One of the very best tonearms on sale at any price, aptly named the Conqueror. Yet, this isnt an overblown or showy performer its not voiced to impress some of the people, some of the time. Rather, its exceptionally even-handed and balanced in its presentation and sounds sublime across a wide range of music. An immensely high resolution measuring instrument, it is nevertheless consummately musical and organic sounding. A real fit and forget product, no matter what you play, it just dissolves away.
Compared to more affordable Origin Live tonearms, theres an obvious increase in transparency, and with it a heightened sense of realism. Music sounds more natural and less processed, as if a bright light has been shone on the recording and its there in front of you, in all its glory. Yet it confers an uncanny smoothness on the music, too; theres a wonderful sense of ease and rhythmic ebb and flow. Bass is yet more powerful and defined than Illustrious, which is no small feat. Vocals shimmer with natural timbre, and stereo imaging is almost holographic./p>
Features
- Hybrid arm tube, composed of 5 materials for superb energy dissipation
- Ultra low friction dual-pivot bearings for optimum treble performance
- Floating vertical bearings decouple the armtube from the deck, reducing coloration
- High strength aircraft alloy headshell for increased dynamics
- Internal high grade copper Litz wire with gold-plated copper beryllium cartridge tags
- Silver Hybrid external arm cable
- Copper Harmony single point contact RCA plugs for high conductivity and minimal eddy currents
- Integral VTA adjustment
- Fits all Rega armboard cutouts old style threaded base or new 3-point mounting
Now in MK4 version, the arm looks similar to the previous MK3C but MK4 arms are easily identified by a slot in the rear stub for the counterweight clamp bolt. Another visual differences includes a more stylish slanted arm clip.
The MK4 version represents a major leap forward in performance through a stiffer arm tube. It also introduces a number of improved decoupling devices within the armtube itself. This included a new interface with the counterweight which is attached differently. These new features result in significant improvements to: definition, transient speed, dynamics, separation, timing and overall musicality to name but a few.
Each tonearm in the Origin Live range shares important features outlined below. Higher models are differentiated by refinement, increasingly costly materials, components and advanced engineering. Differences between various models are highlighted on the specific page allocated for each arm. You can also compare features on the Specifications page.
High Strength Alloys and Carbon Fibre Components
Your cartridge needs to be held with rock like solidity if it is to accurately extract the microscopic information contained within your record grooves. In strategic components rigidity is essential to reduce microscopic bending and give in the tonearm structure. The exact reasons why this is so critical go far beyond superficial explanations such as reducing movement or resonance. The truth is little understood and would require a book to explain due to technical complexities.
Soft alloy castings and carbon fiber tubes (using fishing rod technology) are commonly used in tonearms but are wholly inadequate for high grade performance. Origin Live arms avoid these cheap alternatives and as you might expect the music benefits immensely from the improved rigidity. Gone is the soft, woolly, haziness and muddle that so many arms are responsible for producing. Instead notes have greater impact, dynamics, speed. This gives their arms their outstanding reputation for realism.
High Grade Materials for Turntables Tonearm
The nature of mechanical playback means that every material chosen plays a role in performance. Specifications and theory can only play a limited role here. If pure measurements were the answer, you could use a computer to judge the talent of singers on shows like the Voice or the X-factor. The problem is that any measurement system can only measure what its programmed to. Understanding the physics of what makes one voice more preferable to another would probably take more than a lifetime. For this reason Origin Live conduct hundreds of listening tests to determine the best choices.
Origin Live pay obsessive attention to the types of material used throughout the construction of turntables. This is one reason their Platter Mat (offered as an accessory) upgrades 99% of turntables on the market. The same is true for their turntable belts and oil, both of which receive remarkable reviews from satisfied clients. These may seem trivial examples but they indicate a fanatical thoroughness in research that extends to much more important areas in their turntables.
Technical Specifications
Origin Live 9.5 (239mm) Standard Tonearm Specifications (same as Rega Geometry)
Origin Live 9 inch (229mm) MK4 Tonearms with Linn Geometry
Origin Live 10 inch (254mm) MK4 Tonearms
Origin Live 12 inch (309mm) MK4 Tonearms
Manufacturer Site