WHY you NEED a BETTER TURNTABLE Origin Live Calypso & Conqueror REVIEW

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thanks for watching the video, you probably all own these already but the records I referenced in the video are Daft Punk Random Access Memories 10th Anv geni.us/lEdnN6H James Taylor Greatest Hits Inakustik Reference Sound check volume two geni.us/0ZZbY Adele 25 geni.us/eLCEts

[@Phil_f8andbethere]

Great review Terry, I bought an OL Illustrious Mk 4 about 3 years ago to fit on my Roksan Xerxes 20+ table. Fantastic arm, and very easily adjustable for all parameters, and OL are a fantastic company to deal with. I doubt I will ever change the setup unless something fails. The Roksan is a fantastic set and forget turntable, and again very adjustable. Great to see you enjoying your vinyl so much.

[@jeffleigh3747]

Enjoyed this so much I've liked and subscribed 🤗 Thank you so much 🙏

[@thetragicyouth]

Very enjoyable and informative video, thanks Terry. Your content gets better and better - the B roll footage always looks stunning and great choice of interlude/background music too.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thank you very much, I am always working on making it better, every day is a school day

[@russellparker4568]

I’ve never seen you smile so much in a video Terry. It was pretty obvious that the record player allowed you to get really engaged with music, this is exactly how I feel anyway. Glad to hear you are enjoying the analogue side of hifi.

[@stephendixon8575]

Terry, can I just say that even though I don’t (currently) have a vinyl set up, nor any immediate plans to invest in one, I still really, really enjoyed this - I would even go so far as to say it felt like one of the best I’ve EVER seen you do! So why is that? I think it comes down to one simple thing; the palpable, really genuine sense of enthusiasm and pleasure that this has clearly given you - I don’t every recall seeing you almost like a giggling, excited kid like this before! Anyway, just wanted to say a big thank you and to give you the encouragement you deserve - especially where it’s due. It’s important to let people know not just when they’ve done well, but why … So hope this continues to keep you so bubbly and excited; I for one will certainly be tuning in to find out 😉❤️

[@markcarrington8565]

Great video, Terry. I think you’re discovering the complexity of reviewing turntables. The tonal balance is affected more by the transducers than other components in a system. Specifically, the cartridge at the front end and the speakers at the opposite end of the chain. To really evaluate the difference a turntable is making, it is probably worth having a couple in at the same time and mounting the same cartridge on both. Even this isn’t really fair, as one arm could suit the compliance of the cartridge better than the other. Still it’s all good fun. A Rega Naia or mid range Linn LP12 must be in your future I believe. 😊

[@julianmalcwarner]

welcome to the subtle details and feelings heard and felt by playing vinyl on very good equipment

[@Nigel_Bolton]

Another excellent video Terry, what you have there is a similar place to where I started my Origin Live journey, as I commented on your video on static reduction I have gone through some iterations and have come to know Mark, David and Luke Baker. I hope you are going to Ascot on the press day as I imagine you will get to hear some more great OL turntables. A recommendation for a listen on any TT but great on the OL, a 45 rpm version of Eva Cassidy Songbird. Of course songbird and over the rainbow are great, but the side starting with Autumn Leaves is just fantastic and is very much worth the typically £5 extra to have this on the 45rpm double album over the 33rpm single.

[@malcolmmartin2892]

Spent a few hours in 2016 at OL in Southampton and came away with a Calypso Mk 4.. Used initially with a OL Silver tone arm which I already had and later upgraded to Illustrious Mk 4, currently fitted with a Cadenza Bronze cartridge. Been very happy with the result and now looking to add the Strata platter mat.

[@chrislj2890]

Looks very nice and that spinning platter looked like it was on an air bearing. The turntable I am currently drooling over is the Pro-Ject Signature 10 in walnut burl. I can't seem to get it out of my brain, but I have three turntables and spending $10,000 on another would be absolute insanity. Hey, I meant to mention on your previous record cleaning video that it might be a good idea to move that plant away from overhanging your turntable. I noticed you sometimes bump it and those leaves can accumulate dust. Thanks for the review.

