Many audiophiles around the world find it easy to grow fond of the U-Turn Orbit turntable. Our price should match all other authorized dealers. Get your Orbit Plus Turntable here The highlight of this model with model number, “R160WTAOR5” is its in-built Pluto preamp which allows it to connect directly to powered amplifiers or speakers. Both of our test systems had built-in phono stages, so we used the Orbit without the phono stage. Before we tested our demo unit, the first thing we did was swap out the included RCA cable with a, , which is by far the best $35 you could spend. U-Turn Orbit Review. For an additional $35, you can step up to the elliptical stylus based Ortofon OM5E. You can choose what you want your turntable equipped with. The Orbit actually comes with a very nice felt record mat. Once the table is assembled, it gets checked out at several locations with a stethoscope to confirm that it is lacking in noise. Back when they were in college, they were looking for great quality turntables, but simply couldn’t find anything that met their standard and their budget. … Personally, I think it's worth it to get a custom instead of the basic and upgrade to the Ortofon OM5e cartridge and also to get a cue lever. It’s far more dense than most mat’s in the table’s price range and reminded us a lot of one you would get with a. for instance, we strongly recommend that you save for a little longer and get the U-Turn entry-level Orbit with a built-in phono stage. Each and every table goes through extensive testing to assure you of a great product. The tonearm is all balanced and ready to for tracking. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It produced some of the best sound in our testing, … The U-Turn Orbit Special offers very attractive wood finishes and comes with an Ortofon Red cartridge, an upgraded platter, and a cue lever. There is little to no vibration buzz that you can hear when the record is playing, and physical vibrations coming from the surrounding environment are also isolated with good precision. The entry-level Orbit is probably one of the best turntable values around. You can also purchase U-Turn's Pluto Phono Preamp for $99. Speed consistency is very good for its price, which results in that tuneful sound a good table can reproduce. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { Crosley C6 2-Speed Turntable, Vinyl Turntable w/ Built-in Pre-Amp & Adjustable Tone Arm - Grey . Ten years ago this would have probably never made it off the ground, but they decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign. The Orbit Plus did quite well in our overall testing, as you can see in the table above. This website started when I needed another turntable. Copyright © 2020 Audio Advice. The tonearm really is good at tracking and it doesn’t slide off the record. I had it for a year and then sold it off. It has an AC motor that is mounted in the back left corner of the table, suspended on rubber dampers to reduce motor noise from getting into the turntable plinth. The built-in … All the elements come in black finish and support the turntable’s simple design. We have selected this product as being #1 in Best U Turn Orbit … The Orbit Plus is one of the company’s best seller products. If you’re interested in additional upgrades to improve the quality of your U-Turn Orbit turntable over time, there are a few more things that you can tinker with. After proper setup the under $500 combination is amazing. More about that later. U-Turn Audio’s Orbit is, by far, the best bang for your buck we’ve seen in a turntable By Caleb Denison August 1, 2015 Vinyl records are back in a big way. Instead of offering a variety of different models, all of U-Turns turntable configurations are extensions of the base model. If you decide to get an Orbit without the cueing mechanism, then get the jitters about going the self-cuing route, you can simply purchase one after the fact and pop it right in! Found a lower price? { For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. You'll be among the first to know about product launches, exclusive online deals, and the hottest audio trends. The phono stage is a $70 option. Another intriguing option on the Orbit is the choice of a cue lever. When it comes to the performance of the U-Turn Orbit, I must say that it definitely doesn’t fail to deliver. The Orbit tonearm is extremely impressive for the money. All of the Orbit turntables share the same tonearm, but there are many different options to configure it to suit your needs and budget, including five different color choices on the main model and a custom Orbit available in either a maple or walnut finish. We love the fact you can easily upgrade to the better platter, swap out the phono cables for better ones, move up to a better cartridge, and even add cueing if you have shaky hands -- very cool! With its minimalistic design the Orbit turntable doesn’t come