Hand-made tonearms from Japan

Founded in 1974 by Katsuaki Ishiyama, Sorane’s parent company IT Industry has been applying their standards of hand-assembly combined with modern high-tech manufacturing processes to create analog audio products of the upmost quality. These tonearms operate with incredibly low friction and high rigidity, and are adaptable to a wide range of applications. All Sorane tonearms undergo strict testing procedures and use precision-tuned bearings resulting in accurate bass, balanced transient response, and excellent imaging.

Sorane tonearms (pronounced so-rah-nay) are hand-crafted at a small family-run factory based just outside Tokyo, Japan. Offering tonearms in three distinct models from the traditional design of the TA-1, to more exotic SA-1.2 and ZA-12, the Sorane brand offers incredibly high quality tonearms at a fair price. Sorane has become a popular choice for audiophiles looking to upgrade their existing tonearms, add a second tonearm to their setup, and for use with custom made or vintage idler-drive designs.

ABOUT Sorane Tonearms

TA-1 and TA-1L

Sorane TA series tonearms sport a traditional S-shape armtube, and are available in 9" (TA-1) or 12" (TA-1L) versions. With a machine-tooled bearing housing of solid aluminum, finely tuned micro-bearings, fully adjustable anti-skate, azimuth, and a wide counterweight range, Sorane TA series arms offer high performance and a full range of adjustments in an elegant, understated design. All TA series arms include removable headshells and come standard with a DIN-RCA phono cable and 3-hole mounting collar.

    • Total Length: 288mm

    • Spindle to pivot distance: 216mm

    • Stylus to pivot distance: 232mm

    • Overhang: 16mm

    • Offset Angle: 22°

    • Cartridge weight range: 15-32g with headshell

    • Tonearm weight: 580g, 597g with headshell

    • Antiskating: up to 3g

    • Internal lead wire: OFN 4N Copper

    • Headshell lead wire: AWG30 Copper

SA-1.2 and SA-1.2b

With an armwand machined from solid aluminum billet, and using a uniquely designed thrust bearing for low-friction horizontal movement, the SA-1.2 tonearm from Sorane operates with incredible mechanical efficiency, bringing out the maxiumum performance of your phono cartridge. With an adjustable weight built directly into the armwand of the SA-1.2, the effective mass of the arm can be dialed-in, making it a great match for picky, low-compliance cartridges. Fully adjustable anti-skate, azimuth, removable headshell, included DIN-RCA cable, and heavy counterweight are all standard features on this high performance tonearm.

    • Total Length: 310mm

    • Spindle to pivot distance: 223mm

    • Horizontal movement sensitivity: 30mg

    • Vertical movement sensitivity: 20mg

    • Overhang: 16mm

    • Offset Angle: 22.25°

    • Cartridge weight range: 15-45g with headshell

    • Total net weight: 755g

    • Antiskating: up to 3g

    • Height adjustment range: 12-55mm (from armwand centerline)

    • Internal lead wire: OFN 4N Copper

    • Headshell lead wire: AWG30 Copper

ZA-12 and ZA-12B

For the ultimate in rigidity, stability, and precision tracking, Sorane offers the ZA-12 tonearm. This 12” design reduces tracking error as well as skating force, due to its longer effective length and the lower overhang. More stable tracking performance and lower distortion are the result. The detachable headshell found on other Sorane designs has been removed in favor of slotted cartridge mounting holes machined directly into the end of the tapered armwand, increasing rigidity and creating a more direct mechanical link to your cartridge. The ZA-12 also features double pivot suspension for low friction movement and a damped counterweight tube made of a combination of brass and delrin. Internal wiring is routed through two separate slots, separating the left and right signal wires for maximum channel separation. Available in silver or black anodized aluminum finish, all precision machined from solid billet.

    • Total Length: 416mm

    • Effective Length: 322mm

    • Spindle to pivot distance: 310mm

    • Overhang: 12mm

    • Offset Angle: 22.25°

    • Cartridge weight range: 5-60g

    • Total net weight: 995g

    • Height adjustment range: 19-35mm (from armwand centerline)

    • Internal lead wire: OFN 4N Copper

Download Sorane tonearm Manuals

The Sorane TA-1 is easy to recommend; a great-sounding arm at a very fair price that works as it should, without complication

-Michael Trei, Stereophile

(the Za-12) seems to be a tonearm lacking in flaws but abundant in point of view… with the right cartridge, this thing made music like crazy

-Art Dudley, Stereophile