[@laszlobencze8899]

Good review. I also own a Conqueror tone arm. It is a solid performer and gives me no trouble. Previously I owned the Illustrious tone arm, which is one step below the Conqueror and costs a thousand pounds less. Unfortunately, I had a great deal of trouble with that one. After I installed it, I noticed that many of my records that previously played perfectly started skipping. I did everything I could to clean the records, but the skips persisted. Furthermore the problem was erratic. Sometimes a record skipped in one position, sometimes in another, and sometimes it didn't skip at all. To be honest, most records did not skip. But any skipping is annoying especially when the cause is unclear. After about a year of this I began to suspect the tone arm. I did a test of the tone arm by pushing it across a clear part of a record and noticed it did not move smoothly. This informed me that indeed the tone arm was at fault. I returned it to Origin Live and rather than get another Illustrious, I upgraded to the Conqueror. Mark Baker informed me that the skipping problem was due to a defective ball bearing in the Illustrious. The lesson I learned was that even a brand new piece of gear may be defective. Don't assume, as I did, that it could not possibly be at fault. Mark Baker, however, was very easy to deal with and the problem was resolved to my satisfaction. My turn table system exceeds my very expensive Luxman 10D X CD player in terms of musically satisfying play back. Why obsolete technology can exceed current state of the art is a mystery but so it is.

[@christianevans4449]

Wow. Had the same exact problem with the same tonearm. OL team was very responsive. But it took a while to solve it.

[@bbfoto7248]

IMO, that's simply inexcusable for such a bespoke brand, and for a tonearm at this price level and "pedigree", it gives me cause for reservation. :/ Seriously, it's probably THE single most important part in the tonearm responsible for its ultimate performance, and it's been found to be defective in two separate cases that just happen to be randomly divulged in a single KZbin video? I'd have to assume that there have been even more of these cases that have not been publicly revealed. :/ What of QC??? Honestly, for such an important component, ALL of their ball bearing stock should be inspected for defects PRIOR to assembly. These aren't products that are flying off of a mass-production assembly line at hundreds or thousands at a time in the far east! It's commendable that OL took care of their customers after the fact, but IMHO these tonearms should have never been allowed to leave the shop in the first place! Such unnecessary grief when not expecting a tonearm at this bespoke level of assumed performance to be the cause, and even potentially resulting in damage to your best vinyl LPs or expensive cartridge/stylus. Crikey! :/ Again, these aren't from an "average" HiFi brand or being mass-produced on an automated assembly line...They are upper tier bespoke products where you should expect higher precision and thorough individual QC of each unit. Some may feel that I'm being overly critical here, and that's their prerogative and opinion...and this is my own. Just sayin'.

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

The Origin Live Cartridge Enabler works especially well with cheaper cartridges. The most impressed I've been with it was the improvement it gave to an Ortifon 2M Red, believe it or not! I have recommended it to a few 2M Red owners and none have returned it! I use it on a couple of my turntables with other cartridges.

[@bbfoto7248]

I could see how the OL "Cartridge Enabler" might provide some amount of acoustic damping. However, the cartridge is still directly coupled to the headshell (and hence, the tonearm) via its metal mounting screws. Perhaps if the attachment of the cartridge to the headshell could use some type of isolation/decoupler media between them such as wool felt or neoprene closed-cell foam, in addition to being attached and secured by small, low-compliance rubber or silicone bands or straps, we might be able to achieve much better acoustic decoupling. But yes, I realize that the cartridge must be rigidly mounted so as to not move in conjunction or unison with the actual stylus, otherwise the signal amplitude and its accuracy will be severely diminished. Just thinking out loud. ;)

[@richardelliott8352]

the tonearm securing nut on my Michell set up sounds best just tight enough to prevent movement , yet not as stiff as finger tight. I'm confident organ live can give you a torque figure. most tonearms are just cranked down like any other machine fastener, once you get bolt stretch, it's tight and secure . my particular set up is easy to reach the nut and experiment with results.

[@vassmarc1]

I agree . Too tight kills the bass.

