AVIDHIFI Volvere Turntable & Altus Tonearm Review | Complexity w/ a Purpose?

Newcomer to TAS' KZbin team, Chris Martens, reviews the Avid Volvere Turntable & Altus Tonearm. Tune in to learn more!
00:00-03:52 Overview of Avid Volvere TT
03:52-14:18 Design & Construction
14:18-18:37 Altus Tonearm
18:37- Sound Quality
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[@thomascaselli6139]

I’ve owned the Avid Sequel, Volvere, and for the last 13 years the Acutus Reference SP tables. The quietness is what first attracted me to the brand. However personally what keeps me a fan is they are set and forget about them. They absolutely keep their setup. Never needing adjustment until you change cartridges.

[@twraven1]

I don’t believe that I have seen and heard Chris Martins before. I have read many of his reviews but it is very nice to see the man behind those reviews. I look forward to more.

[@dangeorgecommunications]

A brilliant look at the stunning British-made Volvere, Altus arm and Ionic MC cartridge. Bravo, Chris! I adore my AVID turntable and phono stage, and would highly recommend them to anyone.

[@christopherwright8179]

Excellent review Chris. I’ve had the Sequel SP for about seven years, and I will never part with it. The speed stability is legendary, and I’m able to extract so much information from LP’s that my digital front end is left in the shade. It is built like a tank, and I expect to pass it on to my children one day. I’m using it with an SME IV and Benz Micro Glider SL into a Vertere Phono-1 MKII. Yes, the bass!!!

[@bbb-ri4vs]

great review! I have struggled with my avid turntable but appreciate your perspective

[@stephenclifton7198]

I have the very FIRST Retail unit sold of the "Avid Volvere mk 4" Turntable!!. I bought mine in 2006 (here in the UK) and dealt directly with Conrad Mass over the telephone as mine was the First unit sold and he asked for feedback over time of its performance and my thoughts on sound quality etc. I have it fitted with an "SME Series 4 Tonearm" and an "Ortofon Kontrapunkt C" moving coil cartridge. The difference with mine is it has an inbuilt Power Supply fitted underneath the lower structual plinth with two buttons above with coloured LEDs to start the platter spinning and other to alter speed between 33 1/3 and 45 rpm. Great Review and i would agree with what you say in your opinion on its performance, although yours has the External Power Supply/Speed Control unit and twin Belts whereas mine has one. My Early version can be upgraded with external Power Supply/Speed Control unit.

[@robertbubeck9194]

Thanks, Chris, for an excellent overview of the of this Avid turntable and tonearm combination. One might say that this kit is a "relatively affordable" entry point into the sonic world of higher end turntables. I look forward to more reviews from you via KZbin.

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

Heavy duty turntable 👍🏻

[@MagicMaus29]

What is it about the German word “Achtung” that fascinates English-speaking people so much?

[@THEOMD57]

What is the wow&flutter and rumble of this turntable ?

[@ChrisMag100]

I’ve measured wow on an Acutus Classic with Analog Majik. It’s within 0.01 of my 1210GR and is more speed accurate. The Sequel uses the same motor and power supply as the Acutus. The Volvere shares the chassis of the sequel, has a less powerful motor but is DSP controlled for speed. I’ve measured wow and speed with an RPM app, but I don’t recall the exact number. I recall RPM giving a similar wow value as a ProJect X8 I owned for a period, but RPM’s accuracy is debatable. I’ll need to revisit wow measurements on my Volvere now that I have a better measurement tool. Can’t comment on rumble, except to say that these tables give the lowest noise floor of any table I’ve had in my system. I’ve used a range of arms on my Volvere, including a Rega RB2000, Kuzma 4 point 9” and an Avid Nexus, and cartridges ranging from a Denon DL103 up to cartridges like the Hana Umami Blue and Ortofon Cadenza Bronze. Even with a $300 cartridge like the 103 or Sumiko Moonstone, performance was excellent.

[@filmnarr163]

Is Mr. Martens not mostly a "digital guy" since a few years?

[@thomasmartin2219]

Right now Chris is doing turntables, cartridges, headphones and speakers for TAS.

[@AmazonasBiotop]

Haha, bass has nothing to do with the format. Of course I still today entertained by the mental image of one of my older audiophile friends that has been longer into TT that I have.. You know one that talks about the importance of that it is better if it is analog all the way and so on. And of course he listening to old recordings and such but he knows that I am not that dinky about those things.. And listen to newer stuff and so on. I put on the TT a electronic new recorded record that have a lot of low bass.... And I saw his face that said "wow, what a unexpected low and strong bass. I didn't know that this level were possible from vinyl" 😂😅 LP have great bass and plenty of it. You need to have correct setup and there is some more pitfalls than other formats. One limitation has LP however is the rumble at very low frequencies. That other formats hasn't. (but then we are below 20hz and at high levels). 😅

[@jedi-mic]

who makes a cartridge he didn't say

[@jonpalin3551]

Avid - complete TT, Arm and Cart combo

[@thomasmartin2219]

Chris says it is the Avid Ionic cartridge

[@richardelliott8352]

They never do, even if they know, out of loyalty to the guys providing the loaner equipment. because if they don't get stuff to review , they are out of a job, so they always, logically, keep on the manufacturers good side. guys that handle a lot of cartridges can often tell by looking. Cartridges are notorious for excessive profit margins. Once the original manufacturer is known, most people would save money and simply buy from the original source, and not buy the more expensive re-branded version. Or, take the same money as the rebranded might cost, and move up the product line.

[@1Hiprascal]

Please turn off noise in background

[@danev2001]

A turntable that costs almost $10k give me a break. The band better show up to perform the album in the middle of my living room for that cost audiophiles are hilarious

[@CephBacon]

Does Avid media know this company exists? Cant imagine they would be willing to coexist

[@silkhead44]

Cant rationlize paying a months wages after tax on a turntable

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

It all depends on what is important to you.

[@_fakeklg]

Best avoided then.