ORIGIN LIVE: Encounter on a Linn LP12 (updated in the light of a conversation with Mark Baker)

 From the archives I received an email  from Mark Baker (Origin Live) expressing disappointment re my observations re his entry level arm’s performance on a Linn LP12 as shown below. I phoned him, out of courtesy, to discuss this with him. I envisaged a bruising encounter (don’t ask!) but it turned out be cordial. As […]

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AUDIO INSIDER

TONE ARM EFFECTIVE MASS: A cogent, scientifically based and rational explanation

Howard Popeck asked Geoffrey Owen, the driving force behind Helius Designs if he could and indeed would find the time to explain the reality behind effective mass and – in so doing – confound the misinformation, disinformation and scientific ignorance that clouds so many discussions of this topic. As an aside and somewhat mischievously, Howard […]

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Quill

WILSON BENESCH: Full Circle turntable, ACT 0.5 tonearm, & Ply MC cartridge – test review

“Hello, I’d like to apply for a Federal Grant? For what? Oh, to design and build a new, high-tech, very expensive turntable. What’s that? It plays records. Yes, that kind of turntable. Ofcourse they still make records. Why? How much time do you have? Oh, I forgot—you’re a federal employee, you have all day! Well, I didn’t mean […]

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Quill

FIDELITY RESEARCH TONEARMS: Overrated nostalgia or … timeless classics?

I’m trying to get a handle on what’s up with these arms. It seems there isn’t alot of info available outside of the most desireable FR-64 and -66 series, though the FR-14s seem to command a bit higher prices. From what I can find: The -24, -34, -54 and -64 were contemporaries, with the -34 […]

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MICHELL ENGINEERING: Gyro to Orbe upgrade; is it sensible in this system?

Can you advise me in my quest to enhance my current hi-fi system please? It looks like this: Michell GyroDec + Rega RB600 + Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge. The phono stage is a Clear Audio Basic MM/MC. Loudspeakers are Linn Ninkas and CD player a Linn Genki. The power amp is a Linn LK140 […]

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AUDIO INSIDER

MICHELL ENGINEERING: Synchro test review

Howard Popeck … The Synchro was mid-priced turntable inspired by the original GyroDec, but with an inverted-pendulum suspension and a glass platter. It looked dazzling 20 years ago, and it still does today. In the John Michell tradition, all the working parts are exposed, superbly engineered and impeccably cosmetically finished. It has a cast-ring sub […]

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ACOUSTIC RESEARCH: AR-11 turntable – so … what happened?

Audio Tools write: Although this company is mostly famous for their loudspeakers they did indeed make a line of hi-fi from the early 60’s into the late 80’s. Their turntables were almost legendary in the US but are seldom seen in Europe with their 80’s models being an exception, but those were actually manufactured at […]

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MICHELL ENGINEERING: Orbe SE test review

HiFi Choice writes:  We are delighted to announce that the Orbe SE has won the recent group test in the January edition of the UK’s HiFi Choice Magazine.  Although the competition was fierce, the Orbe SE (fitted with Techno Arm “A“) beat off the competition to take the coveted Grouptest Winner badge. MORE PLEASE VISIT OUR […]

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Quill

MICHELL ENGINEERING: GyroDec SE Mk. II turntable test review

  Brad Morrical writes ….. “Once you hear the GyroDec SE Mk.II (or rather, don’t hear it), you know it’s going to be in your system for the long haul. With a naturally balanced cartridge, I have not heard reproduced music sounding closer to live than through the GyroDec. I don’t see the need to […]

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INFINITY TONEARMS: What happened?

Good afternoon. I am curious about Infinity tone arms. Is there any info you can offer please? Certainly. The first arms that the company sold were actually Infinity branded versions of the Forrmula 4 Tonearms but in the late 70’s it introduced a pivoted arm of it’s own manufacture that featured a carbon fibre arm […]

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VINYL REPLAY: But, guess what? That’s perfect for a moving coil which wants a low input impedance in the first place. Voila!

PS AUDIO / Paul McGowan Of all the questions we are asked by customers, finding and fixing hum is perhaps number one. Ground loops would be our first suspect, but a close second is hum and noise from turntables. Ground loops occur when two pieces of interconnected equipment find themselves grounded at different levels (one […]

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