The Doctor's Recommendation for Dynamic Vinyl Playback: German-Made Feickert Analogue Volare Turntable Includes MoFi Electronics StudioSilver MC Cartridge and 9.5-Inch Origin Live Silver Mk4 Tonearm
When it comes to playing vinyl LPs with front-to-back soundstaging and focused imaging, the Volare turntable is just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Christian Feickert, to be exact, the chemistry professor who has been designing 'tables since 1996 and whose own company is nearing its 20-year anniversary. Built by hand in Germany's Black Forest region, this belt-driven and beautiful Volare comes with two extra doses of magic in the forms of a MoFi Electronics Studio Silver MC phono cartridge ($999 value) and a 9.5-inch Origin Silver Mk4 tonearm (read more below). Taken together, this combination aces vinyl playback.
The hefty aluminum platter on Volare is inspired by the types on Feickert's larger, more expensive models. Its innovative chassis topology focuses on high mass in the center of a bearing chosen for its stiffness and low-friction properties. As such, it achieves ultimate synergy with the high-torque motor, which operates with a smoothness that would be the envy of any professional figure skater.
Most importantly, Volare spins vinyl with an ultra-low-noise quietness that illuminates the enticing detail, dynamics, tones, and textures that you'll experience when the stylus hits the grooves. The elegance you can clearly see in pictures also translates to the sound.
Neutral and balanced, Volare also touts a quick-swap mechanism for armboards that invites you to customize and experiment with different tonearms at will if you choose to do so in the future. For now, we think you'll be thrilled with the Origin Live 'arm and accompanying StudioSilver cartridge. Equipped with a nude microlinear stylus that comes mounted on a high-grade boron cantilever, the Japanese-made StudioSilver traces LP grooves with surgical-like precision to retrieve the details many cartridges in this range simply miss.
Detailed, transparent, and natural, StudioSilver takes no shortcuts when it comes to high-end build quality. A sleek aluminum body with threaded inserts not only ensures problem-free mounting but effectively minimizes unwanted vibration and lets you enjoy enhanced openness, presence, and black backgrounds. In addition, a neodymium magnet and permendur yoke complement pure copper by Ohno continuous casting (PCOCC) coils to drive home its emphasis on clarity and true-to-the-source faithfulness.
Backed by a two-year manufacturer warranty and our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, Volare remains true to its Latin and Italian roots by taking analog to soaring heights at a very accessible price point.
"Volare has the essentials down pat, and possesses a musicality, stability, and solidity that few other LP rigs in [its price class] offer. It's not for me to say whether great LP analog reproduction cures all ills, but this could be one time that it's a good idea to listen to the Doctor. Volare might be just the prescription you need."
—Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound
More About the Origin Live Silver Mk4 Tonearm
Complete with a high-grade aircraft alloy arm tube, rear stub for counterweight stability, yoke design, made-to-spec bearings, VTA adjuster, and falling weight side bias, the Silver tonearm has a wide range of strengths, which make it a great all-rounder. Highly musical, it tracks dynamics accurately and gets right into the groove of the music. The Silver also includes a high-end external cable which improves bass weight in comparison to competing designs. It has a natural tonal balance with excellent transparency and fine performance at both frequency extremes.
