View Full Version : Audio Origami Uniarm fitting
SO I got a new Audio Origami Uniarm Ex dem from Signals HIFI, apparently they aren't being made any more , no idea why. here is the "provisional " mounting I still have to tweak the VTA as it is tail up slightly but have to wait for a couple of bolts before I can do this. :)
I considered Ace Space , Audionote and the Phonomanc AT1010 as alternatives but thought this would do the trick and AO have a a very good rep. the Phonomac would not fit (geometry) but Angus was great to deal with as were NA who gave me advice etc on it.
https://ibb.co/bY5H7q
I had an OL Rega for 10 years with no complaints during that time, I replaced the cartridge tags and phono plugs during that tie due to wear and tear but it sounded fine. However I decided hat the next thin I wanted to upgrade was the tonearm and I wanted to go up the ladder a bit ;).
Opening the box
https://ibb.co/ksV3DV
A lot of bit in there , protractor , strobe , fitting geometry gude ( all laminated), Allen keys , magnifier, and a tone arm1 :D
https://ibb.co/hfNGYV
MMN pics not working will have to try something else.
Ok So comparison so of the arms, OA is very well made and feels sturdy and finely finished in a black satin coat , the stub and weight are finely machined and the tight tolloerences mean that it's a lot easier to adjust than the REGA OL Weight is.
Both Have captive leads , something I may change in the future to try out different cables with.
Close up of the base and sapphire bearing all good :)
Bigman80
06-11-2018, 21:40
Hows it sound!!!!! :D
decided to replace the bearing oil while I was about it especially after such a hot summer !!
platter off and bearing cleaned
plinth cleaned and waxed and arm base fitted some more later :D
Hows it sound!!!!! :D
Fukking teribl!!!:lol:
Will discuss when VTA sorted to be fair to it;)
Bigman80
06-11-2018, 21:53
Fukking teribl!!![emoji38]
Will discuss when VTA sorted to be fair to it;)[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]
Mike Reed
06-11-2018, 22:28
Both Have captive leads , something I may change in the future to try out different cables with.
Why ? Far better to have a straight through lead than a connection. Both my N.A. and A.O. arms have captive, and I wouldn't have it any other way after living with an SME Five for 14 years. Besides, adding a different phono lead to an arm lead really can't be good practice, surely.
Bigman80
06-11-2018, 22:39
Why ? Far better to have a straight through lead than a connection. Both my N.A. and A.O. arms have captive, and I wouldn't have it any other way after living with an SME Five for 14 years. Besides, adding a different phono lead to an arm lead really can't be good practice, surely.There is a connection. The arm isn't wired with VanDamme cable. It's just a soldered joint in the arm pillar rather than a plug.
I respectfully disagree on the claim that a connection (if well made) of DIN type, would have a negative affect.
Certainly not been my finding anyway. My arm has a detachable head shell, din connection and RCA connections and I don't believe for one second that it's comprised by the connections.
Also, the majority of Van Damme cable is garbage (No offence to anyone) and is trounced by Mogami cable and so it needs to go.
Just my 2p
Why ? Far better to have a straight through lead than a connection. Both my N.A. and A.O. arms have captive, and I wouldn't have it any other way after living with an SME Five for 14 years. Besides, adding a different phono lead to an arm lead really can't be good practice, surely.
Well thats some time into the future if it happens. I did think the phonos used could be of better quality though given the overall price of the arm they feel plasticy and a bit cheap. They don't grip my phono stage so tight either, but thats something I can change pretty easily myself. That's the only criticism of the build though as the rest is fantasticallywell finished .
There's already a break in the cable as there is a plug for the wiring from the arm tube to the base which needs to be plugged in , so its not 1 cable run from cart to phono plugs:)
I'll give the van damme a fair crack of the whip though Oliver :D
Bigman80
06-11-2018, 23:15
Well thats some time into the future if it happens. I did think the phonos used could be of better quality though given the overall price of the arm they feel plasticy and a bit cheap. They don't grip my phono stage so tight either, but thats something I can change pretty easily myself. That's the only criticism of the build though as the rest is fantasticallywell finished .
There's already a break in the cable as there is a plug for the wiring from the arm tube to the base which needs to be plugged in , so its not 1 cable run from cart to phono plugs:)
I'll give the van damme a fair crack of the whip though Oliver :DAbsolutely!! I'd have it no other way.
Ok So Arm placed on top , it just slotted in really easily to the bearing cup. The tungsten tipped pivot is held in another corresponding cup that slips into place over the sapphire bearing. There is some optional silicon damping fluid that you can add to the sapphire cup but at this stage I have decided to try it without to see what it sounds like, it can help smooth off some of the higher frequencies apparently. I haven't got a particularly bright system though so will see. Just the counter weight to add and angles etc to set.
just to add , the plinth looks really nice with a bit of beeswax polish - note to self - Do more often!!!:lol:
Yatra fitted and set the angle using the nice laminated protractor supplied by AO, usually I use a Geodisc but though I'd try this out for a change , easy enough to use. It also has 2 geometries , Baerwald and Lofgren I used the Baerwold to start-- no idea what the possible advantage etc are of either so will have to read up on them. Any comments would be useful?
VTA is slightly too high by about 2-3 mil so the arm is a bit tail up. The spacers on the collet holder won't go down any further so I have to leave it as is for the moment, I have kept the 5g weight between the cart and tonearm head to mitigate in the meantime but am keen to use without so that I can see what the arm does to the cart and its output as designed. Its still slightly tail up even with this though. Also due the extra weight the VAT won't set just so. But that will change :)
I use a geodisc too. have done for many years.. great bit of kit and works with all arms ive tried.
