To be available as 10- and 12-inch options, the new Air Force 10 tonearm from TechDAS was unveiled at the recent High End Munich show and distils the company's air bearing technology alongside its experience of precision machining titanium and tungsten.

We're told that it has taken almost three years of design and development to create the Air Force 10 tonearm, which consists of a hybrid two-layer structure armtube comprising a magnesium alloy with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating outer and a carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) inner. Output goes via a five-pin DIN connector.

While the vertical bearing is a tungsten pivot and ceramic ball bearings, the horizontal bearing of the Air Force 10 utilises TechDAS's signature Float air bearing and an external air pump unit taking care of intake and exhaust.

Mounting is by a TechDAS helicoid height-adjustable mount, while tracking force adjustment is via a spring pressure dynamic balance. TechDAS states the tonearm weighs 2.3kg and has an effective length of 248mm, which we assume is for the 10-inch model, and a 23-degree offset angle.

Other listed specifications include maximum distortion measured as 0.95% with average RMS distortion at 0.39%. Maximum error is stated as being 1.4 degrees.

TechDAS says that the final pre-production unit of the Air Force 10 tonearm with be introduced at the Tokyo International Audio Show in November 2023, so stay tuned to StereoNET for more information from that show and the Air Force 10's pricing.

Visit TechDAS for more information