997

About the 997

Introduced in 1974 as a companion to the EMT 927 turntable, the EMT 997 tonearm was designed to handle oversized discs with minimal distortion by using an oversized arm. It features a fixed pivot design, high mass (effective mass approx. 35g), and a detachable headshell. The arm has a mounting distance of 297 mm from spindle to pivot, an effective length of 307 mm (stylus to pivot), and an overhang of 10 mm. It includes a spring-actuated dynamic tracking-force mechanism that is well calibrated, and low-friction bearings for smooth operation. The tonearm is highly regarded for its build quality, wiring, and performance, making it popular among domestic audiophiles with a taste for vintage gear. It supports tracking forces from 0 to 5 grams and can accommodate cartridges weighing 17 to 32 grams. The anti-skating device uses a small weight on a nylon thread to provide adjustable counter-force. The output is made with open leads soldered directly to the equalizer amplifier input on the EMT 927 turntable.