Performance
Onyx was designed as an affordable performance benchmark – a tonearm that would flatter any budget or mid-price turntable and still be happy on a high end deck. Sonically, it marks a significant step up from the Alliance tonearm – and indeed from most tonearms on sale. It comfortably outperforms the original Origin Live Silver MK1, which was thought to be one of the best arms on sale, by several hi-fi reviewers and one magazine editor. Indeed, it still outperforms many arms in the £3,000 ($4,600USD) region.
A well made, attractive and economic package, Onyx was only possible thanks to Origin Live’s decades of tonearm design expertise. It’s difficult to design a great high end arm, but harder still to do a brilliant budget product. Knowing where to spend the money in the overall design is why Onyx sounds so good, and that knowledge doesn’t come easy.
To understand more about tonearm buying, and the importance of tonearms in system hierarchy, see 'Why your Tonearm really matters'. This explains why Origin Live arms have cutting-edge performance and provides an in-depth explanation of many facets of their design.
“Sounds more human, more analogue, and more musical… represents excellent value for money and comes highly recommended… offers a relaxing, expansive and musical sound hitherto unavailable at its modest price point.”
Hi-Fi World, August 2011
