Acoustic Signature Double X Neo Makassar Turntable Pack + TA-500 Neo 9-inch Tonearm

Makassar ebony in its most fitting technical setting: the combination directly recommended by Acoustic Signature, where each element finds its place effortlessly. The obviousness of the beautiful and the well-made.

This pairing embodies what Germans willingly call "die richtige Lösung", the right solution. For the Double X Neo, Acoustic Signature designates the TA-500 Neo 9-inch as ideal entry partner: the arm length matches the chassis dimensions exactly, effective mass is calibrated for the most common cartridges, and the result is immediately musical. In Makassar finish, the precious-wood chassis frames an arm that stays understated. Attention naturally goes to the beauty of the grain. maPlatine.com delivers this combination mounted, wired and aligned in our workshop.

The Double X Neo Makassar: precious wood as everyday object

Makassar wood is one of the most recognisable and prized species in high-end cabinetmaking. Its warm tones (amber, brown, deep black) organise into a pronounced and natural grain that makes each piece unique. On the Double X Neo, the veneer is applied with care that fully reveals the material, and each turntable is, in practice, a singular object.

Beyond finish, the Double X Neo features a sophisticated multilayer construction: three layers of MDF, steel and plywood press-bonded with a specific flexible adhesive. This technique combines inertia, structural damping and acoustic neutrality, in an approach that places the Double X among the most resolved chassis in its category. Dimensions: 44 x 35 cm, weight: 24 kg.

The 50 mm solid aluminium platter weighs 10.3 kg and hosts 8 polished brass Silencers dissipating internal resonances. The ultra-precise DTD® spindle sits inside the Dura Turn Diamond® diamond bearing, backed by a 15-year warranty. The silent AC motor with 2 coils / 24 poles benefits from the Level 1 AVC correction specific to the Neo range. The side control panel handles 33 and 45 rpm, and the DMC-20 power supply stabilises the whole.

The TA-500 Neo 9-inch: the right measure

The TA-500 Neo is the first arm in the Acoustic Signature range, but in no way an entry-level tonearm in the conventional sense: it's the first reference in the catalogue, designed according to the same principles as higher models and built in the same German factory.

With 239.3 mm effective length and 10 g effective mass, the 9-inch TA-500 is versatile: it accepts most MM and MC cartridges on the market, with slight preference for MC. Its double-layer carbon tube provides rigidity and damping.

Tracking relies on high-precision miniature ball bearings mounted on a machined stainless-steel shaft. The solid brass counterweight brings necessary mass with excellent damping, and the lateral weight anti-skating relies on the simplicity and lasting precision of gravity: no spring to age, no thread to maintain. The solid aluminium headshell allows 17.3 mm overhang adjustment and accepts most cartridges.

Internal wiring is handled by Mogami in studio-grade copper, with 24k gold-plated cartridge connectors. The arm comes with an Audioquest PSC copper DIN/RCA cable, and with two mounts (3-point REGA and SME), both compatible with precise VTA adjustment.

In listening: rightness and emotion

The Double X Neo is above all a silent turntable: the noise floor is so low that it opens the way to extremely detailed reading of the groove. The soundstage is wide, deep, and separation between musicians is sharply defined.

The TA-500 Neo fits this approach perfectly. Without any added coloration, it holds the cartridge in the groove with remarkable stability and lets every detail surface. Its fluidity is notable: listening remains pleasant and natural over time, without the analytical tension that can accompany more ambitious configurations.

Strings, brass and vocals benefit from realism and finesse rare at this level. No aggressiveness on sibilants, no harshness on dynamic passages. But above all, and this is what distinguishes this pairing, the Double X fully transmits the emotion linked to interpretation. Vocals are rendered with striking naturalness.

A combination that marries object beauty and result rightness: the Double X Makassar isn't only a piece of furniture you look at, it's also an instrument you listen to for hours without fatigue.

FAQ: Everything you need to know before buying the Double X Neo Makassar pack + TA-500 Neo 9-inch tonearm

Why is this combination recommended?

This is exactly the pairing that Acoustic Signature designates as the ideal entry-level partner for the Double X Neo. The 9-inch geometry matches the chassis dimensions without overhang, the 10 g effective mass is compatible with the vast majority of cartridges, and the overall balance delivers an immediately musical result.

Is the TA-500 Neo really worthy of a turntable at this level?

Yes. It is not an entry-level tonearm in the usual sense: it is the first reference model in the catalogue, designed according to the same principles as the higher-end arms and manufactured in the same German facility.

Is each Makassar turntable truly unique?

Yes. The veneer is applied with great care to fully reveal the natural material, and each turntable is, in practice, a unique object with its own distinctive grain pattern.