Which all seems like a nice, clear result. Not only does the heavier version of the Orbius easily outperform the lighter one, in the context of the VPI Avenger, it combines the best aspects of the Kuzma and Stillpoints weights, while bettering their musical performance in absolute terms. As it should, given the considerable difference in cost between them. Except that, this is but a single instance. Change the record player – or modify the player’s platter – and you impact the performance, conclusions and preference that results…
Recently, I’ve been running the VPI Avenger with an Origin Live Strata record mat. This brings a considerable gain in terms of tonal palette, instrumental identity and harmonic development. The VTA tower on the JMW makes height adjustment a piece of cake so, despite the added thickness of the mat, I decided to repeat the comparison between the light and heavy Orbius with it in place, just to check that things remain consistent. It quickly became apparent that they don’t. With the Strata mat installed and the arm height adjusted accordingly, the lighter, Mpingo insert produced dramatically better results than the tungsten. The combination of the Mpingo insert and Mat injected a natural sense of life, energy and vitality into proceedings. Where the tungsten insert tended to sound studied and prosaic, the lighter weight revelled in the musical cut and thrust of the conversation between Brown and Suk. The textural differences between the two instruments were heightened, as was the connection between the players. Nanci’s vocals became deliciously intimate, with each nuance and inflexion in her diction adding meaning and feeling to the singing and the song. There was an almost elastic agility to the rhythms which, far from eroding the temporal coherence, underlined both it and the expressive range and flexibility in the playing.
Combining the Mpingo insert and the mat lifted the musical performance of the record player to a whole new level of natural communication and engagement. Nor were the benefits solely musical in nature. Adjustment of VTA became considerably easier, with the dynamic and rhythmic integrity really locking in once it was spot on, while the micro-dynamic and textural benefits so apparent with the tungsten-loaded weight, especially at low frequencies, gained an additional energy and vibrance with the lighter weight, that brought the whole performance to life. The performance of both the Kuzma and Stillpoints weights also benefitted from the presence of the Strata mat. The Kuzma became crisper and less muted, a shade more dynamic: the Stillpoints gained colour and lost some (although not all) of its mechanistic tendencies, delivering greater rhythmic flexibility to go with its drive and momentum. But the gap between their improved performance and the Mpingo-loaded Orbius had stretched considerably.
The lighter version of the Orbius weight used in conjunction with the Strata mat has delivered the most musically involving, engaging, entertaining and insightful presentation I’ve achieved from the VPI Avenger. Switch to the Enterprise tonearm and the Fuuga cartridge and things get better still – and further underline the superiority of the lighter weight over the heavier, at least when using the mat. With the Fuuga in play, the Mpingo insert gains presence and fluidity without losing any of its life and vitality. I suspect that the added low frequency weight and power of the Fuuga and the studied, stable presentation of the heavier Orbius are altogether too much of a good thing, resulting in a slightly plodding, almost academic presentation, long on definition and focussed dimensionality, but bereft of musical chemistry.
Conclusions? Of a sort…
This is something of a way-point on this particular journey. The benefits of the Orbius record weight are startlingly obvious, at least in the context of the VPI Avenger. But what’s also obvious is that this is no slam dunk, one size fits all solution. Beyond the simple mechanical dictates of your particular record player (its spindle height in particular), the relative benefits of the Mpingo insert and the (more expensive) tungsten one will depend on circumstances. The platter material, weight and the turntable drive system, as well as the balance of your system as a whole are going to influence your preference. Given time and opportunity, I’m going to repeat the listening using the Kuzma Stabi M, while the new Thales Silencer is another fascinating record clamp/damper to factor into the mix.
