AVID Hifi Acutus Classic Turntable

AVID Hifi Acutus Classic Turntable

The Acutus was born from two decades of relentless pursuit of perfection and, after 25 years in production, remains virtually unchanged. It not only launched the company but also established an enduring ethos: to strive for perfection in everything we do. Today, it stands as the Acutus Classic.

While direct-drive turntables benefit from high motor torque, traditional belt-drive designs rely on low-power motors and thin belts to minimize vibration. Defying convention, AVID employs a high-torque synchronous motor with twin drive belts, exerting absolute control over the heavy platter. The result is nothing short of breathtaking—deep, dynamic bass and impeccable rhythmic precision.

• Layer Damped Platter
• Unique Sapphire Bearing
• Dual Stage Clamping System
• Vibration Tuned Subchassis
• Frequency Adjustable Suspension

Clamp
Our unique dual operation clamp is a critical element to the ultimate sonic performance you hear.
First operation grounds the record to the main bearing, allowing vibration caused by the stylus to pass into the subchassis. This reduces the noise floor of the record and vastly improves the sound you hear.
Second operation reflex clamps the vinyl flat to the platter surface, eliminating warps and air pockets underneath. The platter mat itself is a unique resin that reflects most vibration, keeping it in the record so it passes more quickly through the bearing into the subchassis.

Platter
The 10Kg chrome-plated aluminium platter is the focal point of the Acutus.
Secured with eight fixings, the 10mm aluminium disc which has had the resin mat cast and machined offers the perfect record interface. The mat reflects the most vibration except for very high frequencies, which after entering the platter body are rapidly constrained and damped by the nickel and chrome layers.

Bearing
The Acutus turntable features the lengthiest bearing spindle within our entire range. This spindle is meticulously press-fitted into the subchassis, securing it firmly in place. The innovative inverted design situates the contact point at the pinnacle so the bearing naturally has a low center of gravity.
At the upper end of the precisely ground and tapered spindle, a tungsten carbide ball comes into contact with a specially designed sapphire jewel. This ingenious pairing establishes a fixed bearing point, completely devoid of any lateral movement. As a result, the typical rumble noise often encountered in other turntables is virtually eliminated.
Furthermore, the self-lubricating sleeve employed in this design ensures that there's no direct metal-to-metal interaction during operation. This distinctive feature renders our bearing exceptionally silent and also grants it a maintenance-free quality for its entire lifespan.

Subchassis
It is critical for sound quality that the tonearm and bearing are rigidly coupled; any relative movement between them and information is lost forever. Our unique one-piece multi-fold aluminium casting provides maximum strength where required but allows for movement in non-critical areas, accepting the fact that nothing is totally rigid.
To eliminate the vibration from the record passed through the bearing, the casting is coated with a damping media of specific thickness so that both high and low frequencies dissipate with linearity and time frame, giving a neutral sound.

Suspension
Our adjustable suspension system allows each supporting spring to be tuned to the same frequency regardless of the load. This means that either a single or twin tonearm weight of up to 3Kg can be accommodated and the suspension perfectly balanced. With an isolation frequency of 2.5Hz, the pickup cartridge will not skip, locked into position with all external vibration eliminated.

Motor
Our hand-assembled high torque AC synchronous motor spins the platter up to speed within seconds. Ten times more powerful than conventional turntable motors, this provides the ultimate control and stability. With twin round-section drive belts, the suspension is free to move without inducing speed variations common with flat belt designs.

Power Supply
The Classic electronic power supply generates its own frequency using DSP technology, allowing the final speed to be accurately fine-tuned. With a large 80VA mains transformer, our power supply is actually a fully integrated amplifier providing a fixed output for the twin coils of the high torque motor.

Specification

Drive: Twin belt drive
Speeds: 33.3 & 45.0 RPM (adjustable)
Platter Mass: Aluminium 10kg
Bearing: Inverted stainless steel
Thrust Point: Tungsten carbide/sapphire
Suspension: 3-point spring (Vertical 2.5Hz, Lateral 4.5Hz)
Tonearm Fitting: SME template
Adapters Available: Yes, single or twin tonearms
Motor: Hand-built 24V 140mNm AC synchronous
Power Supply: DSP Vari-Speed control unit
Voltage Input: 100-240VAC 50/60Hz 20 Watts Max.
Dimensions: Turntable (overall) 460 x 400 x 210mm (WxDxH); Turntable (footprint) 410 x 360mm (WxD); P.S.U. 250 x 215 x 95mm (WxDxH)
Net Weight: 19.0kg (42lb) turntable only; 3.5kg (8lb) PSU only