Origin Live Enterprise MK5 Tonearm

Enterprise Tonearm Mk5

Hearing an Enterprise is an unforgettable event. Breathtakingly realistic, it simply lets the music flow out to the listener in an unmediated way. Although it deserves the very best turntables and cartridges that money can buy, it unlocks huge performance gains from lesser ones and makes mediocre recordings positively sing. From its massively powerful and highly tuneful bass to a treble that is gorgeously silky yet amazingly spacious, it’s a sublime performer. The mineral clarity of the mid band is uncanny, and the sound staging profound. Prospective purchasers of a high-end tonearm owe it to themselves to audition this seminal design.

Features

Yellow stars denote new features not present on lower models.

Higher Strength Low Resonance Arm-tube

The high-grade aircraft alloy tube is stiffened with carbon fibre. In addition, the tube is processed for improved resonance control. A long rear stub sleeve provides further reinforcement and this 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 armtube 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

Low Resonance Counterweight

Counterweight resonance is reduced using a higher grade material and then applying a dampening coating.

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.

Headshell

features improved de-coupling and lightweight finger-lift.

Sophisticated Yoke Decoupling

with several additional isolation interfaces from the vertical bearings.

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.

Ceramic Bearings

For horizontal arm movement, the ballbearings are upgraded to highly specified ultra-low friction Ceramic bearings.

Mirror Finished Yoke

The Yoke is finished with a true mirror surface and coated in Chrome Nitride. Using the same supplier as Rolex, this Chrome Nitride coating achieves an extremely high level of quality and durability.

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).

Azimuth Adjustment

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 ultra-low loss Silver Hybrid version producing greater 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 Silver Hybrid 1m Long

A groundbreaking design with high-grade single point RCA plugs fits directly into your phono-stage or amplifier. This cable outperforms most on the market up to, and over £4000. It is described fully in the cable section of the website but suffice to say that even alone, it has produced a level of improvement which has kept many a listener up into the late hours re-listening to their record collection.

Rhodium-plated Single Point RCA Plugs

After testing numerous high-end RCA plugs these were selected for their outstanding performance. Single point contact has the advantage of reducing eddy currents and Rhodium with it’s ultra-smooth surface seems to provide a better interface in electrical joints.

Reviews

“This was by far the best analog upgrade I’ve made in the last decade!” — Read the full review >
AV Audio (High End Magazine, Brazil)

“I am quite fascinated by the Origin Live Resolution turntable and Enterprise tonearm and they’ve garnered my 2013 Publisher’s Choice ‘Most Wanted Component’ award. Their combined strengths, ease of installation and remarkable sense of musicality have reinvigorated my appreciation for LPs.”
— Read the full review >
Stereo Times

“The Origin Live Enterprise C tonearm allowed direct access to the art of music so convincingly and with such complete satisfaction that I have no choice but to consider it an ultimate tonearm. It is a supreme achievement.”
— Read the full review >
Stereo Times

“Overall, this is a superb pick up arm with a grippingly musical sound and lovely rhythmic ability. It has wonderful tonal shading (an SME SeriesV sounds monochrome, by comparison) and deep soundstaging with masses of detail…”
— Read the full review >
Hi-Fi World

“…in the case of the Enterprise-C (12 inch) what notional sacrifices are made in extending the arm are more than balanced by the added accuracy across the whole album side. There is a ‘just cut’ fluidity and openness to the sound that makes it seem like albums you know through repeated plays are fresh from the stamper.”
— Read the full review >
Hi-Fi+

“You are just so bowled over by the music that the rest is simply ‘in the noise level’. But it’s weird, this is what the records are supposed to be communicating, and suddenly, it’s completely natural and easy to listen to….”
— Read more owner comments >
Owner Comment