Ok So up and running , at least until the VTA gets properly sorted and I have ordered some bolts online that will allow me to sort this by lowering the collet holder. :)
Impressions
Packaging -
Good box, up with very sturdy foam packing which protects the arm and contents very well. Lots of extras inside.
Arm quality -
Oozes quality, the black satin finish is immaculate and the arm tube assembly is surprisingly heavy, reassuringly so for nervous hands :D.
There is a brace on one side of the head shell which helps with rigidity I guess, the arm is machined from one piece of aluminium and looks lovely. the arm lift is just right size wise and is easy to use, which is great as the unipivot is quite wobbly!
The stub and counterweight are finished in chrome and really nicely machined, the tolerance is just right to aid adjustment to the weight and it holds long enough to be tightened without slipping something that was an issue with the Rega OL weight. It always seems to move at the last second!!:steam:
The cartridge wires are thin and very light and flexible, I don't know what it is but guessing at Litz, cartridge set up very easy.
The collect is cleverly made allowing for Linn and both types of Rega set up nice and heavy too with 2 plastic tipped grub screws which tighten onto the arm base.
The arm base houses the bearing in a pillar and lift assembly. There is also a mini DIN socket which the Litz wiring plugs into and overall looks very cool.
Leads , the cable is set into the base and it VAN Dame XKE Pro silver plated copper leads, as mentioned the phono plugs are a bit of a let down in my opinion at this price point but that's a minor quibble compared to the rest of the package.
Apparently the Van Damme cable has it's fans and detractors ;) I'll see how it goes for the moment :).
I know, I know everyone wants to know how it sounds!!
Gimme a chance I'm stiil trying to suss it out . Also through head phones (Hifi man 400) is a lot different as they are much more revealing than my speakers. SO I will post but not until the weekend. :eyebrows: (maybe)
I use a geodisc too. have done for many years.. great bit of kit and works with all arms ive tried.
Yes I found it easy to use too, really solid as well so won't bend break etc.
Bigman80
07-11-2018, 11:35
Get the VTA sorted out before you judge the arm. It may change significantly once thats right.
Looks really well suited to the Turntable. I like it.
Get the VTA sorted out before you judge the arm. It may change significantly once thats right.
Looks really well suited to the Turntable. I like it.
Thanks Oliver
Yeah that's what I was thinking , the Rega didn't have VTA adjustment so that was missing from my choices. It will be interesting to see what effect is has on the sound.
I like the finish apparently the black cost a bit more than the standard silver but that would have suited , as it is it matches the FB monos and other boxes:)
Bigman80
07-11-2018, 11:40
Thanks Oliver
Yeah that's what I was thinking , the Rega didn't have VTA adjustment so that was missing form my choices. It will be interesting to see what effect is has on the sound.
I like the finish apparently the black cost a bit more than the standard silver but that would have suited , as it is it matches the FB monos and other boxes:)Yep, saw those sitting there.
Still enjoying them?
Yep, saw those sitting there.
Still enjoying them?
Oh Yes :eek:
I managed to get some Telefunkens from Germany with gold pins and halo getters for a very good price (about £15), so that tone and presentation is excellent (not that it was at all bad before ;))
They are not going any where for the foreseeable. Famous last words etc lol.
Bigman80
07-11-2018, 11:48
Oh Yes :eek:
I managed to get some Telefunkens from Germany with gold pins and halo getters for a very good price (about £15), so that tone and presentation is excellent (not that it was at all bad before ;))
They are not going any where for the foreseeable. Famous last words etc lol.[emoji38] I loved them. Admittedly, I don't miss them now I have the Krell. Worked out well for everyone I think.
[emoji38] I loved them. Admittedly, I don't miss them now I have the Krell. Worked out well for everyone I think.
Yeah that's nice to know you're happy now. You went on a bit of an amp journey after but good to see you are enjoying the results now.
A silver lining, :)
Bigman80
07-11-2018, 11:53
Yeah that's nice to know you're happy now. You went on a bit of an amp journey after but good to see you are enjoying the results now.
A silver lining, :)Oh, yes. I went right off the deep end and bought anything of interest.
I didn't lose a penny and heard some great gear. The Krell was such a good find.
So typically on ebay now there is a secondhand Audio Note arm , PU7 and on here a Sumiko 800 :lol: good job I didn't wait another week else I wouldn't know which way to turn.
Still think I would have gone for the Uniarm though as NA decks seem to suit them by all accounts and the price was right. :)
Bigman80
07-11-2018, 15:06
So typically on ebay now there is a secondhand Audio Note arm , PU7 and on here a Sumiko 800 [emoji38] good job I didn't wait another week else I wouldn't know which way to turn.
Still think I would have gone for the Uniarm though as NA decks seem to suit them by all accounts and the price was right. :)Lol, always the way mate.
Ok so i got the bolts and found the thread was a bit short , the top of them were blank by about 3 mm . a bit annoying as the pictures on the web showed the thread going to the top of the shaft to the head. However not to fear ! :eyebrows:
In classic bodger style I found 2 old spacers to lift the base by 2 mm which allowed me to tighten them sufficiently to get the VTA spot on :)
Then back into ebay to order more washers and bolts for £1.79 .
Its not perfect but will let me get a feel for the arm properly.
It has also let me take off the extra 5 g weight so the cart is as intended.
Ok a couple of final tweaks , now the extra weight is off I can adjust the azimuth correctly. The sliding weight on the small bar on the side does this quite easily nice and smooth. looking at the bubble all seems in order so now I can give is good listening to! :D:D
Its been a good if sometimes frustrating in a "BRING BACK CD :steam::steam: " kind of way experience setting this up lol
Johnnie7
16-11-2018, 16:59
looking GREAT !!!!!
looking GREAT !!!!!
Yes it does and sounding damn fine too. Its a great bit of kit you have made there !
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