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REVIEW: U-Turn Orbit Plus Turntables

Model:	Orbit Plus
Category:	Turntables
Suggested Retail Price:	$289
Description:	Manual Turntable including tonearm and cartridge
Manufacturer URL:	U-Turn
Model Picture:	View

Review by svisner on November 11, 2017 at 14:42:06 IP Address: 96.83.74.33

Add Your Review for the Orbit Plus

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The vinyl reconnaissance has provided the industry with a powerful opportunity to bring to the market new designs, some of which are quite expensive. Some of these turntables are marvelous; many exceed the budgets of those attempting to enjoy vinyl, but not prepared to spend the many thousands of dollars required to experience the high end. My own case is a bit different; I like high-end gear, but I also like to push more modest designs to the limits of their performance. In moving back into our home, I rationalized (gave away) some gear I was not using or found too finicky for my taste, and decided to buy a turntable that would serve well. I liked the look of the U-Turn Orbit (yes, I did let appearance influence my decision), the company's story (audio geeks making turntables near Boston), and the simple design concept that focuses on the details important to performance. My version is the "plus" meaning that it has a cue lever, acrylic platter, and preamp. I chose U-Turn's Pluto preamplifier (built in), and added their cork mat, as well as a couple of additions on my own, including a Sleeve City Record Weight (https://www.sleevecityusa.com/sleeve-city-record-weight-p/sc-wt.htm) which fits neatly under the dust cover, Audioquest Green cables (yes, this turntable does have RCA jacks), and an Auralex turntable isolation pad (https://www.amazon.com/Auralex-Acoustics-ISO-Tone-Turntable-Isolation/dp/B00SZ3J4IS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1510439091&sr=8-2&keywords=turntable+isolation+pad). U-Turn offers a number of cartridges; I chose an Ortofon Blue.

(For reference, I am using this turntable as part of a larger system that includes a McIntosh 240 amplifier, miniDSP processor, CBT24 speakers, and a 15 inch Dayton subwoofer.)

Well, I am impressed. Speed seems well regulated, as best I tell. Detail and imaging are impressive. The noise floor is low (in fact, I can't hear any noise). The Ortofon images very well (ok, may not quite as well as my ClearAudio Basic, but it's close). The turntable's arm appears well finished; U-Turn mounted the cartridge using Lofgren-A geometry (https://uturnaudio.com/blogs/uturn/introducing-orbit-arm-2). Note that the Orbit comes with U-Turn's improved Orbit Arm 2).

The turntable itself is attractive, with a low profile. Operation is smooth (well, it has one switch, a cue-ing lever, and dust cover). In my setup (including the Auralex isolation pad), the unit seems impervious to vibration, bass noise, feedback, etc.).

The Pluto preamp (https://uturnaudio.com/products/pluto-phono-preamp) is quite nice. The link above shows the external unit; I purchased mine built into the base). This is not an expensive unit with multiple settings for MM/MC, capacitance). However, it works well with a wide range of MM cartridges and it preserves well the frequency response (and extension) and imaging provided by the rest of the rig. It's also dead quiet.

Would I recommend the U-Turn Orbit? Yes, I would, assuming one keeps in mind that this is a relatively inexpensive turntable in world of very pricing analog gear. The turntable is well made and well finished. It performs quietly and competently. I can "listen through" my recordings, including some quite nice 180 gram Rudy Van Gelder jazz re-releases. I'm a fairly critical listener (with some musical training), and this unit serves me very well.

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Product Weakness:	Not as imposing physically as a ClearAudio master. Limited cartridge flexibility if using the built-in Pluto preamp.
Product Strengths:	The performance of a fairly high-end turntable at a fairly low cost. Sleek design; well crafted and well finished. Pre-mounted cartridge with good communication between factor and user. Easy to "trick out" (see above regarding record weight and isolation pad) while keeping price low.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier:	McIntosh 240
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	miniDSP 2x4 HD
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	U-Turn Orbit Plus with Ortofon Blue
Speakers:	CBT24 and Dayton 15 inch sub
Cables/Interconnects:	Audioquest Green
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, classical, folk
Room Size (LxWxH):	12 x 12 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	None
Time Period/Length of Audition:	Three months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Tripp Lite LCR-2400 power conditioners
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	https://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/5433.html

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