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- Affordable super quick worldwide delivery
- Fits all the tonearms that accept the standard straight headshells
- Weighs 13 gram including wires and finger lift. Click here for more specifications
- 1 year warranty: free replacement if defective, nothing to send back
What's included—HS-A03 full ceramic headshell—Pure silver litz wires—Thick gold-plated contact pins and cartridge clips—Brass fingerlift—Screws in 4 lengths, knurled nuts, nylon washers
Slight discolorations and minor shape irregularities are possible. This is the nature of the ceramic material, not a defect.
To get your headshell to you quicker, we ship with a courier service every Wednesday.
Hey, it used to be HS-A02! What changed?
Not much—and quite a lot! First of all, rest assured it sounds fantastic. There is no sonic difference between HS-A02 and HS-A03. And the price remains the same too! How often do you see that in 2025?
Then why did we make a new one? Well, a few things were bothering us. We weren't too sure about the vertical locking pins we used in the HS-A02. So now it's a precision German stainless steel cutting. It spreads the locking force better, holding the headshell even tighter in the connector.
And we listened to all the Technics turntable owners who loved the HS-A02, but just could not lower the tonearm enough to get it precisely horizontal with some cartridges. Now you can! HS-A03 mounting surface is 1mm lower.
Last but not least, we felt the looks could be refreshed a bit. Just enough to tell the HS-A02 and HS-A03 apart. Hope you like the new design!
Then why did we make a new one? Well, a few things were bothering us. We weren't too sure about the vertical locking pins we used in the HS-A02. So now it's a precision German stainless steel cutting. It spreads the locking force better, holding the headshell even tighter in the connector.
And we listened to all the Technics turntable owners who loved the HS-A02, but just could not lower the tonearm enough to get it precisely horizontal with some cartridges. Now you can! HS-A03 mounting surface is 1mm lower.
Last but not least, we felt the looks could be refreshed a bit. Just enough to tell the HS-A02 and HS-A03 apart. Hope you like the new design!
What happens after you buy?
You will get an email confirmation with all your order details. Didn't get it? Check your spam folder. If it's not there, write us at info@korfadio.com
We ship your order from Klosterneuburg, Austria every Wednesday with a courier service. That's a lot faster than the regular post. You will get a tracking link on the same day.
The time in transit is typically 3-4 days. Unless you are very far from Europe, for example in Australia. Then it can take up to a week.
You enjoy your amazing new Korf headshell!
The Reviewers Love Our Ceramic Headshells
Here's how Positive Feedback's Juan C. Ayllon concluded his extremely thorough review of the Korf headshell:
"The Korf Audio HS-A02 Ceramic Headshell is a superb component to use in the turntablist's arsenal. Enlisting an alumina ceramic unibody construction, at 13 grams, it is extremely stiff, lightweight, and minimally resonant, making it an outstandingly transparent conduit to hear what's going on with your tonearm and cartridge, as well as the music being served up. The resulting aural image is extremely neutral and detailed—especially in the mid to upper registers. It's quickly become a favorite of mine, and one that I can't see doing without. And, as such, I highly recommend it."
"The Korf Audio HS-A02 Ceramic Headshell is a superb component to use in the turntablist's arsenal. Enlisting an alumina ceramic unibody construction, at 13 grams, it is extremely stiff, lightweight, and minimally resonant, making it an outstandingly transparent conduit to hear what's going on with your tonearm and cartridge, as well as the music being served up. The resulting aural image is extremely neutral and detailed—especially in the mid to upper registers. It's quickly become a favorite of mine, and one that I can't see doing without. And, as such, I highly recommend it."
The Danish website Pladespilleren.dk tested the Korf headshell against some serious (and more expensive) competition. Here's what they say:
"Very smooth and with lots of details upwards a "clean" sound. There is a calmness in the upper octaves, but at the same time a very fast bottom that starts and stops. ... Overall, the Korf house is one of the most neutral and revealing I have heard. It can make even cheaper pickups perform their best. ... Definitely an excellent headshell."
"Yes, there is a sound difference in headshells, not just these three, but many others as well. I have long since stopped using headshells of pressed plate. The three headshells tested here all belong to the top. Taking the price into consideration the Korf HS-A02 is close to a best buy. Absolutely recommended."
"Very smooth and with lots of details upwards a "clean" sound. There is a calmness in the upper octaves, but at the same time a very fast bottom that starts and stops. ... Overall, the Korf house is one of the most neutral and revealing I have heard. It can make even cheaper pickups perform their best. ... Definitely an excellent headshell."
"Yes, there is a sound difference in headshells, not just these three, but many others as well. I have long since stopped using headshells of pressed plate. The three headshells tested here all belong to the top. Taking the price into consideration the Korf HS-A02 is close to a best buy. Absolutely recommended."
Korf Audio HS-A02 headshell is one of The Absolute Sound's "2024 Recommended Products Under $1,000"!
TAS's Tom Martin said: "If you're using a standard removable head shell in your tone arm, this would seem to be the one to beat. ... The Korf has good mechanical rigidity measurements, we like the sound of it, and it's reasonably priced at $215 or thereabouts."