with a lot of ornaments. The base model comes with an MDF platter, similar to what we see on some tables in the $300 price range. The rest of the components that you’ll spot on the UTurn Audio Orbit are the standard ones that every turntable out there comes equipped with. In fact, nearly 90% of the parts in their Orbit turntable come from local suppliers. The base has three rubber feet which compress a bit, just like you would find on turntables selling for far more than the Orbit. If so, you’ll certainly enjoy playing your records on the nice U-Turn Orbit. Before we tested our demo unit, the first thing we did was swap out the included RCA cable with a 1M Audioquest Evergreen, which is by far the best $35 you could spend. I honestly believe that this is one of the best things that the U Turn Orbit has to offer. forms: { This one is well worth it --, Finally, you have a choice of five different, The phono cable for the Orbit is user replaceable, so a, would be an easy thing to upgrade. If you’re building a new custom home, you probably want it to be future-proofed and have the latest home technology. Like the Rega tables, the ground is on one channel of the cable. It comes with a basic RCA to RCA cable that’s about 6 feet long. The Orbit tonearm has a very nice finger lift, so with a steady hand, this is actually no big deal. The turntable’s components all function well, and together, they allow for a very neat overall performance. As I have talked about before, U-Turn is a special brand within the turntable landscape. Of course, there are tons of options for upgrading the mat as well, but for most people it will probably be fine. This is probably the world's most popular mid-level cartridge as it comes on several other brands of tables. If not, take a look at more options. The one word review… U-Turn Audio Orbit Reviews. Since we were using an external phono stage, those entry-level cables would crimp down the super low-level signal coming out of a phono cartridge (it’s about 1,000x less than a CD player). It’s far more dense than most mat’s in the table’s price range and reminded us a lot of one you would get with a Rega or Linn turntable. This U-Turn Orbit review wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention this turntable’s tonearm. But that’s not all there is to it. All and all, the U-Turn Orbit is a brilliantly impressive work of American engineering. In other words, they had filet mignon ears with hamburger helper wallets! This means that its components are made and positioned in such way that they are resonance-resistant which is the case with its feet, motor, plinth, and tonearm. That is a first for any table we have ever seen! If you are looking at some of the cheap suitcase turntables, like a Crosley Cruiser for instance, we strongly recommend that you save for a little longer and get the U-Turn entry-level Orbit with a built-in phono stage. Once you take a look at the back of the U Turn Orbit, you will see the turntable’s RCA ports that you can use to connect it to a phono or headphone amplifier, computer or wi-fi speakers, sound bar, or radio. On a good system though, limitations are revealed. You have a nice, big platter with a felt slip mat on its top right in the middle of the plinth. They use an inverted bearing design, which means that the shaft of the bearing points up and is anchored very well to the plinth. At first glance, it looks pretty small in comparison to what you find on a much more expensive table, but we found it did an amazing job. What you will hear with the acrylic is much more punchy bass, a better sense of rhythm to your music, and many more of those fine details that draw you into the music. The U-Turn Orbit is a belt-driven turntable that is designed primarily for audiophiles. U-Turn Audio is a great American success story. This is a really basic cartridge with a conical stylus. Finally, you have a choice of five different cartridges with the Orbit. Pretty impressive! While it will come preset for the cartridge you select, tracking force is adjustable if you decide to upgrade your cartridge. Of course, you can’t buy a Rega for $329 or less! If you want something even better, the Ortofon 2M Blue with its special nude elliptical stylus is your top choice for an extra $211. That said, craigslist would be a … That being said, the U Turn Orbit is a very flexible turntable, even though it is a good-quality one with the parts that it initially comes packed with. ); There’s not a cue lever that comes with it, but you can get one since the turntable offers you the opportunity to upgrade it. This guide exists to help you get the most out of your vinyl experience and make the most informed turntable buying decisions. However, if you are a bit timid about the possibility of damaging your stylus, you can opt for the cueing lever for an extra $40. The acrylic platter is finely machined to spin more accurately with less