Reed 5T Tangential-Pivot Tonearm

Reed 5T is our first appearance in the tangential tonearm domain. Featuring unique design, innovative technological solutions and high quality, and dedicated to a true audio passionate, it is one of the most advanced tonearms we have ever made.

Reed 5T technically is a battery operated tangentially tracking pivoted tonearm. It’s working principle is based on Thales’ theorem (if the center of a triangle’s circumcircle lies on the triangle then the triangle is right, and the center of its circumcircle lies on its hypotenuse) and the rule, that given three non-collinear points, it is possible to draw only one circle that has finite radius and passes through all three. (Fig. 1)

Figure 1

• P1, O1, P3 – Thales’ semicircle,
• Angles P1-A1-P3, P1-A2-P3, P1-A3-P3 are 90 degrees each,
• Segments A1B1 = A2B2= A3B3 represent length of a tonearm,
• B – Tonearm vertical axis,
• P2 represents a center of circle, drawn through three points – B1,B2 and B3 (tonearm rotation axis),
• P3 – Linear Sensor Array,
• BP3 – Laser beam.

Arm tube suspension system is similar to one used in Reed 2G tonearm, and the tonearm’s turning part is based on low noise thrust-sleeve bearing. For angular rotation of tonearm we designed and built limited rotation sectional torque motor. Tonearm’s position is controlled by laser and linear sensor array.

Reed 5T has user-replaceable arm tube – feature, which allows to change tonearm’s effective mass yourself. Tonearm also has VTA and azimuth adjustments.

Reed 5T has following advantages if compared with pivot tonearms:

• Smaller moment of inertia,
• No need for anti-skating mechanism,
• Max tracking error is +/- 5 Minute of Angle (MOA). (Figure 2). Pivot tonearms usually have max tracking errors up to 1.5 deg.

Figure 2

Reed 5T’s advantages compared to other tangential tonearms:

• Few times smaller moment of inertia,
• No need for complicated additional devices (air compressor),
• Compact and sleek design.
• Effective mass in both vertical and horizontal directions is similar

SPECIFICATIONS

SAMPLES OF FINISH

Seashell white                                                                            Gold matte

Black

ARMWAND WOOD SAMPLES

 Wenge                                                                                             Macassar Ebony

Cocobolo                                                                                           Teak light

Teak dark

Approximate effective mass of Reed tonearm in grams. Armwand’s effective mass can be adapted to customer’s needs in a range of 8-18 grams.

REVIEW

Reed Muse 1C turntable and Reed 5T tonearm review in Stereo-Video magazine (Czech Republic). Read here in Czech...

User manual