Oracle Audio Origine Tonearm

The Oracle Audio Origine Tonearm is a high-precision unipivot design with a carbon fiber arm tube, Cardas internal wiring, and Oracle's signature adjustable-mass system. Available in Paris Mount and Delphi Mount configurations, this tonearm brings Oracle's engineering directly to their Paris and Delphi turntable platforms. The unipivot bearing geometry places the pivot contact point on the same plane as the stylus contact and the tracking force counterweight, a layout that maximizes stability during playback.

The Origine sits at the entry point of Oracle's tonearm lineup, but calling it "entry-level" undersells what it does. The unipivot bearing geometry, adjustable effective mass, and Cardas wiring put it well ahead of most arms bundled with turntables in the $2,000-$4,000 range. We recommend the Origine as a standalone upgrade for Paris and Delphi owners who want better tracking and signal retrieval without jumping to the Paris Tonearm's price point. If you're running the stock arm on a Paris MkV or want a second arm option for your Delphi, this is the most cost-effective step up in Oracle's range.

Key Features of the Oracle Origine Tonearm

• Carbon Fiber Arm Tube: Lightweight, rigid tube that controls resonance while keeping effective mass low enough for a broad range of cartridge compliances
• Unipivot Bearing Design: Single-point pivot with the contact point aligned on the same plane as the stylus and counterweight for inherent stability
• Adjustable Effective Mass: The movable "olive" weight on the arm tube lets you tune effective mass to match your specific cartridge, from high-compliance moving magnets to low-compliance moving coils
• Cardas Internal Wiring: Signal path from headshell to RCA junction box uses Cardas conductors for low-loss signal transmission
• RCA Junction Box: Clean, secure output connection included with the tonearm
• Two Mounting Configurations: Paris Mount for Paris turntables and Delphi Mount for the Delphi series, ensuring correct geometry on each platform
• Handcrafted in Canada: Built to order at Oracle's Sherbrooke, Quebec facility

Unipivot Bearing Geometry

The Origine Tonearm's unipivot bearing was designed with a specific geometric principle in mind. The pivot contact point sits on the same plane as the record's contact point with the stylus and the tracking force counterweight. This three-point alignment creates inherent stability during playback, allowing the arm to track the groove with minimal lateral wobble while still maintaining the freedom of movement that makes unipivot designs effective at following warped records and eccentric grooves. Unlike gimbal-bearing tonearms that constrain movement to two fixed axes, the unipivot allows the arm to respond naturally to the record surface, adapting in real time to changes in groove modulation and surface irregularities.

Arm Tube and Resonance Control

The carbon fiber arm tube provides an optimal balance of rigidity and low mass. Carbon fiber's natural damping characteristics help suppress resonances that would otherwise color the signal retrieved by the cartridge. The tube's stiffness ensures that energy from the stylus-groove interaction is transmitted efficiently to the bearing rather than being stored and re-released as distortion. The "olive," Oracle's movable arm tube weight, serves a dual purpose. It allows you to adjust the tonearm's effective mass to match your cartridge's compliance, and it also functions as a tuned damper, absorbing residual vibrations along the arm tube. This adjustability means the Origine can accommodate cartridges across a wide compliance range without requiring a different tonearm for each type.

Cartridge Compatibility and Setup

The adjustable effective mass system makes the Origine Tonearm compatible with a broad range of phono cartridges. By repositioning the olive along the arm tube, you can increase or decrease the effective mass to achieve the correct resonance frequency with your chosen cartridge. The goal is to place the arm-cartridge resonance in the 8-12 Hz range, well below audible frequencies but above the frequencies generated by record warps. This flexibility means you're not locked into a narrow selection of cartridges. Moving magnets, high-output moving coils, and low-output moving coils can all work effectively with proper setup. Tracking force and anti-skating adjustments are straightforward, and the Cardas internal wiring preserves signal integrity from the headshell pins through to the RCA junction box.

Mounting Configurations

The Origine Tonearm is available in two mounting configurations, each engineered for a specific Oracle turntable platform. The Paris Mount is designed for the Oracle Paris turntable, with geometry matched to the Paris plinth and platter layout. The Delphi Mount is configured for the Delphi series, accounting for the different mounting position and armboard dimensions of that platform. Selecting the correct mount is essential for proper tonearm geometry, as the pivot-to-spindle distance, overhang, and offset angle all depend on the mounting configuration. If you're unsure which mount your turntable requires, reach out to us before ordering.

Upgrade Path: From Origine to Paris to Reference

The Origine Tonearm sits at the entry point of Oracle's tonearm lineup, but it's built with the same attention to engineering as their higher-end models. When you're ready to move up, the Oracle Paris Tonearm offers gimbal bearings, a conical carbon fiber arm tube, and Oracle's Micro Vibration Stabiliser silicone damping system. Beyond that, the Oracle Reference Tonearm represents the top of Oracle's tonearm engineering. Each step up brings refinements in bearing precision, damping, and materials, but the Origine holds its own as a serious performer that punches above its price point.

Explore the Oracle Audio Tonearm and Turntable Range

The Origine Tonearm pairs naturally with Oracle's turntable platforms. Here are the related products in the Oracle lineup.

• Oracle Audio Origine Mk2 Turntable - Oracle's entry-level turntable, ships with the Origine tonearm included
• Oracle Audio Paris Tonearm - Gimbal-bearing upgrade with conical carbon fiber tube and silicone damping
• Oracle Audio Reference Tonearm - Oracle's flagship tonearm with the highest level of bearing precision and damping
• Oracle Audio Delphi Mk VII Classic - The flagship Delphi platform, compatible with Delphi Mount configuration

The Listening Room Difference

We're a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on trust, not hype. Whether you're visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection. Our passion is helping you get the most out of your gear, with support that lasts well beyond the sale.

Oracle Origine Tonearm Specifications