[@dennyepresley6082]

Very informative and clear review Terry, not keen myself on those dangly weight things, as to your previous Static video does your uncovered table increase static?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thank you, I dont know I am yet try a TT with a lid 😀

[@ziccuj]

Hi Terry and thanks for the video! I find it fascinating how you describe the overall sound and vibe of a certain piece of music and what you like about it. Just being curious... do you have a background in music? I mean, do you sing or play an instrument (or several), have theory knowledge, perhaps music or physics/acoustics studies? I purchased my first turntable three years ago (we're talking 10% of the price range in this video, the Dual CS 518 as my father also has a Dual from the 70's that still works!). My main "plan" (if there's any) has been to acquire a nice collection of records first and perhaps at some point upgrade my turntable system - we'll see. I'm quite happy with the Dual at this point, but I'm always interested in learning new stuff as I have an endless interest in good sound being both a musician and a part-time studio engineer myself. I honestly can't see myself spending 6 grand on a new turntable anytime soon, but it surely is interesting to know more about the specifics and what goes into making a real high-end product. Greetings from Finland, keep up the good work!

[@nathanielbrice8725]

Commenting before I watch cos I know it’s gonna be a good video!

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

😎 👍

[@michaelbooth6007]

Looked a nice turntable and I would say reasonable value for money for a small volume hand made product. I find it hard to believe how much money you can spend on an LP12 these days having had one myself. If I was looking to get back into vinyl I would consider this product.

[@jaymerritt6230]

Easily my favourite video you’ve made, love that turntable, I also love Sumiko Starling and if you ever get chance try the 40th anniversary it’s very similar but just a tad more detailed, right up your street, in the sense you’re after the ultimate synergy and playback, I would also recommend very highly Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua, or even the cheaper but legendary Karat, the Karat would work well with your stylus cleaning kit you used in your last video due to the incredibly short Diamond Cantilever, but I can promise you hands down to get the best outta such a cool deck you need to test out my recommendations, I use that starling and rotate it with e.a.t Jo No.5, Ortofon SPU and the Dynavector, all completely different sounds, but easy enough to swap out, headshell leads I use Cardas, I find silver leads too analytical, occ cast much smoother, the Ortofon SPU for bass heavy, Karat for neutral sounding music, classical or jazz, contemporary music from Vangelis I’ll swap out too Jo No.5 as that will bounce both up and down and side to side give both channels the full beans in the groove, but mate I’m so happy to see your journey, and again thanks for the videos, top bloke.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thanks very much for the kind words and the reco’s super helpful

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

The Dynavectors have really low gain, I would need a step up with them so another level of vinyl complexity - nothing is made easy

[@jaymerritt6230]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem worth it thou mate, get a good Phonostage Primaluna 100 Phono, or even the Pro-Ject DS2 Tube will help with LO Cartridges, use that Ortofon SUP and those Dynavectors will sing, Low Output Cartridges will deffo elevate what your listening too, the push for more gain with less windings will pull more from the vinyl, mate I look forward to your videos every week, keep up the good work mate.

[@jespermaintz8993]

Thanks for the review. Looks great. Didn't you have Gryphon 333 in for review as well? ;)

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yeah that was needed back for demos due to its high demand but it’s coming back to me soon. It made sense for me to re familiarise myself with the 300 so I can more easily report on the differences

[@hifitommy]

i am encouraged to see your enthusiasm. it seems like you were a digital guy first but are now hearing what I and many vilyl stalwarts hear. harry person used the word...verisimilitude to describe a sound that purely accurate or not, was more like the real thing. $3k for a tt seems like about right but another $3k for an arm makes me cough. my setup is a SOTA Sapphire/MMT that hits the 3k for the tt but if the Jelco made MMT were available now, it might go for ~$1k. whether that would entirely measure up to the OL setup is unknown, of course.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I still am a digital guy, the digital gear I am normally running is much higher end and then the vinyl at this level struggles to compete, however with more affordable digital this vinyl setup sounds better and that is the first time I have felt that since I started the journey. So I can see it from the perspective of someone who focuses more on vinyl than digital. this setup is sounding very good so it will be interesting when the super high end digital gear comes back to me soon to do some comparisons again :)

[@bbfoto7248]