wow and flutter than the MDF version. What you will hear with the acrylic is much more punchy bass, a better sense of rhythm to your music, and many more of those fine details that draw you into the music. Here are my 4 main issues with this … 10/10. Our better (and obviously more expensive) tables get more music from the grooves. Amazingly enough in this day of international manufacturing, today 80-90% of the parts in an Orbit table still come from local suppliers, and the entire assembly is done in their Woburn, MA plant! Aside from being belt-driven, the U-Turn Orbit is also a very damped turntable. The Audio Technica AT91B cartridge, as I already said, is of very nice quality, and it converts the kinetic motion of the needle on your record into electric signal. Whether you’re a newcomer to the world of vinyl looking to jump in head first, or a more seasoned veteran ready to take the next step up from a beginner record player, the U-Turn Orbit … However, the Orbit U-Turn does look very attractive and its slim, sleek plinth is available in multiple colours to best match everyone’s preferences. 1 0 . Last, you can spot the AC synchronous motor positioned at the back left corner of the U-Turn turntable. It being an upgradable model means that you can improve the quality of sound and its overall performance when you feel like it in the future. While we suspect most people purchasing a U-Turn Orbit would not connect it up to one of the higher end systems we set up for testing, we wanted to really push it and find it’s limitations! When we first tested it, we were most surprised by the quality of the turntable bearing. This allows the Orbit 's RCA outputs to feed any line-level consumer audio device with standard unbalanced inputs. U-Turn sent me its high-end Orbit Special turntable to test out, and it proves the company is dedicated to making the best record player at every price. We're happy to answer questions on chat, on the phone, or in any of our stores. displaying reviews 1 to 3 of 3. Review, Impressions, and a Few Measurements Yet Another Turntable? If you have a phono stage already, either separately or in your amp, we’d suggest you save the money and get it without -- but a built-in phono stage is an option on all Orbit tables. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. However, all of the tech investments that U-Turn Audio puts into assuring the customer that every product is perfect is quite remarkable. on: function(evt, cb) { The inner platter has a tapered spindle that locks perfectly into the platter. event : evt, One thing we need to bring up in our U-Turn Orbit review is how elegant-looking it is. If you want to find out more about the properties of this turntable, find a comfortable spot and read about them in this U-Turn Orbit Review. Once the platter is on the table, a digital microscope is used to make sure it is perfect with no wobble. In terms of its price, I would say that there is a the balance is good. It also helps with the turntable’s performance, and the idea was successful. listeners: [], For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. It sounds like a really nice one. You will also have a choice of two different platter materials on the Orbit. An expansive soundstage and natural tones that I … I’ve already said something about the turntable being customizable. It withstood even a fairly strong hip check to its … callback: cb Bass got tighter and deeper, and the sound became much smoother as you would expect. })(); Sign up for our newsletter and stay in touch with the latest audio gear news and tips:  Email address: Has a good-quality cartridge mounted on its tonearm, You’ll have to manually change the speeds. 80-90% of the parts in an Orbit are sourced in the USA. We think the best bang for the buck is the Orbit with the acrylic platter, and either the Ortofon OM5E or Ortofon 2M Red. Then, there’s the stylish-looking tonearm fixed in the back right corner of the turntable. The turntable delivers what it promises to deliver. U-Turn Audio is an independent maker of turntables based in Massachusetts. U-Turn Audio Orbit Plus Review [Turntable with Built-in Preamp] In this Orbit Plus Turntable review, find out if it’s sleek, elegant lines and a really cool, minimalist profile are the features … There are many buttons located on its plinth, but is very plain and simple. You can also purchase U-Turn's, Another intriguing option on the Orbit is the choice of a. I bought a Pro-ject Carbon Debut Turntable, didn't like it (more about that later), and returned it. The phono cable for the Orbit is user replaceable, so a better RCA cable would be an easy thing to upgrade. It even comes with a hinged dust cover -- a real bonus in this price range. U-Turn suggests a handful of cartridges (all of which we like here at Audio Advice) that work great with the tonearm’s fixed VTA. 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