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AVID Sequel SP (no arm)

Turntable

Relative price

above typical

Among the 40 turntables in the catalogue, this one is above typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

"Real high-end solution that has benefited directly from Reference model developments" — AVID Sequel SP is more than a Volvere upgrade.

Heavier 24V motor with 140mNm torque vs Volvere 55mNm — major step.

SUSPENSION: 3-point spring suspension with vertical 3.2Hz (variable) and lateral 4.5Hz, identical compliance to Volvere SP but with bespoke tuning for the heavier platter and motor.

Competition record

Assessed against 9 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 48 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • mechanical hush ×38
  • speed stability ×2

Who it comes up against

Vertere DG-X Sabre Lite Pack

17 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Anchored brief, the Vertere DG-X Sabre Lite Pack keeps the slot decisively.

With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on mechanical hush.

On its own merits the AVID Sequel SP (no arm) is the stronger record deck — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Vertere Groove Runner X gives up mechanical hush under the Anchored weighting.

low noise floorPROXY: Vertere deck house

Technics SL-1200G

17 lost · Anchored, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path, Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Technics SL-1200G keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the AVID Sequel SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.

speed stability competitive with any turntable availableStereophile measurements + Audio Appraisal review

Michell Gyro 2025

7 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Michell Gyro 2025 keeps the slot by a whisker.

With the Michell TecnoArm 2, the pairing gives up most on mechanical hush.

On its own merits the AVID Sequel SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

exceptionally quiet, suspended sub-chassis isolates platterHi-Fi News Michell Gyro 2025 review

Origin Live Calypso Mk5 (no arm)

2 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Origin Live Calypso Mk5 (no arm) keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the AVID Sequel SP (no arm) is the stronger record deck — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

Origin Live Resolution Mk5 (no arm)

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Origin Live Resolution Mk5 (no arm) keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the AVID Sequel SP (no arm) is the stronger record deck — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

AVID Volvere SP (no arm)

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the AVID Volvere SP (no arm) keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the AVID Sequel SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.

Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (no arm)

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (no arm) keeps the slot by a whisker.

With the Origin Live Encounter Mk5, the pairing gives up most on mechanical hush.

On its own merits the AVID Sequel SP (no arm) is the stronger record deck — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Origin Live Encounter Mk5 gives up mechanical hush under the Silent Path weighting.

silent backgroundPROXY: Origin Live Aurora line

Origin Live Aurora Mk5 (no arm)

1 lost · Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the Origin Live Aurora Mk5 (no arm) keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the AVID Sequel SP (no arm) is the stronger record deck — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.

Technics SL-1500CS (with cart)

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Technics SL-1500CS (with cart) keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the AVID Sequel SP (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the record deck position.

What the reviewers said

AVID Sequel SP with Acutus-derived design AVID Sequel SP positioning· Micro-dynamic resolution
spacious... deeper and wider... precisely HiFi-Advice (Punter) 2021· Spatial naturalness
super-stable... not a hint of pitch inaccuracy HiFi-Advice (Punter) 2021· Timing precision
suspended subchassis... sense of flow HiFi-Advice (Punter) 2021· Acoustic isolation

How it scores

Clarity

  • Mechanical noise floor 72 from specification

Voice

  • Spatial naturalness 76 from listening evidence

Rhythm

  • Timing precision 76 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Acoustic isolation 76 from listening evidence

Specifications

drive typebelt (twin)
motor type24V AC, 140mNm DSP-regulated
speeds rpm33.33/45
speed changeelectronic DSP-controlled
platter materialaluminium
plinth materialcast aluminium W-shape sub-chassis
suspension typebespoke sprung suspension
bearing typeupgraded sapphire
weight kg12.6
psu typeexternal upgraded DSP
notes