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My 6 months after purchase opinion on the Volvere

I bought an Avid Volvere 6 months ago. I had a SOTA Star for 15 years. I put my OL Encounter tonearm and Benz Glider series 2 cartridge on the Volvere. I've since replaced the Glider with a Ruby 3H. Here's my perspective on the Volvere:

- the sonic qualities of the Volvere include speed, PRaT, very decent soundstage width and depth, excellent integration of the instruments across the soundstage, excellent high frequency detail, good bass, excellent mids.

- compared directly to the Star, I found the Star to have superior soundstage dimensionality and superior imaging, better air around instruments, better bass. Although tonality was extremely good on the Star, I think it may be even better on the Volvere.

- Tonearm selection: my tonearm, the Origin Live Encounter, is detailed and transparent and therefore may not be the best match for the Volvere. Avid recommends SME tonearms, which I understand (not having heard them), have a slight tilt toward warmth as opposed to the slight tilt toward lean that the Encounter has. The Encounter's sonic attributes fit well with the SOTA Star.

- use of tonearms other than SME on the Volvere requires an armboard adapter.

- plan on replacing your Volvere's belt approximately every one to two years, more frequently if you do not use a dustcover.

- the Volvere's screw on clamp has very fine threads. It takes about 10 to 15 seconds to screw it down after each side of an LP. Even more important, pay attention because it can mis-thread and require a repair to the spindle! No I didn't do it, but I know someone who did.

- the Volvere is very easy to set-up, and I have not had to adjust the suspension since initial set-up.

I may purchase a SME tonearm for the Volvere to alleviate a slight leaness that has persisted in my analog front-end.

The comments above are intended to be objective, there are pros and cons to any piece of equipment, and I really do enjoy listening to vinyl through the Volvere! I think its a fine turntable, most every type of music sounds good on it, but I think its especially well-suited to music which has drive and power such as rock and large symphonic pieces.

Hope this helps!
Terry



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