THE WAND TONEARM WAVES ITS MAGIC IN THE UK

Developed by New Zealand-based company Design Build Listen (DBL), The Wand unipivot tonearm represents a cleverly minimalistic approach in order to deliver superb sound at a considerably more modest price than most would expect. The upshot of all this being remarkable musical bang for your buck.

The Wand tonearm is available in three lengths: 9.5-inches, 10.3-inches and 12-inch, furthermore it is also available in three specification levels, The Wand Classic, The Wand Plus and The Wand Master Series.

It may be pared back, but The Wand’s design is still eye-catching thanks to its large diameter carbon-fibre arm tube and the sharp angled cut at the end. This dramatic termination of the arm tube negates the need for a traditional headshell.

Instead, the cartridge bolts straight to the arm via a fixed metal block. The cartridge angle is fixed but with an adjustable overhang. Additionally, the tube is said to be four times stiffer than an arm of a more conventional diameter. This was not achieved by accident but is the result of many hundreds of hours of computer-aided design modelling, as well as considerable time spent listening to various alternative materials.

The arm’s pivot, bearing and counterweight design are also different from the norm. The counterweight and bearing housing are a composite assembly, keeping mass as close to the pivot point as possible and therefore structural resonance to a minimum. Within the bearing itself the pivot point rests into three ball bearings inside the arm tube, rather than the more common point-and-cup approach.

The 9-inch arm, being mounted at a pivot-to-spindle distance of 222mm, can be used as a drop-in replacement for Rega tonearms. Design Build Listen also manufacture a range of adaptors for Lenco, Throens, SME and the Linn LP12.

The ‘Master Series’ also features high quality sockets rather than a supplied arm cable, allowing the customer to choose their preferred audiophile-grade lead.

Since its launch in 2011, The Wand’s design has attracted a number of highly favourable reviews along with some impressive honours: The Wand Classic and The Wand Plus have won awards for innovation, excellence and value-for-money in design and construction, while in 2016 The Wand Master picked up a BEST Design Award (New Zealand).

The Wand certainly looks to be a powerful performer that punches above its price tag.

Available now, pricing starts at £899 for Classic (9.5" length) through to  £2,599 for Master (12" length).

For more information visit Design Build Listen.

Further reading: StereoNET UK Message Forums