advertisement


Origin Live arms

vinylmonkey

pfm Member
OL arms seem to get great reviews but less obvious love here and on other forums.

Is there a reason for that? Would love to hear about any experience of them and whether they indeed punch above their weight as some of the reviews suggest, especially the mid-to-upper models (Encounter, Illustrious, etc).
 
Have used an Illustrious Mk3 for 10 years and an OL Aladdin Mk2 cartridge on another arm.

Just emailed OL about a cable upgrade to my non-OL arm.

No hesitation in recommending.
 
I've used an Illustrious MK2 / Sovereign T/T since 2006. I've found no reason to replace it but I do have an itch to replace it with a MK3. I'm not sure why OL doesn't get more magazine / Forum coverage, perhaps in a crowded market he does well enough for the size of the company and doesn't have time for self promotion? His products aren't particularly fussy and are certainly reliable IME, the pairing I own just seems to get out of the way of the music which is how I like it. Colourless rather than colourful.
 
At the risk of hijacking the thread, but with some pertinence, has anyone replaced the stock Rega arm on their Planar with an OL arm? If so, how was it for you? I'm idly toying with the idea of doing this for my Planar 3 as an upgrade path rather than (say) going to Planar 8/10, because ultimately I could get an OL arm first, then eventually an OL deck and move the arm onto it as funds allow.
 
I went from an RB300 to an OL1 on my Townshend Rock III. It was well worth it! A more coherent sound overall. The OL1 stayed until I found a Zeta!
 
Own 2 Origin Live Alliance arms ( no longer made ?) - they are now waiting around for spots on the double arm TT that is slowly taking form. Good arms and were a smokin good deal pricewise (both purchased at retail new -come to think of it -of my motley collection of arms -these are 2 of 3 actual bought new arms over the last 50 years .)Mine have spent most of their time keepin company with one version or another of the Denon DL-103.
 
I'm idly toying with the idea of doing this for my Planar 3 as an upgrade path...

I wouldn't. I'm not saying the OL arm isn't better but the turntable/arm/cartridge hierarchy is real. The turntable is the foundation, defines the sound and dictates how well the arm and cartridge can work. A better deck with a lesser arm beats a poorer deck with better arm all day long.

A friend of mine upgraded his Planer3 over a couple of years. Added a brace, alloy sub-chassis and better bearing, 24v motor kit then a Neo. Swapped his RB300 for an RB303. He was delighted with every upgrade. About a month ago he put the arm and cartridge off his Planer3 onto a old Ariston RD11s. Kills the Rega and cost less than he spent on the upgrades!
 
I fully understand, what you say makes sense, but from a logistical perspective if I were aiming to ultimately (say) go OL deck+arm and could only afford the most basic OL deck & arm to start, why not get a nicer arm (eg Encounter) first then save up for the nicer deck (eg Calypso with multi layer platter etc) in another year or two? On top of which in my case the Rega is wall mounted using their wall mount and changing to another deck would mean changing the wall mount, which is a big faff :)
 
but from a logistical perspective if I were aiming to ultimately (say) go OL deck+arm and could only afford the most basic OL deck & arm to start, why not get a nicer arm (eg Encounter) first then save up for the nicer deck

It still doesn't make sense. The RB300 is already by far the best thing about the Planar 3 and a miles better than the rest of the deck. The arms are the main reason these Rega decks are better than their otherwise broadly similar competitors.

It sounds like you just want to talk yourself into doing this and if so, go ahead. It's your money. Yes, it might sound better. No, it won't sound miles better and no, it's not the best way to spend the money. But it's not my money so I don't care :0)
 
Well, this thread suggests a lack of enthusiasm for OL, 11 replies for a long lasting quality UK based manufacturer. Perhaps OL missed a marketing trick by not renaming models rather than merely updating the model number? They also never seemed to manage to get a product to be a flavour of the month to create a buzz, possibly they just don’t care about this side of the business. Lack of Forum chatter maybe reflects this.
 
I've only listened to a deck with an OL arm once and it sounded pretty good, but I can't really get my head round bearings with play. I should be able to grasp it considering the eccentric design of my own product, but I'm uncomfortable with the idea of loose/unstable gimbals especially from the perspective of wear in transit. Can anybody offer any insight into OL's unusual bearings?
 
I've only listened to a deck with an OL arm once and it sounded pretty good, but I can't really get my head round bearings with play. I should be able to grasp it considering the eccentric design of my own product, but I'm uncomfortable with the idea of loose/unstable gimbals especially from the perspective of wear in transit. Can anybody offer any insight into OL's unusual bearings?

They have a pair of bolts for transit.

The dual pivots are made of incredibly strong metal to a fine point, so almost frictionless up and down but no rocking, so no azimuth issues.
 
I tried one of their Conqueror tonearms a few years back. I wasn't impressed and sent it back...
 
I think OL have two design strands: Their original 'loose' bearings, as used on my Silver Mk2, and the dual pivot which seems to be a modern take on the knife edge.

The Silver was a big step up over my previous RB300, but in retrospect I wish I'd got the next model up because the use of a Rega RB250 base looks a little homemade.
 
I think OL have two design strands: Their original 'loose' bearings, as used on my Silver Mk2, and the dual pivot which seems to be a modern take on the knife edge.

The Silver was a big step up over my previous RB300, but in retrospect I wish I'd got the next model up because the use of a Rega RB250 base looks a little homemade.

The dual pivot enables a heavy yoke that increases stability and improves damping. My t/t is fitted with both a dual pivot Illustrious and a Jelco TK-850L, which is a knife edge design.
 
Upgraded my upgraded RB250 to a Silver mk2 on my Gyro SE many years ago and then to an Illustrious mk1, before a Conqueror mk3c finally.
I think it's safe to say I really like the OL arms but ultimately decided to redistribute funds and sold the Conqueror on. I think the best bang for the buck is on the older ones, I'd have that mk1 Illustrious back in a heartbeat for what I sold it for, but you live and learn.
I particularly liked how they made the music just flow, a real sense of realism. I don't have any real gripes with any of them and I'd certainly recommend you trying one, but as with everything in this game, you pays your money...
 
I currently have the latest Enterprise mk4 tonearm and prior to that a mk3 and before that a Conqueror.
Going even further back my tone arms have included several Ittoks, and a Michell (modified Rega).
My experience with the Origin Live products has been very positive with each upgrade showing an easily identifiable improvement.
I have also owned several Linn LP12 turntables (I was a Linn Dealer for 20 years, but 3 years ago I made (for me) the big change to a new Origin Live Sovereign mk4 turntable to which the Enterprise mk4 is mounted.
In my system the sound quality has never been better. The Origin Live set up is superior in every way to everything that preceded it. Solid, powerful unflappable sound but also delicate and pure when required and always true to the music.
Origin Live is a very small but specialist UK company and deserves to be taken extremely seriously. I believe that if you are considering a new tonearm then based on my long term experience and depending on your budget any one from Origin Live will impress.
 
I fully understand, what you say makes sense, but from a logistical perspective if I were aiming to ultimately (say) go OL deck+arm and could only afford the most basic OL deck & arm to start, why not get a nicer arm (eg Encounter) first then save up for the nicer deck (eg Calypso with multi layer platter etc) in another year or two? On top of which in my case the Rega is wall mounted using their wall mount and changing to another deck would mean changing the wall mount, which is a big faff :)
That’s exactly the route I’ve taken. I put an OL Conqueror tone arm on my Rega P6. Amazing results. I’ve had it a while and just ordered the Resolution turntable which was always my plan. Yes it’s not a perfect match but why not if it’s a step change.
 


advertisement


Back
Top