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NOTE: some accessory products below available - while supply lasts

VSE Ruby Rod Tonearm

A Uni-Pivot Tonearm floating on a Ruby Ball & Socket

NO Compromise, NO Comparison & NO Competition

If you're THINKING about a Tonearm, think Ruby Rod for the FOLLOWING REASONS

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS & FEATURES: Ruby Rod Tonearm

A new revolution in tonearm design is being offered to the A/V community by many manufacturers. It's the UNI-PIVOT. A design that offers a lower bearing friction, ease of manufacturing, lower price range and better performance over conventional tonearms. VSE's uni-pivot design offers [more] standard dimensions compared to many of the uni-pivots on the market today. Many uni-pivot designs have a high vertical profile, which is fine if you have a thick platter, but if you don't, many turntables will not accept these non-standard designs.

VSE's Ruby Rod (RR) offers the highest performing, most feature packed tonearm on the market at any price, so why would you choose any other? Especially since our tonearm is under 4-figures. The RR is an extremely versatile tonearm with a myriad of unique features that uni-pivot, and [even] conventional tonearms don't. For instance, on-the-fly VTA adjust (just turn the micrometer head on the bottom of the mounting column), micrometer head tracking force adjust, easy headshell azimuth adjust, adjustable height tonearm clamp, knob adjust anti-skating using counterweight, easy mounting using knurled and threaded rings and OFHC silver coated wire from gold-plated cartridge leads to gold-plated RCA connectors. All solder connections us WBT Silver Solder which has twice the silver content of standard silver solder.

All VSE products are named with an intrinsic meaning. The Ruby Rod is no exception. The picture at right illustrates the micro-ruby ball mounted on a threaded fixture (rod). This ultra-hard carbide fixture rod is then screwed into the larger (0.375" diameter) height adjustable rod (not shown), controlled from the lower micrometer head, that sets the on-the-fly VTA. The ruby ball is only 1 mm in diameter and is compared to the head of a pin at right. The complete armwand assembly floats on this micro-ruby ball in an ultra-precision [chromium molybdenum] micro-socket inside the lower tonearm body itself. What does this micro-ruby do to the music, compared to conventional uni-pivot designs? I won't go into all the "editor adjectives" and euphemisms because I get a little "long-winded" anyway but, suffice it to say, it's a literal "gem" of a performer. No matter how high your expectations, you won't be disappointed with the Ruby Rod.

You won't find a better performing more feature packed tonearm at any price - especially at 3-figures! Only personal preferences, not performance, could sway your decision to own a Ruby Rod. VSE guarantees the performance of all their products with an Unconditional 30-Day return policy and a Lifetime materials and workmanship warranty.

The Ruby Rod Uni-Pivot Tonearm

Each Ruby Rod tonearm comes complete and ready to install in your turntable. The package includes the complete tonearm assembly, as pictured above, plus metal termination box (not shown) with gold-plated cartridge clips and RCA connectors. This allows you to use your favorite RCA interconnects to your phono stage or pre-amp. The arm body is machined from a solid block of stainless steel (Austenitic, non-magnetic). All you need is a 1-inch diameter hole in your plinth  (or armboard) at a distance from your spindle to provide proper overhang for a standard 9-inch tonearm (specifications listed above). A 1-inch diameter slot would make overhang adjustment even easier. Pictured below left is our exclusive balance weight [spring loaded] adjustment knob. Just turn it left or right to achieve perfect balance. No set screws to loosen or tools to misplace. Pictured below right is our unique thumb knob anti-skate adjustment and micrometer head VTF adjust. Pictured at right is the Ruby Rod's coarse and fine (micrometer head) on-the-fly VTA adjustment. The package comes with all mounting hardware and tools necessary to install the tonearm in a standard perforated plinth or armboard.

TRANS-STEPPER 14

Audio Line Step-Up Transformer (2-channel)

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS & FEATURES: Trans-Stepper 14

VSE's exclusive Trans-Stepper 14 is a necessity - especially if you have a low-output MC cartridge and a medium output phono stage. The TS14 is a line-level audio step-up transformer built between a pair of ultra high quality RCA interconnects that provides 14db of [passive] gain using two matched transformers, one for each of its two channels. This unit installs between the RCA output of your phono stage and any RCA line-level input on your pre-amp or receiver. Since you already need a hi-quality cable between your phono stage and your pre-amp/receiver anyway, why use a very expensive, separate step-up transformer that requires you to use two sets of RCA interconnects, when you can use the TS14 and eliminate four connections that can degrade your signal. And VSE uses the finest cables available under 4-figures, so your signal is transferred and amplified perfectly. Like a straight-wire with gain, and since there is no required power input, your signal is totally isolated from power line interference. The TS14 automatically translates signal voltages to match differences in ground potentials to avoid clipping and "break" ground loops. It also has a built-in circuit to eliminate AC hum, 60 cycle buzz and noise. Die-cast aluminum case is totally shielded from EM and RF interference.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS & FEATURES: RCA Interconnect cables

Super Silver Switch Box (2-channel)

The Super Silver Switch Box (SSSB) is a near necessity when you have more than one tonearm on your turntable. It allows you to instantaneously select between tonearm/cartridge with the flip of a 3-way switch. This switching action can be accomplished at the cartridge-side (low output) of your phono stage or at the line-side (high output). And there is no degradation of the signal because all switch contacts are silver plated, all internal solder connections are made using WBT Silver Solder (twice the silver content of standard silver solder), and the 8 RCA connectors (2 output & 6 input) on the back of the SSSB are gold plated. Aluminum box, shielded with grounding post.

Three tonearms are great to demo/compare your favorite music as no two cartridges are created equal (see, "Why would you want more than one tonearm?" at the LP Players link). A good example would be one for rock/jazz/blues (small band), one for classical (big band) and one for the human voice. With our SSSB, you'll be able to instantly A/B/C your system with the same record, on the same cut, at nearly the same instant of time, with the flip of a switch. Comparative analysis doesn't get any better than that!

Universal 20 Spacer Ring Set

The Universal Spacer Ring Set (20) is used to incrementally adjust the height (VTA) of a tonearm. The spacers can be used with any tonearm that has up to a 1" diameter mounting column. Example: this ring set works great with our Ruby Rod tonearms that have a threaded column diameter of 1-inch (see picture at right), and the Rega tonearms that have a 0.9" diameter threaded mounting column. All pieces are fully machined and precision ground to exact tolerances. This 20 piece assortment consist of one each of the following sizes (all spacers are hardened steel, unless otherwise noted): 0.5" (alum), 0.125, 0.093, 0.062, 0.047, 0.031, 0.025, 0.020, 0.015, 0.012, 0.010, 0.008, 0.007, 0.006, 0.005, 0.004, 0.003, 0.002, 0.0015, 0.001". All 20 spacers stacked together provide a height adjustment of 1-inch.

The WEDGE, Rega Tonearm Counterweight Upgrade

The WEDGE is the finest Rega tonearm counterweight on the market, and it's priced right too. The solid stainless steel [wedge] design lowers your center of gravity further than any other aftermarket counterweight. And it's the same weight as the original Rega counterweight, so you can leave your VTF spring adjust knob set at zero, as pictured above right. No tools needed to adjust set screws, just turn the top mounted thumb screw to adjust position.

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