams to effective mass.

Bearing Photos

Magnets and Bearing

Reference Bearing

  • N-50 magnets (more authoritative presentation than DPS)
  • Single thread, torsion - magnetically stabilized and damped via eddy currents
  • Virtually no bearing friction or chatter

Reference SQ Bearing

  • N-52 magnets (stronger magnetic circuit than N-50 in Reference) - resulting in more authoritative presentation
  • Bearing magnets machined with mating curvewd surfaces, resulting in zero tracking force change when adjusting VTA

  • Stronger magnets (more authoritative presentation than Model-2)
  • Single thread, torsion - magnetically stabilized and damped via eddy currents
  • Virtually no bearing friction or chatter

  • Neodymium magnets
  • Single thread, torsion - magnetically stabilized and damped via eddy currents
  • Virtually no bearing friction or chatter

VTA Adjustment
Fine and repeatable screw adjustment (can return to previous setting).
Sliding post with locking set screw
Sliding post with locking set screw

Azimuth Adjustment
Rotating eccentric counterweight

Fine adjustment via brass screw in counterweight
Rotating eccentric counterweight
Rotating eccentric counterweight

Vertical Tracking Force (VTF) Adjustment
Sliding (locking) counterweight

Fine adjustment via optional knurled wheel on counterweight (no extra charge)
Sliding (locking) counterweight

Fine adjustment via optional knurled wheel on counterweight (no extra charge)
Sliding (locking) counterweight

Fine adjustment via knurled wheel end of arm stub

Antiskating Adjustment
Fine and easily repeatable using rotating dial on top of bearing tower
Fine and easily repeatable using rotating dial on top of bearing tower
Fine and easily repeatable using rotating dial on top of bearing tower

Damping Adjustment
Fine and easily repeatable by changing magnet spacing (can also add silicone).
Fine and easily repeatable by changing magnet spacing
Fine and easily repeatable by changing magnet spacing

Wiring and Termination

Reference

Wiring - continuous run of proprietary solid-core copper from cartridge clips to male RCA plugs.

Incognito available, and Nordost is available for extra charge.

Termination - Eichman Bullet Plugs (male RCA) is standard. Female RCA termination on hardwood mounting plate - optional at no charge.

Reference SQ

  • Nordost wiring standard
  • Silver Eichman Bullet Plugs (RCA's)
  • Silver cartridge clips

Wiring - continuous run of proprietary solid-core copper from cartridge clips to male RCA plugs.

Incognito is also available.

Termination - Eichman Bullet Plugs (male RCA) is standard. Female RCA termination on hardwood mounting plate - optional at no charge.

Wiring - continuous run of proprietary solid-core copper from cartridge clips to male RCA plugs.

Incognito is also available.

Termination - Eichman Bullet Plugs (male RCA) is standard. Female RCA termination on hardwood mounting plate - optional at no charge.





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