Analog Gear News

Orange knows amplifiers, and Orange also knows turntables. The venerable British power merchants (if you will) are once again turning their gear-manufacturing prowess toward analog playback with the introduction of their new — and quite appropriately, succinctly named — O turntable.

According to Orange, the UK-built, audiophile-grade O turntable has been, quote, “precision engineered for effortless, high-fidelity vinyl playback for serious vinyl enthusiasts and music fans.” You can see the O in action via the official YouTube clip below.

Before we get into the O’s features and specs, let’s first share some company background. In 1968, Cliff Cooper, Founder & CEO of Orange Amplifiers, launched Orange Studios in the West End of London, where the likes of Stevie Wonder, Fleetwood Mac, the Bee Gees, Tom Jones, and numerous other artists have recorded. Orange bass and guitar amps, known for their signature “British Tone,” have powered the sounds of the likes of Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, Oasis, and Rush’s Geddy Lee. Cooper subsequently launched Orange Management, Orange Records, and even Orange DJ consoles, complete with twin record decks.

And now, back to the table at hand. As you can see, the O turntable is finished in pristine white gloss, and its plinth bears Orange’s famed “Voice of the World” crest. (The distinctive Orange branding also features on the table’s tonearm and cartridge.)

The O is a belt-driven turntable that features a 24V low-noise synchronous motor with a custom PCB and aluminium pulley system said to minimize vibration and deliver “rock-steady” platter speed, which is considered to be “essential for accurate groove tracking.”

The O’s 23mm high-mass phenolic platter boasts the flywheel effect to ensure smoother rotation and tighter speed stability. The O table offers an integrated phono preamp, as well as a moving magnet (MM) cartridge with a replaceable carbon stylus.

The O is fitted with an auto-bias tonearm with ultra-low-friction bearings. The arm’s preset auto-bias and push-fit counterweight enable plug-and-play setup, with no alignment tools required. The table sports an underside power switch, and also comes with an exclusive “Voice of the World” slipmat and transparent dust cover.

The O turntable has been designed to “seamlessly” pair with the Orange Pyramid System, or “any existing hi-fi set-up.” In a press statement, Orange head honcho Cliff Cooper said that “the O Turntable delivers pure, uncompromised vinyl sound with the simplicity and style our customers expect.” Hmm, we may just have to get an O table in hand to test that out for ourselves. . .

The Orange O turntable is available both online direct from Orange worldwide (see link below) and in-store through leading UK retailers Richer Sounds, Selfridges, and Harrods. The company tells us that the O will become available Stateside sometime later in July. Finally, the Orange O turntable’s SRP is $699 U.S., or £499 (including VAT) / €599 for those across the Pond.

For more about Orange, go here.
To find an authorized Orange dealer, go here.