@PursuitPerfectSystem Well Terry, TBF, unfortunately the fact that that EVERY analog- or digitally-derived release on VINYL must be Mastered significantly different for the vinyl medium as opposed to a file meant for Online Streaming/CD/SACD, etcetera, will make any attempt at a meaningful direct A/B listening comparison an exercise in futility. ;) You will simply not be listening to and comparing the same master, and it will not be an Apples-to-Apples comparison. In addition, Each Streaming Platform or Service has its own specific and unique Mastering Requirements before the files are approved and uploaded to their file servers. So again, it's not an Apples-to-Apples comparison, even among the different streaming services! So there's that. ;) You can, however, compare the same artist and Vinyl LP album release on two different turntable rigs. OR, as just one example, using the same TT rig, compare the original U.S. pressing and vinyl LP release of "The Cars" 1978 self-titled album to the 2023 Rhino High Fidelity numbered & Limited Edition 180g vinyl LP pressing of this same album that was mastered and cut by Kevin Gray at CoHEARent Audio (fantastic!). Cheers & Happy New Year!

[@MrHristoB]

I play guitar for years, spending some time on the piano from time to time. When I pick a HiFI, I'd either listen to strings or a vocal tracks. Adelle is an excellent choice to test your rig. She's one of the most natural talents in decades. You want to know how good your stereo is? Play 140 piece symphony orchestra, if you can pick up the individual instruments, you didn't waste your money.

[@jeffreythurston1822]

Really nice and in-depth review. I have the same cartridge on an OL arm using a Feickert TT. Wonderful sound out of it. I get zero hum or hiss even with my ear up to the tweeter so I’m not sure why you are hearing any unwanted noise.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

No vinyl setup is silent man, there is always some background noise it’s a super sensitive super high gain thing hard keeping that silent

[@jeffreythurston1822]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I agree at playback there will always be some surface noise. However, a rig in that price range really should be dead quiet at rest. I even have a tube preamp and phonostage and have zero hiss or hum.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Something for me to think about thanks, what phono stage are you running please

[@jeffreythurston1822]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Terry I’m using the phono stage on the new McIntosh C2800 Tube Preamp with amazing results. I’ve tried a number of outboard phono stages, some quite expensive and they did not give me the same quality of sound and dark background as this one. Of course just one guy’s experience. Love the channel. Keep it up.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Maybe your getting a noise reduction bump from the phono being built in. To be fair when I had the big mc 9500 here I liked the phono built into that

[@MrRocktuga]

If you want to hear the overtones (more than it was recorded, which is exactly what happens on vinyl), you can add an analogue valve compressor with EQ between the digital source and the pre-amplifier. It’s repeatable and ajustes by yourself at your own specific taste. If you like the whole experience of vinyl (including all the surface noise that will get unavoidable worse with time), go with a good turntable setup. I really loved your “older” approach to sound systems, which included using Dirac (and the most recent technology) to try to achieve a more neutral and balanced sound (even if I do understand that brands are walking away from it in stereo products, such as Arcam). 😉 There’s so much that can be improved with turntables (or CD’s for that matter), since all the peak performance products were already made several decades ago for those formats. Some manufacturers might use different materials in the design of a turntable, but in the end, the goals remain the same, as it’s well known for several decades what an excellent turntable need to accomplish in order to be an excellent turntable. It doesn’t come cheap, so it doesn’t make any sense on expecting those high performance levels from a $400 turntable and stylus combo. But even if we spend $40.000 in an analogue front end, the format itself won’t change (with all its severe compromises), and we’re only changing between different kinds of coloration. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, but there isn’t anything really new either, and even different cartridges can’t help avoiding sounding different. It’s the whole nature of analogue, and specifically turntables.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

There is no reason why you can’t have both, I would still use a Dirac system in a heart beat and soon there will be more opportunities to do so with hifi than ever before. But I didn’t use it to chase a neutral sound by traditional standards - I appreciate the importance of equal loudness that’s where the sonic magic lives in my opinion

[@BIGGIEsmalls13]

It's all in the mastering. Sometimes vinyl, sometimes CDs, sometimes streaming. Just depends. One thing is clear, digital out classes cheaper turntables, then there's the room one hasn't treated.....unless we are talking headphones.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Did you see my room, no-one has treated the room more than me its about 65%-70% surface coverage of treatment including thick bass traps 1.2metres at the back of the room 😎

[@bobb.9917]

Terry…keep showing me the tedium, expense and time dedicated to turntables and vinyl…it REALLY makes me appreciate my carefully assembled digital streaming set-up more and more!!! As long as we are all having fun it’s all that matters. 😊 One rabbit hole 🕳️🐇 is enough craziness for this audiophile! 😂😂😂

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

One day your caving in, I can tell Bob that day you will hate me !! 😁

[@vassmarc1]

Nice choice . Original live is a great company . Their products out perform better than many , use innovative technologies and are not as expensive as many brands who are supported by the industry” good ole boys”.