TAS's Tom Martin said: "If you're using a standard removable head shell in your tone arm, this would seem to be the one to beat. ... The Korf has good mechanical rigidity measurements, we like the sound of it, and it's reasonably priced at $215 or thereabouts."
Our Customers Say—
I have a lot of high end headshells and the Korf ceramic headshell is easily one of my most favorite headshells. I bought 4 of them for myself and another 4-6 more for friends.
I highly recommend this headshell to those who are audio enthusiasts and want nothing short of the best.
Tim Connor, KitsuneHiFi, USA
I highly recommend this headshell to those who are audio enthusiasts and want nothing short of the best.
Tim Connor, KitsuneHiFi, USA
It really is like removing a layer of cloth over the sound with clearer highs and dynamic bass. The Korf headshell is a component on its own and highly recommended.
Jerry, Maryland, USA
Jerry, Maryland, USA
I can already say that this headshell is on the next level compared to the standard Technics or anything else that I’ve had up to this point.
Edwin, Michigan, USA
Edwin, Michigan, USA
I have one of your HS-A02 head shells that I use with my Technics SL-1210G, and it is by far the best of the head shells I have used.
I’ve got a million head shells already. Some of them are famously fantastic, but none of them sound as good as of course Korf.
Michael, Texas, USA
I’ve got a million head shells already. Some of them are famously fantastic, but none of them sound as good as of course Korf.
Michael, Texas, USA
Why is the Korf Headshell Better?
- The World's Only Fully Ceramic Headshell
It's a single piece of alumina ceramic:
- Light and incredibly strong
- As rigid as steel at less than half the weight
- The headshell and the connector are one seamless casting
- No internal breaks or lesser materials
- Unique supporting rib minimizes resonances
Advanced materials and construction make the headshell "disappear" sonically. You will hear what your cartridge and tonearm are really capable of! - Proven EngineeringWe studied dozens of headshells to see what separates the best from the rest:
- Quality headshells have high bending resistance. They are very stiff in bending and in torsion, showing low deflection
- Quality headshells have low energy storage. They "ring" only for a short time, and have only one or two clearly defined own frequencies
We build our headshell 2-3 times stronger than the next best headshell we measured. While keeping the energy storage as low as the best headshells out there.
- Attention to Detail
- Pure silver litz wiring
- Custom gold-plated contact pins
- Laser-cut steel double locking pin for a more rigid connection to the tonearm. The clamping load is spread over the entire diameter of the barrel
- Beautiful custom-made brass fingerlift, screws and knurled nuts are included
- Fully compatible. Fits all the tonearms that accept the standard "SME/Ortofon/JIS" type straight headshells
- Comes in sturdy reusable packaging
HS-A03 Specifications
Fits all the tonearms that accept the standard "SME/Ortofon/JIS" type straight headshells. If you are worried about the headshell mass and its impact on tracking, please use our Tonearm/Cartridge Matching Calculator. Most arm/cartridge combinations work fine with HS-A03.
- SME/Ortofon/JIS type turntable headshell
- Single seamless casting, material: Alumina Ceramic
- So precise, it needs no elastic washer
- Pure silver Litz connecting wires
- Custom gold-plated contact pins, ø1.2mm
- Custom non-magnetic brass mounting hardware
- Double locating pin for extremely secure connection
- Weight 13 gram, including wires and fingerlift
Most headshells need elastic washers to sit tightly in the tonearm connector. These washers are typically detrimental to the sound. Our precision connector ensures sonically transparent, stable link between the tonearm and the headshell. No need for a washer!
Note: there are some cartridges that need very light or highly resonant headshells to sound good. Such pickup cartridges might not benefit from using the HS-A02 headshell. To the best of our knowledge, these include JICO Seto Hori moving coil cartridge and all Grado MI cartridges
Terms and Conditions
- ShippingWe will ship your purchase worldwide from Klosterneuburg, Austria. Shipping and handling is at cost.
If you are outside the EU, we cannot promise that you will or will not have to pay your country's import taxes and duties. - ReturnsIf you aren't satisfied with your purchase for any reason whatsoever we will gladly take it back within 40 days from the date of delivery.
There is no charge for restocking If you return all items in the original packaging. If you are in the EU we will cover the return shipment costs. - 1 Year WarrantyWe will replace anything you bought from us free of charge if it fails due to manufacturing defects within 1 year from the date of delivery.
- Safe and SecureWe will keep your data as secure as we can and will not do anything with it without first getting a permission from you. If you don't want us to store your data any more (for example, your email address), just let us know and we will delete it straight away.
We would never sell your details to any marketer. Period, no exceptions. - Quality EngineeringWe only offer things that we have designed ourselves, and that are manufactured to our specifications under our control.
We do not re-badge someone else's products to sell them as our own. - Real People, Real OpinionAll product endorsements you see on our site and in our advertising are from real people who enjoy their Korf Audio products.
Korf Audio would not exist without free exchange of sincere opinion on the internet. We do not post any promotional content pretending to be a personal opinion on any public forum.