Reviews

"A stellar performer with a wonderfully realistic presentation: if you can't afford a £3000 CD player try this instead...
...The moment you spin some vinyl, the sound stuns.The Aurora gives vocals great solidity and excellent detail. This is what vinyl's all about - close your eyes and you'll believe the singers are in your room...delivers realism of the highest order. And tonal balance is spot on: the bass bounds along but never obscures the midrange or treble. Switch to Nirvana's attack on the higher frequencies and the turntable remains unruffled and there's no evidence of harshness. There is however proof of superb attack and rigid bass....dynamics are excellent, which means continually engrossing performances and edge of the seat listening. You also get a vast, room filling soundstage .. the sonic news couldn't be better ... It looks like a star and sounds like heaven - a class leader in every respect".
What Hi-Fi?, Oct 2003

Feature highlights

The Aurora has a decoupled sub-chassis rather than the semi-suspended design used in the Aurora Gold.

Aurora with silver finish - (generaly preferred)

Theory of Energy Management

In principle a turntable is one of the simplest items of Hi-Fi equipment. However, from a technical point of view, understanding the principles governing performance is much more involved than first meets the eye.

The Priority of Source Signal Purity

Controlling vibration is the key to record player design due to the nature of the stylus mechanism. The movements of the stylus as it tracks the record groove are extremely small. As the stylus moves, it acts within the signal generator of the cartridge and this signal is duly transmitted to the amplifier. Much has been written about the amazingly tortuous job that a stylus carries out. The stylus undergoes forces measured in tons per square inch and the vinyl melts momentarily as the stylus passes over it.

The stylus vibrations are so small that they must be amplified thousands of times to produce an output at the speakers. This means that the slightest source of unwanted vibration is also amplified thousands of times. It is the successful elimination of this unwanted vibration that results in the huge differences between mediocre record players and star performers.

Vibration is a highly complex area. Put simply, the following are the most relevant parameters from an audio point of view:

1. Speed of energy transmission
2. Speed of energy absorption - storage of vibrational energy (resonance) vs vibration absorption (damping).
3. Resonant frequency of the material (how does behave within the audio band?).

Design of Components

From the above, it follows that the tiniest details all contribute to the overall sonic character of a turntable. In the Aurora, meticulous attention has been paid to every detail and design option. The key variables researched are listed below:

a) Types of material used at each point in the structure.
b) Choice of which materials to interface together.
c) Dimensioning of materials.
d) Shape and form of components: solid, hollow, plate, flanged, tube, etc.
e) Method of attachment: bolting, gluing, welding, screwing, etc.
f) Decoupling methods: springs, spikes, elastic bands, rubber, foam, air cushion, etc.
g) Motor positioning and method of mounting.

These critical areas and many others, have all been tested extremely thoroughly and result in the outstanding performance of the Aurora turntable.

Features & Specifications

Superb styling & looks
The record player is sculpted in stylish curved profiles that will look at home in most surroundings. There is a choice of black or satin silver finish.
Dimensions & Weight: 410mm wide, 410mm deep, 145mm height.
Weight 10Kg including arm.

High grade parts
Profiled acrylic platter.
Platter is de-coupled by an inert sub-platter
Low tolerance and low friction bearing
High-grade military specification Arctic oil is used in the bearing.
The record player sub-chassis is very rigid and exhibits low resonance due to it's unique, centre point support arrangement.
The motor is an ironless DC design with no 'cogging' effect.

Record player power supply
The regulated power supply of this motor is load compensating as well as being stable across a wide range of temperatures. Speed control is easily electronically switched between 33rpm and 45 rpm (78rpm is also available on request). Setting up - There is nothing to go "out of tune" on the Aurora record player. The record player is a sprung suspended design but the centre spring loading means that the deck is simple to set up and fuss free. VTA arm adjustment is provided for the Rega and Origin Live arms, which makes setting the arm height much easier.

MICHELL TecnoDec Michell's new TecnoDec is essentially a latest-spec GyroDec with the expensive bits stripped off. To wit, it has no suspension to speak of, and lacks its bigger brother's beautiful suspended weights, in all their gold-plated splendour. Frankly though, if I was going to strip bits off the Gyro to slash cash, these are precisely what I'd bin. The advent of the new DC motor (its source still a well kept secret!) has made the new TecnoDec even more speed-stable than the old, QC-aspired AC Orbe complete with that massive massloaded acrylic platter. In the new DC powered world, weighty platters would appear less essential.	Michell GyroDec SE Once you hear the Gyrodec SE Mk.II (or rather, don't hear it), you know it’s going to be in your system for the long haul. With a naturally balanced cartridge, I have not heard reproduced music sounding closer to live than through the Gyrodec. I don't see the need to spend more on a turntable, even after hearing the big boys at various high end shows. This turntable is designed to provide long-term satisfaction, and is most highly recommended. Brad Morrical - Positive Feedback
SME Model 10 The SME Model 10 is a welcome addition to a very fine range, handling all sorts of material with an open and persuasive balance that encourages you to keep on listening and hunting for more vinyl (it is out there by the way). As well as being stylish it's ridiculously well made - so forget your BMWs and your Lexii. This is Rolls-Royce Aerospace grade hi-fi and it's a bargain at the price. - JK, Hifi Choice	Brinkmann LaGrange The Brinkmann LaGrange turntable is without a doubt the best source component I have ever had the chance to enjoy over an extended period of time. It represents a level of perfection and emotional connection to music that I have never heard before. - Danny Kaey extract from Positive Feedback
Origin Live Resolution “In fact, this arm-table combo is one of the finest performers I’ve heard at any price....I could make a case for preferring this $4465 spread to the $20,000+ version .....“The Resolution Modern works brilliantly, is well-built, and its price is right. But regardless of price, this is one of the truly special products I’ve reviewed in the past 18 years.” ($4,465 is for Encounter tonearm & Resolution. $20,000 reference is Michael’s Simon Yorke S7, Kuzma Air Tracking Arm, Sounds of Silence platform). - Michael Fremer, Stereophile July 2004	SME Model 20/2A If I have appeared to be too uncritical of this player, then I apologise but it is one of the few truly great components to come my way in recent years. As an evaluation and demonstration tool the 20/2A is unsurpassed. On occasions I have tried to set up top class systems only to be frustrated when, despite hours of setting up and fine adjustment, the system simply fails to gel. This never happened with an SME player at the front end! - HiFi Choice David Wiley