U-Turn Orbit Plus Review – (Including a High-End Cartridge)

Design And Build Quality

While the design is often the least important factor according to audiophiles when considering buying a turntable. The Orbit Plus for me is an exception, as it comes in a lot of different colors and has one of the best looking designs that are out there. What U-Turn really excels in is thinking about how the turntable is going to fit into your interior. It is a simple design and at the same time an eccentric piece that can be the main showpiece in any living room. Not a black box that you likely want to keep out of sight but rather something that sparks conversations and you really want to use every time you see it. U-Turn excels in design in a way that makes design a more important factor when buying a turntable.

In terms of the materials used the Orbit Plus has some nice upgrades compared to the more basic U-Turn Orbit. It now features a really good cartridge in the form of the Ortofan OM5e, a very neutral cartridge and therefore suited for almost all musical genres. It is detailed and offers some great bass. I can’t stress enough how important having such a great cartridge is. The needle and cartridge are the source of sound itself, meaning that it sets the standard for the sound quality. Therefore, it lifts the quality of this turntable tremendously and makes it a worthwhile upgrade from almost any beginner turntable.

The casing is made from one piece and it is supported by three legs. It might sound weird but three rubber legs are actually more stable than four because of the balance , therefore the base is more noise isolating than other models. Beneath the casing are the electronic components such as the switches and motor. The components are external instead of inside a casing making them easy to repair if needed.

Features

Belt-driven
The Audio Orbit Plus is belt-driven, meaning that the motor is not directly placed under the platter but placed beside it. A belt connects the motor and the platter. It may seem as if this makes your turntable more vulnerable but many vinyl enthusiasts prefer this mechanism because it isolates the motors’ sound and vibrations from the record. The motor also ensures speed regulation and the turntable itself has the ability to play 33 and 45 rpm records. To switch between speeds, you can simply move the belt upward or downward from the wheel motor.

Manual system
With the Audio Orbit Plus, you manually have to lift, lower and move the tonearm in position. This manual system is actually standard for most high-end models but there are vinyl lovers that prefer a semi-automatic or automatic turntable as that allows them to not pay attention when the record stops and for example, fall asleep with music playing in the background.

Tonearm
The turntable has a 0A2 tonearm that is very precise and is reviewed as having low disturbance. It has a counterweight and anti-skate so you don’t have to worry about wearing out your vinyl because of movements or the weight.

Cardtidge
As said earlier the cartridge is the Ortofon OM5e. Its stylus is made of diamond which has long endurance so you don’t have to think about replacing it anytime soon. The brand is very reputable and this cartridge is a great model that is precise, transparent and provides the warm vinyl sound everyone is looking for. It is a significant update from the stylus that is in the original Orbit.

Platter
The cartridge is not the only upgrade over the regular U-Turn Orbit. It also has an Acrylic platter. Acrylic is a material that is even more sound isolated as it has low resonance. This means it can improve speed consistency and detailed feedback.

Dustcover
The package comes with a dust cover which helps with the endurance of the turntable. But make sure the cover stands up fully vertically when playing as it tends to fall down when setting up incorrectly.

Pre-amp
There is a built-in preamp. On the back of the device, you will find a switch to turn the turntable on or off. This feature allows you to connect an external preamplifier if needed. I really like this feature as it is plug and play but also leaves the possibility to upgrade your preamp if you want to get even more serious with vinyl setup. We have made a list of the best affordable external preamps.

Sound

Now comes the most important question, how does it sound? Well in two words: Really Good! If we compare it to competitors in the same price range from brands such as Fluance, Audio Technica and Sony then we prefer this model because of its great cartridge. It just gives a more warm and rich sound, which is largely due to the great cartridge.
Taking into consideration that this turntable is more in the low to midtable price range the sound quality is amazing. You will hear more details in your records you might have not heard until now.

Setting Up

Setting up the turntable is doable as it does not come with a lot of components. However, this is a good signal that we are dealing with a quality turntable. U-Turn is fully made by hand in Massachusetts and Boston so every turntable is in a sense unique.
The tonearm is already installed onto the plinth itself which is not always the case but very convenient for vinyl beginners. Now what you do have to install is the platter and mat on top of the casing. The next step is to simply put the belt around the platter and motor wheel. If you want to get more in-depth steps on how to set up your turntable read our 7 step guide.

Conclusion

It is simply a quality turntable that can play any music genre. The quality components of the acrylic platter and high-quality diamond needle make this a turntable that can last you for years, or even decades. Especially the Ortofan OM5e cartridge is a significant update over the basic model and just gets more out of your records. The sound that it offers is transparent and detailed, making it very suitable for beginners discovering their preferences and for vinyl enthusiasts offering Hifi sound for an affordable price. The fact that this is all handmade in the US makes it an even more incredible deal.