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View Full Version : Audio Origami PU7 12 inch arm review.



simon n
12-02-2009, 23:18
After receiving this PU7 from J7 at Audio Origami, and running it in for a wee bit.. i`ve decided to post up a quick review.

There is also pics here of a "build blog" and an uploaded video of the PU7 in action. I originaly contacted Johnny to make me a 12 inch PU7 in Chrome and black, with Kondo silver wire... as it`s generally regarded that 12 inch arms track better and offer minimal end of side distortion in comparison to their shorter counterparts. I wanted silver as all wiring, apart from the pre to monos is silver, so wanted to keep the materials consistent. Another reason i wanted J7 to commision me an arm is that I was very happy with my AO 250 he did for me (which was waay better than my previous Notts Analogue Ace-Space tonearm) and i also wanted to know what the "top of the tree" in tonearms sounded like.
Yes, i could of gone for an SME 5 or a Graham Phantom among others, but i trusted Johnnys workmanship and the fact that he matches the arms to specific.cartridges that it`s going to be used with.I have spent quite a few quid in investing in an Audio Note IO1 cartridge, so i wanted to be sure the arm matched the cart, as i wasn`t upgrading this at all. I also wanted to give my money to someone who prides himself in his work and keep it "British"! I wanted to give him free reign on what he could do, and he has certainly delivered in spades.

He kept in constant touch throughout fabrication, asking me if i wanted anything changing (which i did on a few occasions... sorry mate!) and inspired confidence throughout.

The build quality of this PU7 is astonishing... well upto SME standards in my book, and is absolutely flawless. It`s very solid in build and smooth to touch..like a babys botty. The chrome finish throughout is fabulous and flawless, not unlike a quality time piece or a quality car. Fabulous engineering, and it`s all finished by hand. All in all it has took 8 weeks to build from start to finish, and a lot of care and love has gone into the build.


Set up is a cinch as Johnny provides a set up DVD, a set of allen keys, a phile of his Super SLipper bearing oil, a headshell spirit level, some plastic washers to stop the headshell marking and is superbly packed. He finished the arm off with Kondo cartridge tags and Kondo silver RCA plugs, which was a bonus as i didn`t know he was fitting these!


The sound: Pure and simply breathtaking. In a nutshell, "big, ballsy, smooth, clear, clean and very, very musical".
The tonal qualitys of this PU7 is the best i`ve hear..ever.Every intonation in voices and every breath is clearly heard, but this detail doesnt distract at all. Bass is tight, deep and tunefull, highs are crystal clear and clean (once the slight emphasis on the "s" of voices had calmed down after around 8 hrs of run in... yes run in...it does happen! :) ) and the midband.....THAT MIDBAND!!!! WOW! For my missus to comment on it says something! Soundstaging is massive, on apar with a lot of unipivots , but with none of the vagueness. You want airy? Yuo got it! You want bass?? You got it! You want fatigue free?? You got it!!!.

All in all, a fantastic purchase, and once i got over the shock of shelling out the cash, it`s probably the best purchase i`ve ever made... more so than the Audio Note IO1 and my my Triumph Daytona!

Nice one Johnny, you`ve done yourself proud kid.






pictures of the build:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/armcuebase.jpg


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/pagsbellendandheadshell.jpg


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/pagsbase-1.jpg


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/pagsbase.jpg


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/pagsheadshell.jpg


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/pagsbackend.jpg



After Chroming and assembly:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/headshell.jpg


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/pagschromegodess.jpg




http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/chromedup.jpg




http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/pu7new.jpg



http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/pu7new4.jpg



http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/slythedude/pu7new2.jpg




A video in action: (sorry about the darkness)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwmaGD5es-g



:guitar:

Sgt.Pepper
13-02-2009, 01:04
That looks superb Si,I'll have to pop round for a listen,just make sure it's still on your deck when I leave :trust:

Tony G
13-02-2009, 01:21
That is a knockout, I think if it was mine you would not be able to stop me babbling about it.
Great to hear the performance is all that you hoped for too.

Peter Stockwell
13-02-2009, 07:58
Great decision! It's such a joy to get something you've always wanted, that you had your say in how it was built and how it works. Absolutely terrific. I feel dead chuffed that the SME IV that just arrived was made because I ordered it, so I can imagine how you feel about your PU7!

cheers

Marco
13-02-2009, 09:42
Great write-up and pictures, Simon. The PU7 is a veritable work of art - I have always been an admirer of its design, and knowing Johnnie personally I'm fully aware of how talented he is in his chosen field.

And you've got a 12-incher to boot (no pun intended :eyebrows:), how sexy is that!

Having heard the 9-inch PU7 in a variety of set-ups I have no doubt whatsoever that you own one of the finest sounding arms in the world, at any price :)

Enjoy, you lucky boy!

Marco.

P.S I will move this thread to 'Strokes of Genius' where reviews such as this are kept.

Spectral Morn
13-02-2009, 11:05
HI Simon N


Well done, nice review, very nice pictures and video. Even over my TEAC computer audio set up Your system sounds very nice.


Well done....lets see more reviews done to this standard and better.


Regards D S D L-----Neil :)

John
13-02-2009, 20:04
Great review and wonderful looking design I am sure it must give you much pleasure I once got a old Zeta Mod by Johnnie and it made a huge difference to the arm

Beechwoods
13-02-2009, 23:14
Wow. The workmanship on the arm is really nice. I was just thinking how your arm reminded me of the Syrinx PU3, then remembered that AO make them as well :doh: You're got a work of art there Simon.

Mike
13-02-2009, 23:18
Well...

It must sound bloody awful... Just look what it's done to the poor tree in the background. It withered it to death! :lolsign:

Beechwoods
13-02-2009, 23:21
You plonker! :lol:

Marco
19-04-2009, 14:26
What tree? I don't see any tree! :scratch:

Marco.