Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Origin Live Silver RB-250 Tone Arms by Mike Currie

Model:	Silver RB-250
Category:	Tone Arms
Suggested Retail Price:	$725
Description:	Highly modified Rega RB-250
Manufacturer URL:	Origin Live
Model Picture:	View

Review by Mike Currie ( A ) on February 20, 2002 at 06:28:46
IP Address: 207.24.72.12

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for the Silver RB-250

Although the Silver RB-250 may be technically (yet another) mod to a basic Rega tonearm, the modifications are so extensive that I think of it more as a completely new arm. Only the original base is left intact. The link to the OL web site contains details of the changes, so I won't go into them here.
I previously owned an OL RB-250. Without question, this is a fine arm for the money. In recent direct comparison to an SME V and a JMW 12.5, though, I was aware that certain areas of performance were lacking. Midbass (and deeper) seemed relatively a bit sluggish and ill defined. Upper mids through the highest highs lacked that last bit of shimmer and transparency provided by both of the more expensive arms. The biggest single difference was an obvious lack of focus - once again, in comparison to reference quality gear.
Enter the Silver RB-250. I had heard some very good things about the arm from a couple of owners and from my dealer (Galen Carol). Installation was a snap, since it dropped into the same mounting plate as the previous RB-250. Let me make it clear up front that I did not have the SME or the JMW on hand after receiving the Silver, so I have had to rely on memory in that regard. What I do know, however, is that this arm shows improvement in every area over the RB-250. Music now sounds much more alive, presumably a function of the marked improvement in transient speed. Timbral quality is now of one piece throughout the spectrum. A much more suberbly rendered treble, surprisingly, is the real standout. Cymbals, for example, now sound as cymbals should, with a very sharp leading transient and a long, slow decay. Down the scale, bass is tightened up significantly and only 'fat' when it is supposed to be.
I cannot say whether or not the Silver RB-250 is better in any given area than the two references. I can't trust my aural memory to distinguish small differences. Small they have certainly become - of that I am sure. In my opinion, the Silver RB-250 is a screaming bargain that makes few, if any, compromises to sonic quality.

Product Weakness: The usual complaint about Rega arms - lack of easy VTA adjustment
Product Strengths: Focus, soundstage, timbral coherency, transient speed

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Atma-Sphere M-60 MkII.2
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Atma-Sphere MP-3
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Michell Gyrodec SE; OL Silver RB-250; Shelter 501 MkII; Cary CD-303
Speakers:	Quad ESL-63
Cables/Interconnects:	Custom, fully balanced interconnect; no speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	A bit of nearly everything
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 14 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	Room Tunes; vaulted ceiling
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Monster HTS-2000; ZERO autoformers
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	The usual complaint about Rega arms - lack of easy VTA adjustment
Product Strengths:	Focus, soundstage, timbral coherency, transient speed