Argon Audio AURORA Turntable, Black

The Argon Audio AURORA is a direct-drive turntable that comes with a pre-mounted Ortofon cartridge and a switchable phono preamp built right in. If you've ever hesitated over "do I still need a separate phono stage?" — here's your answer, already on board.

Why the AURORA?

The brushless direct drive runs quartz-locked, without the slight jolt some belt drives show on start-up. Above it sits a rigid, statically balanced S-shaped tonearm with one special feature: a precisely positioned hole in the arm tube — Argon calls it ATS, Anisotropic Torsion Stabiliser — shifts torsional resonance out of the audible range, where it tends to bother ordinary arms. The included Ortofon Concorde Music Blue isn't a token cartridge, but a genuine MM system, factory-mounted and aligned.

What you get

33, 45 and 78 rpm, a damped aluminium platter with rubber mat, a removable headshell for a later cartridge swap — and a phono stage you switch on and off via a rear-panel switch: into the aux input with the stage on, into the phono input or an external stage with it off. A dust cover and RCA cable are included. The AURORA deliberately skips Bluetooth or USB — here it's about the signal, not wireless gimmicks.

Who is the AURORA for — and who is it not for?

Plain talk: if you already own a high-quality phono stage, just switch the built-in one off and bring your own setup. If you plan to move to an MC cartridge with a very low output level later on, you'll need a separate MC stage anyway — the built-in electronics are MM-only. For a classic, ready-to-play entry point, though, it's pretty much exactly what's being looked for.

Our verdict

The AURORA removes the three usual entry-level hurdles: which cartridge, which phono stage, which cable. All already on board, all matched to each other. Whether it fits the rest of your system is something we're happy to work out with you — HD Zürisee in Wädenswil, 044 680 22 00 or WhatsApp 076 534 22 00 (text only, no calls).

Technical data

• Type: direct-drive turntable
• Speeds: 33, 45, 78 rpm
• Tonearm: rigid, statically balanced S-shaped tonearm, aluminium, with ATS torsion stabiliser
• Effective tonearm length: 233 mm (9.17″)
• Effective arm mass: 20 g
• Cartridge: Ortofon Concorde Music Blue (MM), pre-mounted
• Permitted cartridge weight: 6–10 g
• Recommended tracking force: 1.8 g
• Platter: damped aluminium, approx. 1.4 kg, with rubber mat
• Phono preamp: built-in, switchable (MM)
• Wow and flutter: ≤ 0.10 %
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 65 dB
• Plinth: MDF, Black finish (matte lacquer)
• Output: RCA (cable included)
• Dimensions (W×H×D): approx. 45 × 15.3 × 36.6 cm
• Weight: approx. 10.4 kg
• In the box: turntable, Ortofon cartridge (mounted), RCA cable, power cable, dust cover, rubber slipmat

Frequently asked questions

Does the AURORA need an additional phono stage?

No. The AURORA has a switchable MM phono stage built in. With it active, you connect it directly to an aux or line input. If you already have your own phono stage or an amplifier with a phono input, just switch the internal one off and use your own solution.

Which cartridge comes with the AURORA?

An Ortofon Concorde Music Blue, an MM system that's mounted and aligned at the factory. You don't need to adjust anything — just remove the stylus guard and go. Switching to a different cartridge is possible any time via the removable headshell.

Can I connect the AURORA via Bluetooth?

No, according to the manufacturer the AURORA deliberately has no Bluetooth and no USB output. The connection runs exclusively via the included RCA cable — for the shortest, cleanest signal path between stylus and amplifier.

Do I have to manually switch speeds using a belt on the AURORA?

No. The direct drive switches between 33, 45 and 78 rpm electronically, so there's no belt to move at all. The quartz-locked drive keeps speed constant even with frequent switching between speeds.

Why buy the Argon Audio AURORA at HD Zürisee?

Because the choice between an active or deactivated phono stage, between MM and MC cartridges, and between an entry-level or expandable solution depends on the rest of your system — and that's exactly what we advise you on honestly. Authorised dealer, our own technician, delivery and on-site setup.

Goes well with

A good start just needs an amplifier: take a look at our amplifiers, plus bookshelf speakers for the sound — or the whole Argon Audio world.