Forget the pun, but any Avid users on this forum? There doesn’t seam to be many, which I find surprising, as like Naim, it’s good British engineering and a little industrial looking in design?
I was going to demo some of their kit this year and probably compare it to Verteres stuff?
Would love to hear people’s thoughts and experiences on Avids turntables and phonos.
When, many years ago, I bought my Xerxes, now a Roktere Versan!, the Avid Volvere ran it very close and for a short period the necessary adapter to run Naim Aro on the Avid was available. I’ve never not been impressed by an Avid, but Verteres are very special as well.
Enjoy the demos!
Regards,
Lindsay
I like my diva, it ticked all the boxes when I chose my “ultimate” table 6 or 7 years ago.
I’ve had many hours of joy with the Avid phonos, only the “entry” level Pellar and Pulsus but hugely musical and enjoyable. They, and a couple of Whest phonos I’ve tried, showed me that you can have a high end sounding vinyl system at a relatively modest price.
After using an Avid Diva sp for a while with SME309 and Ortofon 2m black I purchased an Avid Sequel. Transferred the arm and cartridge and the difference is amazing. It’s running through a Supernait 3/ hicap dr and SBLs. I was going to get a Volvere but the Sequel was a good price.
SYSTEM OF @Puddlesplasher
Here another one, by @mij29
And a third one by @Teskey
That’s 3 with sme arms.
The dealer at the hifi place I bought the diva really wanted me to buy an sme arm. That wasn’t within my budget plans; I was sticking to my original plan of; diva, then a good arm hence the rega 808, then a suitable cartridge.
I think if my budget could have stretched it would have been to the rega 2000.
I spoke to Conrad and he also recommended a rega arm and said they’d had good results with the 2m black.
Great deck!
If you can you should listen to the new SoulNote E2 at £6800 it blows away the Avid and Whest Titan Pro phono stages. A true giant killer!
I love my Acutus. Once set up (which is a doddle) it doesn’t drift out of tune like some decks. The soundstage is rock solid and so musical. The only thing you need to be careful of with the Acutus is that when putting the platter in place be very careful that you don’t let it drop, even a short distance, as that can crack the sapphire thrust pad. I have damaged a couple and at £250 a pop it’s something to be mindful of
Congrats for your Acutus:+1:
Some years back, about 15ys, a chap I met via work invited me to hear his new system, vinyl only. He said the system had cost him £50k.
He had an Acutus with SME arm and a Dyna TKR. I had never heard resolution and low level detail like it, quite astonishing.
Well I’ve started my Avid journey. I just picked up a second hand Pellar phono for a reasonable price. I read good reviews about it, so though “why not”.
My Roksan Attessa TT has a built in phono that I’m using at the moment. I want to try and reduce the package cost of a new turntable, as a TT, arm, cartridge and phono all adds up.
Next step - listen to Pellar and see what I think.
Next next step - book in a demo for a Diva SP, Volvere (which I can’t really afford, but I have just saved some cash on the phono, and perhaps with a second hand arm?) and a Vertere DG1.
May be. Cannot comment on the higher end models but I remember it was an ear opening experience when I first heard the Pellar after so much mediocrity in the up to 1k range e.g. even from very popular models such as the Rega Aria (I have no idea why people pay so much for it).
Pellar phono is sounding wonderful. A lot more depth and imaging to the sound. I emailed Avid to see what year it was build. I had a reply back from Conrad Mas the owner, with the information and other useful bits and pieces. They seam like a very reliable and personable company, much like Kudos and others. Can’t wait to demo their turntables!
I find avid somewhat astonishing as a company. I’ve had a factory tour. There were 6 people there, max. And the dem room? You would need very deep pockets to afford the rrp, it makes statement plus top focal speakers look affordable. Top avid speakers £215k, and the avid pre/power reference is £175k or thereabouts. But that’s just 2 monos and you need multiple.
How so few people produce the full range of avid kit is, well I don’t know how they do it. I think all the speakers are made by one person.
At least that’s how it was in 2018.
I’ve got the Acutus in one of the posted images above; its got an SME V and Conrad’s Ruby Reference, and all into his Pulsare II stage (ugraded from the Pelere in the photo). Its a wonderful piece of engineering, and as others have stated, it really is fit, align and forget. It doesn’t go off-tune or require any form of adjustment.
As a company, AVID are the Naim of yesteryear where the MD really does email you back personally, or answer the phone for each and any query that might come in. That’s how I got into the brand, when Conrad helped me with my then Gyrodec. He ‘facilitated’ my purchase of the phonostage and the development-stage cartridge (a prototype unit without guard grooves in the headshell) and has just been a total legend. I too have had the opportnity to visit AVID HQ, and has a fabulous experience listening to the Reference four standmounts when I was demoing the Ruby Reference cartridge.
It all works amazingly with Naim and I’d wholly recommend the entire experience!
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