harman/kardon ST-7 (1976) | Tangential Precision

 

The Harman/Kardon ST-7 turntable was introduced in 1976 and it is known for its innovative linear-tracking tonearm design. This feature was developed by Rabco (for their ST-4 model), a company specializing in tangential-tracking tonearms, which Harman/Kardon later acquired. The ST-7 was designed to provide precise playback by keeping the stylus perfectly aligned with the grooves of the record, mimicking the way records are cut in the studio. The arm, carried by the remarkable "rolamite" bearing, moves across the disc in a straight line. The result is a cascade of zeroes...Tracking error? Zero. Skating force? Zero. Stylus overhang? Zero. Horizontal friction? Zero. Vertical friction? Zero. Its sleek, mid-century modern design features a brushed aluminum plinth and touch controls, giving it a futuristic aesthetic for its time. The turntable is belt-driven and includes a stroboscope for speed adjustments. Very unusual but there is even a sticker on this turntable mentioning all the people involved in the engineering and design:

Dipen Guha : development engineer

Yasuhiro Okuda : industrial designer

Frank Baudille : project engineer

Irwin Katz : electrical engineer

Frank Holetsky : mechanical engineer

Len Rosenblatt : production engineer

Robert Brady : director of engineering

"and the people at Haman/Kardon, Plainview, Long Island, U.S.A."

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