Encounter Mk3

“One of the truly special products I’ve reviewed in the past 18 years....Overall the Encounter’s look, feel and fit’n finish are exceptionally high for it’s modest price...”. - Stereophile

“I have owned about 60 different tonearms so far, including Immedia, Wheaton, SME V, Forsell, Mission Mechanic, Linn Ekos, Naim Aro, the above mentioned Audio Note and many others. And what counts more: it is the best conventional (gimballed) one in that classs, and the best UK tonearm, too......At it’s price point I consider the Origin Live a best buy” - TNT Audio

Illustrious Mk3c

and the winner is... the Origin Live Illustrious, a pick up arm that is quite simply breathtaking. Its ability to display a three dimensional stereo image is above critisism, as is its transparency and lack of artifice. It also has amazing tonal accuracy, which lets the "flavour" of each instrument or voice flood out of the speakers. This is the respect in which it is most obviously superior to the SME.... on any deck ... this is surely the best."
Albert Lee - Hi-Fi World 2004 Group comparison test of 7 tonearms