The Spin Doctor, Michael Trei, and I visited the booth of Korf Audio’s Alexey Kornienkov, who showed two new products: the TA-CF9 monocrystallic sapphire arm tube/reference tonearm ($5600), and an updated version of his HS-A03 ceramic headshell ($215; all prices approximate when converted from Euros).
The TA-CF9 tonearm, mounted on a classic Micro Seiki RX-1500 turntable, is available in 9" and 10" versions. It features a full ceramic headshell, Kornienkov’s "zero friction, zero stiction" flexure-pivot horizontal bearing, low-friction advanced ceramic vertical bearings, Cardas Litz wiring, and gold-plated contact pins.
Kornienkov also showcased his TA-SF11R Series II Transcription tonearm ($3,200), a TA-SF9R Series II tonearm ($2,800), a TA-AF9 Series II Reference tonearm ($4,200), and a TA-SF9 Series II fixed headshell tonearm ($2,500).
Having extensively used and reviewed the Korf TA-SF9R tonearm, I can attest to the significant impact of its ceramic headshell. Compared with standard headshells, it delivers an exceptionally smooth sound with low noise levels. Korf’s updated HS-A03 headshell is a single, seamless ceramic casting that he says is "as rigid as steel at less than half the weight." The design, combined with pure silver Litz wiring and custom gold-plated contact pins, reportedly improves clarity and detail retrieval.
The TA-CF9 tonearm, mounted on a classic Micro Seiki RX-1500 turntable, is available in 9" and 10" versions. It features a full ceramic headshell, Kornienkov’s "zero friction, zero stiction" flexure-pivot horizontal bearing, low-friction advanced ceramic vertical bearings, Cardas Litz wiring, and gold-plated contact pins.
Kornienkov also showcased his TA-SF11R Series II Transcription tonearm ($3,200), a TA-SF9R Series II tonearm ($2,800), a TA-AF9 Series II Reference tonearm ($4,200), and a TA-SF9 Series II fixed headshell tonearm ($2,500).
Having extensively used and reviewed the Korf TA-SF9R tonearm, I can attest to the significant impact of its ceramic headshell. Compared with standard headshells, it delivers an exceptionally smooth sound with low noise levels. Korf’s updated HS-A03 headshell is a single, seamless ceramic casting that he says is "as rigid as steel at less than half the weight." The design, combined with pure silver Litz wiring and custom gold-plated contact pins, reportedly improves clarity and detail retrieval.
