Argon Audio has introduced the Aurora, its first direct-drive turntable. Designed for home listening, the new model combines a brushless motor, substantial low-resonance construction, a custom S-shaped tonearm and a factory-installed Ortofon cartridge.
Direct-drive system engineered for stable playback
The Aurora marks a departure from Argon Audio’s existing belt-drive turntables. At its center is a brushless direct-drive motor using an eight-pole coil structure, developed to maintain stable platter rotation while keeping wow and flutter to a minimum.
To help prevent motor-generated mechanical energy from reaching the record, Argon Audio has acoustically isolated the bearing assembly from the drive system. The arrangement is intended to provide the consistency associated with direct drive while addressing vibration control for critical listening in a domestic hi-fi system.
The turntable supports 33, 45 and 78 rpm playback, with each speed selected directly through a dedicated control. That three-speed capability allows the Aurora to accommodate standard LPs and singles as well as compatible 78 rpm records. An automatic stop function halts rotation at the end of playback, while automatic standby activates after 20 minutes to reduce unnecessary power consumption. The power supply is integrated into the turntable to simplify installation.
Heavy plinth and damped aluminum platter
Argon Audio has built the Aurora around a rigid, 55 mm-thick MDF plinth, making it the thickest base used on one of the company’s turntables to date. Its combination of mass and stiffness is designed to provide a stable platform and reduce sensitivity to vibration from the listening environment.
A recessed aluminum platter weighing nearly 1.5 kilograms adds further mass to the assembly. Rubber damping is applied to the platter, which is also paired with a thick rubber mat to assist with resonance management at the record interface.
New vibration-damping feet provide additional isolation between the turntable and its supporting surface. Each foot can be adjusted independently for height, enabling the deck to be leveled accurately when placed on a rack, cabinet or dedicated turntable platform.
S-shaped tonearm with an Ortofon cartridge
The Aurora uses a rigid, statically balanced S-shaped aluminum tonearm equipped with Argon Audio’s patented ATS technology. Vertical tracking angle adjustment is also included, giving the arm greater setup flexibility.
An Ortofon Concorde Music Blue moving-magnet cartridge is installed at the factory. Its integrated cartridge-and-headshell format connects directly to the tonearm, avoiding the conventional alignment procedure required by many separate cartridges and headshells. This approach is intended to make initial setup and later replacement more straightforward.
Ortofon uses a shared cartridge body across the Concorde Music range. As a result, Aurora owners can make a future change within that family by replacing the stylus rather than installing and aligning an entirely new cartridge body.
Switchable phono stage and finish options
A built-in phono preamplifier allows the Aurora to connect directly to amplifiers, active speakers and other audio systems that do not provide a dedicated phono input. The internal stage is designed for moving-magnet cartridges and can be bypassed when the turntable is used with an external phono preamplifier or an amplifier equipped with a suitable phono section.
This switchable arrangement broadens the Aurora’s system compatibility. New vinyl listeners can build a simpler setup without immediately purchasing a separate phono component, while more experienced users retain the option to integrate their preferred external electronics.
Argon Audio offers the Aurora in two finishes: matte black lacquer and walnut veneer. The supplied combination of direct drive, preinstalled cartridge and onboard phono amplification positions it as a ready-to-use turntable that can also accommodate selected system upgrades over time.
With its isolated direct-drive motor, substantial damped construction and simplified Ortofon cartridge system, the Aurora expands Argon Audio’s turntable range in a new technical direction. Three playback speeds and a bypassable phono stage give it the flexibility to serve both streamlined and component-based vinyl systems.
