Tonearms — Clearaudio UNIVERSAL 12"

The Clearaudio UNIVERSAL 12-inch is a gimbal-bearing tonearm for turntables that can take a longer arm than the standard Universal. Clearaudio builds the Universal arm in several lengths to suit different arm-board mounts, and this long version keeps the same bearing design as the shorter ones.

Key specs that matter

Effective length is 308.01 mm, longer than a standard 9-inch arm, which reduces tracking error across the record. The offset angle is 18.85 degrees and overhang is 13.01 mm. The arm accepts cartridges weighing from 2.9 to 21 g, and the arm itself weighs 760 g.

Engineering and use context

A gimbal bearing supports the arm tube in two axes, and the 12-inch geometry keeps the angle between stylus and groove closer to ideal toward the inner grooves than a shorter arm can. The substantial mass of the arm means it belongs on a turntable built to carry a 12-inch arm board.

Pairing

The cartridge weight range suits the great majority of MM and MC cartridges. The turntable needs a 12-inch arm mount or an adapter to accept the arm.

Alternatives

The Clearaudio UNIVERSAL 9-inch is the shorter version for turntables with a standard 9-inch arm board, giving wider turntable compatibility.