Bergmann Audio Odin Tonearm

Strength In The Linear Tracking Airbearing Tonearm

The linear tracking tonearm on Odin Tonearm tracks the record as it is pressed = no tracking error.
The benefit is a distortion free and relaxed reproduction, even at complex passages. One more important advantage of the airbearing is the tonearm’s immunity to acoustic feedback, as it has no mechanical contact (the moving part) to the turntable. The only contact is through the stylus tip and the tonearm wire.

Timbre details and nuances is a natural part of the transparent and vivid acoustic image.

Design

In the design and construction of Odin, Bergmann Audio stay to their idea of simplicity: As few parts and assembling as possible, to avoid resonances.
A parameter in the ultimate tonearm design is stiffness and stability in the construction. Both are carefully incorporated in the Odin arm. An example is the air-pipe which is fixed in both ends to give the floating part the best possible base.

The armtube is traditional for Bergmann tonearms, well considered construction in few parts, made as a double tube construction with damping in between the tubes. This means that the armtube control the vibrations from cartridge and record grooves when handling the musical crescendos.

The tonearm wire is as usual in Bergmann tonearms- in one piece from cartridge clips to the DIN connector. The DIN connector ensures user flexibility for connection of the preferred interconnect phono cable.

Counterweight is decoupled from the arm - again to avoid any resonances.

Floating Part – perhaps the most important part, of an air-bearing tonearm!

The first part of the tonearm is to handle modulations from the record groove and cartridge is the moving part of the tonearm. Head shell, armtube, sliding pipe and counter weight has to be well considered and well assembled to avoid any resonances to disturb the delicate signal.
The head shell is a very stiff construction, machined of one solid piece of aluminium and glued by 2-component epoxy onto the seamless carbon fiber armtube which is a double carbon fiber tube construction with damping in between to avoid coloration to the sound. The sliding pipe, made of two pieces of solid aluminium that are machined and joined together with two components of epoxy, has a groove on top where the armtube is fixed.

The space between the air-pipe and the sliding pipe is 50 micron, as Bergmann Audio found this as the most user-friendly.

The azimuth adjustment is very well considered – a slot on the bottom side of the head shell where an “azimuth-plate” perfectly fit = 100% contact, the azimuth is simply adjusted by tighten or un-tighten the 2 screws holding the cartridge, and then twist the cartridge to a perfect azimuth. At Bergmann Audio, they don’t believe in a twistable head shell in the armtube as this solution never will be as strong and stiff as the construction they have made on the Odin tonearm.

The tonearm wire is made in one piece from the cartridge clips to the DIN connector to secure as pure signal transmission as possible.

• Headshell machined in solid aluminium. The design ensure optimal stiffness.
• Azimuth plate. 100% contact to the headshell and cartridge.
• Armtube is a double seamless carbon design with damping in between.
• Sliding pipe floats completely frictionless on the airpipe.
• Tonearm wire in one piece from cartridge clips to the DIN connector.
• Counter weight decoupled from the armtube by 3 rubber strings.

Base For The Floating Part

• Air-pipe supported in both ends for optimum stiffness.
• Base plate. Can be moved back and forth to obtain perfect overhang and for perfect levelling of the
  airpipe.
• VTA plate - where all functional parts are fixed.
• VTA adjustment screw.
• VTA pillars fixed to the base plate. VTA plate can be adjusted on the pillars by turning the VTA adjustment screws.
• Screws to tighten the VTA plate when VTA is adjusted.
• Air input, to support the floating part with an extremely frictionless air cushion.
• Air flow can easily be adjusted by a valve at the air-supply.
• DIN connector to fit all brands of phono cables.

Air Supply

The air supply has been the object of Bergmann Audio's greatest attention. The goal is to design a silent air supply which could be placed in the listening room and deliver an even, clean and dry air flow.

The pump is an oil free, long life unit, which do not require much maintenance.

The impulses from the pump are absorbed in an encapsulated reservoir. This results in an even airflow to the air bearing. The air supply is mounted with a filter which prevents dust particles entering the system. The filter is replaceable when necessary.

Odin

In the Nordic Mythology, Odin is an extreme central God. Together with his brothers, he is creator of the world and man. Odin is the wise God. He is also the God of poetry, providing the poets with ecstasy and wisdom to express themselves. As a God of war, Odin also plays his role and acts more like the strategist who sets up his army, and as the God who ensures victory.