Turntable
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.
Origin Live flagship Sovereign Mk5 (standard, not S).
WEIGHT NOTE: 18-22kg estimated for standard Sovereign Mk5. Sovereign S Mk5 confirmed ~29kg per hi-fi+ review.
Assessed against 8 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 47 head-to-heads.
The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.
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 Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.
silent backgroundPROXY: Origin Live Aurora line
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 Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (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.
silent backgroundPROXY: Origin Live Aurora line
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 Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.
silent backgroundPROXY: Origin Live Aurora line
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 Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (no arm) is the weaker record deck for that brief.
1 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Origin Live Resolution Mk5 (no arm) keeps the slot by a whisker.
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 Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (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.
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 Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (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.
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 Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 (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.
OL flagship with ultimate motor + suspension Origin Live Sovereign Mk5 flagship + Hi-Fi+ reviews· Micro-dynamic resolution
silent background PROXY: Origin Live Aurora line· Mechanical noise floor
3D soundstage PROXY: Origin Live Aurora line· Spatial naturalness
dynamic, on-time PROXY: Origin Live house· Timing precision
| drive type | belt |
|---|---|
| speeds rpm | 33.33/45 |
| suspension type | unsuspended (rigid mass-loaded plinth) |
| psu type | external (Mk5 Motor PSU) |
| notes |