Origin Live Conqueror MKV Tonearm (MK5)

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.

Features 

Higher-strength Arm Tube

The high-grade aircraft alloy tube is further stiffened with carbon fibre. It is also reinforced using a long rear stub sleeve which is carefully interfaced to provide maximum energy dissipation and minimal reflections. This frees up your cartridge to perform as it should, away from the colouration and disruption caused by resonance and reflected vibration.

Sleeved Rear-stub

With a larger diameter, higher strength and improved energy dissipation. This improves counterweight stability in vibration thus enabling the arm tube to hold the cartridge more steadily.

Rigidly Attached Counterweight

The counterweight attachment has been carefully engineered to hold the arm tube more rigidly for cartridge stability whilst at the same time decoupling itself to minimize energy reflection back down the tube. The results are clearly heard in improved dynamics and a sense of power and control in the bass.

Counterweight Fine Adjuster

Allows you to easily set the tracking force with a high degree of accuracy.

Headshell

Features improved de-coupling and lightweight finger-lift.

Dual Pivot Bearings

For vertical arm movement, the bearings consist of Ultra-hard tungsten carbide points sitting in hardened and burnished steel cups. This combination not only delivers incredibly low friction levels but is also much more robust than jewelled bearings which tend to shatter under stress. The results are incredible transparency, fluidity and retrieval of fine detail.

Precise & Accessible VTA Adjuster

VTA can be adjusted precisely and infinitely using a large diameter calibrated dial. A further advantage is that all adjustments can be carried out above the arm-board (unlike lower arms in the range which demand access below the arm-board).

Falling Weight Side Bias

Tests show this to be the highest performing method of achieving side bias. It has lower friction, better constant force and lower resonance than other alternatives such as magnets, springs, levers and twisted threads.

Internal Wiring

Is high-grade copper Litz wire, cryogenically frozen to reduce discontinuities in the conductors. This wire allows great transparency, detail and freedom from artefacts.

Silver-plated Headshell Clips

At such low signal levels, electrical interfaces can be heard and silver marginally outperforms gold.

External Cable is 1m Silver Hybrid

At such low signal levels, electrical interfaces can be heard and silver marginally outperforms gold.

Manufacturer Site

• Origin Live