[@preservedmoose]

Records are a pain but there is just a sound (and soundstage) that I can’t seem to get from digital. I’m happy for you that your experience is working out so well! BTW How do you set up your ‘speakers? They seem quite wide and slightly toed in, good distance away from the front wall. I used the Cardas ‘speakers setup which works well but always open to new ideas!

[@russellparker4568]

Same. Some of my old used records are a bit too rough tbh but if they were brand new, oh man, they would sound so good. I’ve got several new, some amazing, some meh. I think I’ve learned that I need to buy records from labels like analogue productions and abbey road master copies brand new from now on. Finding a 50 year old record thats plays with no noise or pops is impossible, no matter how many times it’s been cleaned.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

If I could afford it I would have this sort of set up. Instead I spend my time seeking out digital recordings that are not brickwalled. My music is mostly old, so it's not as hard as you might think. Vinyl rips to Dsd, or aad Dsd.. Stuff like that is very good. Even sacd files can be very good.

[@nathanevans6277]

Of all the currently available turntable manufacturers I think that Origin Live offer the best value for money. At every price point their offerings are invariably the top of the bunch. I'm saying this as a DIY turntables designer. I don't own an OL deck as I built my own but if I were to go commercial I'd definitely buy an OL.

[@ralex3697]

Nice table but sometimes these are hard to ground

[@sbonamo]

Yes.

[@weatheranddarkness]

tungsten carbide ball bearing? Gotta say I did not see that coming.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I thought I read that on the website, did I get that wrong?

[@weatheranddarkness]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I double checked, and apparently you're right. It's a very unconventional material for a bearing. Silicon Carbide is muuuch more common as a bearing material. That's the most common choice of ceramic bearing, particularly for turntables. Tungsten carbide is more commonly used for extremely hard wear use, such as mining cutters. Curious how O-L landed on using Tungsten Carbide, particularly since nobody else seems to.

[@67Pepper]

@@weatheranddarkness Silicon Nitride is a common bearing ball material, never never heard of a Silicon Carbide bearing ball.

[@ralex3697]

I agree with you Terry, once you meet a fine turntable it’s hard to date a digital robot.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I wouldn’t go quite that far as really good digital is still very special but not all digital is created equal just the same as everything else

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

You should get your hands on a waxwing phono pre, very interesting piece of kit, also probably very divisive among analog purists

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I have not heard of that one, I will check out out thank you. I check it out it’s a dsp based phono powered off 5v usb. That’s not for me. If i was going that route I would get a miniDSP with Dirac

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Look into it more, I thought the same at first.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I already know the last power source you want to take for digital audio is from 5V USB its noisy as hell - that would be awful for a phono stage. Sorry man that is not for me and sorry if this comment offends but I have tested this extensively over the last 10 years

[@clintonwalker5000]

Review a linn lp12 👍

[@AkinwaleArobiekePurpleAki]

I’d expect the king to build it for me at that price

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

The dealer would likely build it for you and they can wear a crown for a small fee

[@TonySharman-tb5ks]

If you take the time to look at the instructions you will see the bias ball that sits on the bar has a screw which tightens it in the set position and they even supply the correct allen key, you could do better if you take the time to learn more about the products you review, properly set up and tuned in this setup is gobsmacking. Tony Sharman.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

So it does and there go that is my query with this solved thank you - but I made a mistake, everyone makes them and it’s easy done. No need to take the line you have here with your comments. if the side bias is fixed or not the sound will be the same so maybe think of that next time

[@railwaystationmaster]

Better VFM than SME ?

