Origin Live Zephyr Tonearm

Description

Origin Live Zephyr Tonearm – More Clarity, More Impact.

The Zephyr is a considerable advance on the Silver arm. A stiffer arm tube and higher-grade materials in the yoke and arm base improve the definition and impact of notes, particularly in the bass which is tighter, lower and weightier than the silver. However, all aspects of the music are improved by a more sophisticated costly approach to each component.

Features

Arm Tube

The arm tube is made from high-grade aircraft alloy to reduce the effect of resonance. This provides the enormous benefit of allowing your cartridge to function correctly without unwanted movements caused by resonance.

Zephyr Tonearm Premium Range Yoke

The Origin Live Zephyr High End Tonearm Features the superior yoke design which encompasses higher-grade material and precision tolerancing for the fit of bearings. This results in an incredibly transparent arm with superb tonal balance. The yoke is mirror-polished and finished in chrome.

Bearings

The bearings are highly researched and purpose-made to our specifications.

Materials Throughout the Arm

Materials are upgraded from the Silver with superior and more costly-to-machine alloys.

Zephyr Tonearm Premium Range Counter Weight

A high-strength rear-stub improves counterweight stability in vibration, enabling the arm tube to hold the cartridge more steadily. The result is an increase in dynamics and a sense of power and control in the bass.

Integral VTA Adjuster

Consists of a threaded top nut above the arm-board and a clamping nut underneath the arm-board.

Zephyr Tonearm Premium Range Side Bias

The falling weight side bias method is tested to be the highest-performing method for achieving side bias. It has lower friction, better constant force, and lower resonance compared to alternatives like magnets, springs, levers, and twisted threads.

Internal Wiring

The internal wiring is high-grade copper Litz wire, cryogenically frozen to reduce discontinuities in the conductors. This wire provides great transparency, detail, and freedom from artefacts.

1 Meter Upgrade External Cable

This low-resistance cable with high conductivity gold-plated RCA plugs fits directly into your phono stage or amplifier.

Build Quality

In the same way, great singers have better voices, all materials resonate differently and have a “voice” in micro-vibration. There is an argument that says the ideal material is totally dead, but this oversimplification ignores the fact that to absorb energy, the material has to vibrate. The argument also omits to consider that if a material is too soft (like a sponge to take an extreme example) then it will lack rigidity. Conversely, if a material is too hard then it reflects energy which is disastrous. Because all these factors conflict with one another it renders correct material choice much more complex than many imagine.

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 it’s programmed to. Understanding the physics of what makes one voice more preferable to another would probably take more than a lifetime. For this reason, we 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 our Platter Mat (offered as an accessory) upgrades 99% of turntables on the market. The same is true for our 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 our turntables.

Intensive Research and Innovative Thinking

The design of our tonearms is the key to their performance. Over 25 years of continuous development has gone into these arms. However, it’s the “outside the box” thinking, which make them special. Origin Live arms are extremely innovative, not only in concept but also in the choice of superior build materials. Wherever possible high-grade alloys are included. These alloys are expensive to machine and finish but the results are so worthwhile in terms of performance.

Most arms look great on the outside so it is easy to miss the massive hidden differences. With an Origin Live arm, you can be sure that it’s not just a matter of high-grade components but far more importantly, you have a design that really delivers in terms of performance.

REVIEWS FOR THE Origin Live Zephyr Tonearm

“After my time spent with the Origin Live Zephyr, it slots in as one of my favourite tonearms: both for how good it sounds and how well it communicates the artistic meaning of music. Very very highly recommended.”
– Read the full review
Stereo Times

“This combination offers a very consistent sound from low bass to upper treble and makes fine music that is always enjoyable.”
– Read the full review
10 Audio