The GRAVITON® Ti Armwand

A single piece, moulded, tapered carbon fibre tube with a unique quadruple helix design, reinforced by a graphene epoxy matrix. This innovative geometry builds on the legacy of previous WB tonearms, enhanced with uni-directional carbon fibre and a Rohacell sandwich section.

Developed in collaboration with France's FEMTO Institute and Sheffield Hallam University, the GRAVITON® Ti demonstrates exceptional strength and rigidity. Under a maximum stress of 1,232 psi, the armtube deflects merely 0.003 mm, ensuring optimal resonant frequency.

The tonearm is the second interface in the chain following the cartridge, its construction has a significant and direct impact on the sound reproduced by the analogue system. The tonearm serves as a critical interface in sound reproduction, akin to how a Stradivarius violin’s materials shape its sound. Unlike a violin, a tonearm should not add extra information; it must accurately transcribe the groove of a record.

Historically, when Wilson Benesch developed the A.C.T. One Tonearm in 1989, the use of metal within tonearm design was the norm. Wilson Benesch’s research highlighted the benefits of advanced composites, leading to extensive trials that informed the design. Recent studies using state-of-the-art FEA tools, data has reaffirmed that the balance of stiffness and damping chosen by Wilson Benesch in the late 1980s was near optimal.

Like the TESSELLATE Ti Cartridge, the GRAVITON® Ti Armwand design employs Selective Laser Sintered (SLS) manufacturing. Inspired by nature’s sacred geometry, the counterbalance structure mimics the human pelvis, designed for load-bearing and stability. With these advancements, all the metal components of the GRAVITON® Ti Armwand are produced with precise tolerances and unparalleled function. The structures incorporate hollow sections, tessellated sections, and sections where titanium powder has been intentionally left un-sintered. These complex structures could not have been achieved through any other means of production. The structures are now registered designs.