[@neilsteadman8380]

What cartridge are you using with the Origin ?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

In this video Sumiko Starling

[@saritshah9156]

So in conclusion, the 6K OL + cartridge sounds better than a much cheaper digital system. Right. And the best you could say about it was that you enjoyed it. Right. What about a comparison with a Rega P10, Naia or Linn LP12. Or even your Bergman? That I truly expected. Disappointing. PS I have an OL Swift w/i Silver tonearm and Ortofon 2M Black.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I am still very new to vinyl so a comparison like would be useful of course just not with me doing at as it won’t not be totally accurate. In the future maybe

[@67Pepper]

13:50 That record weight is wobbling all over the place.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Its designed to move, its not fixed

[@67Pepper]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem A rotating mass running in an eccentric manner relative to the bearing and platter is completely ridiculous, perhaps you misunderstood my comment because no-one designs record weights to rotate that way unless you're just a very bad machinist and don't have the skill to make it correctly.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Sorry maybe I misunderstood what you meant. That isolator is not fixed it moves some. But the clip has a lot of camera wobble from the wide angle lens and camera in body stabilisation struggling from the wide angle. It’s hard to see anything more from that clip I feel.

[@hoobsgroove]

why can't you try a different tonearm then? they do a more expensive ones, there's the tonearm by supatrac bluebird, it's one of the best out there not too expensive. what is the price of that tonearm?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I couldn’t try another one as I didn’t have one here to compare against. That’s for my future as I start building up my experience and my own review equipment. I am pretty poorly paid audio reviewer with a family who has video production to think about cameras lights etc it’s all expansive so give me time

[@67Pepper]

He would need a different arm board to mount a different tonearm on it, plus there are several other parameters involved when you use different arms, IE spindle to pivot distance, arm height etc, not that simple.

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

It’s very simple to setup , but I thought it should have sounded better tried 3 different cartridges using a £5000 advanced Paris amp it was a bit lifeless compared to my LP12 , the turntables I had was the next one up £4900

[@markcarrington8565]

I think Terry has avoided the regular paths of Rega and Linn on purpose. Finding out about these alternative brands has been fascinating and it will make it all the more interesting when he eventually does succumb to the charms of the LP12. 😉

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Its not about avoiding companies on purpose - I am 7+ years in and feel pretty well established now and maybe I have been avoided by them. Contacts take time to build and I generally dont reach out to companies they reach out to me.

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

@@markcarrington8565 I think your right 👍👍👍

[@markcarrington8565]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Hi Terry, my comment was somewhat tongue in cheek. I think Rega and Linn are very happy in their space. For Linn in particular, I don’t recall seeing a single independent review of a newly launched Linn product in the last 3 years. Even the £50k Johnny Ives special was only spoken about by authorised dealers. It’s what happens when you sell every last unit. Having said all that, I do think a comparison with a Rega Naia and its corresponding cartridge would be worth a phone call for you.

[@kkjrees]

Don’t Origin say you should spend 60% of your overall system cost on the source, is that because they sell the source?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I think that is a fair point to make but to also be fair they are not the only company to say that

[@kkjrees]

I’m not criticising origin, I just wanted to know if it’s a fair statement, regarding where your budget goes in building a system, would the same rules apply to digital?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I think for digital it will depend on who you ask the same as analogue. I think HiFi is a hard one to create rules for because everything matters fundamentally but everyone sees priorities of everything differently. I have never been a fan of following someones else rules 😂

[@michaeldoran6652]

Spend on the amp, skimp on the source, and you are amplifying rubbish. Garbage in, garbage out.

[@nathanevans6277]

Mark Baker, the man behind Origin Live, recommends that the greatest expenditure should be the phonostage. Although they are the distributors for several brands of phonostage their main business is turntables and tonearms. If he were being less than honest he would recommend the turntable as number one. My experience would lead me to concur with Mark with regards to system hierarchy.

[@charlesnr]

But you now don't have a straight line tone arm as before, so your needle will have more wear on the inside, as most of these arms don't have perfect anti skating.

[@MarkBaker-xi1qt]

The geometry of a straight arm vs curved arm is identical as far as the Stylus is concerned - so there is no more wear on one side than the other - this misconception is easy to prove by simply drawing the 2 types of arm on a piece of paper at different positions on the record - the stylus angle remains identical for the same arm effective lengths. Also the anti-skating of a hanging ball is probably the most linear of all side bias devices and certainly sounds the best.

