Artemiz Tonearm

Introduced in 1987, the Roksan Artemiz tonearm was designed to complement the brand's renowned Xerxes turntable and set new standards for tonearm performance in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

This high-performance tonearm features several innovative design elements:

Bearing System

The Artemiz utilizes a unique "Pyramid Bearing" system. These bearings consist of:

• Three 2mm balls supporting the arm loosely at rest
• A 1.5mm ball in the center serving as the bearing point

Arm Construction

• Material: Single piece heat-treated aluminium alloy
• Effective length: 240 mm
• Overhang: 17.5 mm
• Recommended tracking force range: 1.6 g to 3.0 g

Structural Design

• The headshell is supported by a shelf-like brace formed when the tube is flattened
• Massive bearing housings are positioned on either side of the arm
• Vertical bearings are located above and below the armtube, differing from traditional designs where bearings are only below the tube

Counterweight System

The Artemiz features an intelligent counterweight system, likely designed to optimize mass distribution and tracking force accuracy.

Arm Base

• CNC-machined from solid material
• Extends down in one piece to form the mount, reducing part count and potentially improving rigidity1

VTA Adjustment

While VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle) is adjustable, the process is complex:

• Requires removing the armboard
• Uses a threaded shaft with two "nuts" sandwiching the armboard
• Includes additional components like threaded spikes and washers

This design prioritizes a stiffer arm base at the expense of easy VTA adjustability.The Artemiz tonearm's innovative features, particularly its bearing system and structural design, contributed to its reputation for excellent performance, especially in terms of detail retrieval and timing.

Specifications

Here you find 4 models, 3 with images and 1 with schematics for wireless sets etc. In French: TSF for Télégraphie sans fil.
All listed radios etc. from Roksan Audio Ltd.; Essex