[@ericmc6482]

What if I told you that vinyl timbre can be injected into DAC stages 😎. The kicker is that the donor vinyl samples all sound different and none of them sound 'right', ie each house vinyl formulation has it's own timbre and none are properly 'natural' ☹️. Now go listen to your vinyl collection and this underlying timbre will be self evident 😳. Once heard these timbre variations cannot be unheard, sorry about that 😊.

[@67Pepper]

Okey Dokey.

[@wetcat833]

For £3000 my stereo will finally be able to reproduce what my digital source could never do. Perfectly reproduce in analog glory, all the clicks, hiss and scratches that drove me nuts in my youth. As soon as I buy some overpriced vinyl. (l hope it's not scratched, warped, badly pres......etc...).Wait.... I got to wipe it first...

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yeah some of that sucks but when it’s good it’s really really good

[@elderinmoi1571]

I don’t know why Videos like this pop up very time again when the answer is obvious. Everything that was originally recorded mixed and mastered for analog sounds better on vinyl. Everthing recorded digitally and was mixed and mastered digitally sound best as digital media.stay away from digitally remastered vinyl - but that is something everbody knows who is into vinyl.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Maybe you didn’t watch the video and just commented without knowing what the video is about, if you watch it the context of the title is explained

[@musicfromthegroove]

Your allen key is totally worn-out. Throw it away.

[@donepearce]

Of course it can compare. Here's a comparison. Digital sound is head and shoulders better than noisy, distorted, wow and fluttery analogue sound.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yep all those things and yet it can still sound better than some digital so there

[@donepearce]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Only if it is by some weird coincidence correcting an error made during recording. Of course "sound better" is a subjective judgment and very amenable to confirmation bias.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I am comparing them both all the time it’s my job to do so. Not all digital is created equal and the goal of the best digital is to sound more analogue and it does. But at the affordable end of digital good vinyl has the edge in a lot of ways. It’s not about confirmation bias it’s about doing extensive listening in an acoustically treated listening room with all the gear available that’s all to a very high level. Just saying it how it is

[@donepearce]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem That is fair enough, but it is a very different thing to comparing analogue with digital, which digital must win every time.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Only on paper if you listen to real high end systems listen to really high end vinyl and digital in a good room you can hear where vinyl is worse and better in ways and the same for digital so not really

[@realitykicksin8755]

Considering the fact that pretty much all recordings are digitally mastered ... makes Vinyl another step and as such a compromise to the result.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

You could say that about everything in audio - nothing is good enough, nothing sounds live but its all semantics really, its about getting a great experience that you enjoy the time spent listening. That is it, I have heard amazing sounding vinyl that started digital - makes no difference

[@guus007]

Depends on what you possess or buy. My collection is about 90 to 95 percent analogue masters. So do not generalise.

[@barneyrubble9309]

Not if you own or buy old vinyl they're not.

[@markcarrington8565]

Most of my records are analogue masters, whether originals from pre 1980 or specialist modern recordings. However, that’s not the point. It may be another step to take a digital file to analogue cutting head but you can’t assume the digital file you stream is the same as the one used to cut the disk. Many recording from the mid ‘90s onwards are mastered to be loud, which involves brick wall compression. This isn’t suitable for transfer to disk, hence the digital files used to cut disks often have more dynamic range in the real world and less compression distortion. Result is less listening fatigue and more sheer enjoyment. This is why young people talk about the “warm” vinyl sound. There is nothing intrinsically warm about the sound of my turntable setup. Rather it is neutral in presentation with no over emphasis on any one part of the audio spectrum. It is also highly resolving and full of dynamics with a large pin point soundstage. I recommend listening to a well set up vinyl system before making generalised statements on the performance of a given format.

[@jimsregaturntableshifijukebox]

​@@markcarrington8565 well said 👌

[@ccapri9357]

Sorry but I can´t barely tolerate watching your platter spinning up and down. I have an inexpensive project turntable and you can`t notice when it´s spinning. I must touch it to realize if it´s moving. Those up and down bumps are a no no for me. And that detached motor...

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Hahaha - if your referring to when I span the platter thats the soft table its on moving where I lent on it to spin the platter.

[@DavidMander-rs4uk]

I can't stand the look of that style of turntable. Just trying way too hard, keep it simple, audiophile gear is over-the-top overpriced nonsense!! Technics only for turntables.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

So a Technics deck designed for DJing so massive buttons a pitch slider and bling and bling to catch the eye of a DJ is not over the top or over priced - bit a silly comment this

[@bbfoto7248]

@PursuitPerfectSystem Terry, TBF the Technics SL-series DJ turntables do not contain any so-called "bling", only useful features and technology for the task at hand. They were designed and overbuilt to provide exceptional torque & speed stability, excellent isolation from vibration and inducted noise, and superior tracking under all conditions... THAT is the epitome of what ANY turntable should do. When properly set up with a more audiophile-centric cartridge/stylus combination rather than DJ cartridge, they still perform exceptionally well and track the microscopic grooves with precision and without excessive force or wear. I will point you to just one example of a Technics SL-series turntable combined with the fantastic Audio-Technica AT-ART9Xi cartridge: Check out the "AudioPhil" vinyl rip of "Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now (1983 12" Single) - Technics 1200G / Audio Technica ART9XI". Don't laugh. If you don't think this is an "audiophile worthy" track, just listen to all of the various percussion elements and bass line in this track and via this specific vinyl rip from a Technics SL-seriers TT. Even over KZbin it sounds better than my original CD release of the same track played via an Ayre C-5xe universal disc player (different mastering, of course). There are more fantastic vinyl rips by AudioPhil using this same TT/Cartridge setup, which is £2500 less than your OL setup. BTW, he is using a £600 Michael Fidler/Classic Audio, Ltd. MC PRO phono preamp here.

[@paulomontero12]

Nothing unique about vinyl. I feel for the same crap and one day I had enough of how much a pain in arsh it is, not to mention how expensive this hobby is. Bought a dac and I don’t think am bothering with vinyl anymore.

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

Can digital sound compare? Well, try playing that record fifty times, then compare it to a CD or digital file played the same number of times.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yes they wont sound the same play 1 or play 50 that is the whole point

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem I'm not sure I see that point. Every time a diamond styles traverses a vinyl groove, it damages that groove; eventually the record is unplayable and must be replaced. Digital doesn't have that problem.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

That is irrelevant for the sound and I am sure you can play records a lot before you have to throw them away as waste hence why many are still be played 50 years later

[@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Well, not really. It's a steady deterioration and depends on the quality of the vinyl, of course. Each new play adds new pops, crackles and distortion. Anyway, there are far worse hobbies than enjoying vinyl records, so I've no serious objection.

[@budsmoker4201120]

​@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xxthanks the loed you have no objections, we can live in peace now😂😂😂.....

[@frankd.b.9233]

You don't tell people how to balance the arm and set the weight to 0, and the desired mg/g you need..... And 6000+ to play only 2 types of speed is way too much money The round support plate is also poorly finished, sry And you can't even see how fast it's spinning, just crap

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Sorry if you mean setting the tracking force I showed the counter weight that’s locking, what else is there? Also I don’t have any records that need anything other than 2 speeds but I am guessing there are some odd ones that do?

[@Kowinaida]

I see the PH 9.0X is on full gain. Have you bothered to try cutting it? The metal disc on top will serve no purpose, if you want results in that area use mag lev that are suitable for its weight.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Yep I have tried the lower gain and saw no improvement. The top isolator is tungsten loaded and I have found this phono to be be very microphonic so I am trying things out. I have just installed ultra high end tungsten isolators under it and will see how I get on

[@Kowinaida]

​@PursuitPerfectSystem The microphony will be due to the shit JJ tubes. I know I own a PH 9.0X. Replace them with a NOS pair of 6922. Big difference. I experience zero microphony issues. Additionally replace the umbilical with one made of pure silver - another very noticeable enhancement.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I won’t be spending big money on this review loaner that makes no sense but I am happy to buy some diff tubes to try because that is interesting to me on a wider level.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I have ordered some stupid expensive nos 6922 tubes to try but I would also recommend you consider the isolation of the phono too, seems to respond very well to it

[@Kowinaida]

@PursuitPerfectSystem Good news Terry, which ones did you buy? Yes, as I mentioned to you mag lev works well. Also under the power supply.