Oracle Delphi MKIV Audiophile Turntable w/ Kuzma Stogi Tonearm - Clean!

For sale is a beautiful Oracle Delphi Mark IV audiophile turntable in very good condition. See photos and condition description for details. Due to the complex build of the turntable, this auction is only available for local pickup. It comes equipped with a Kuzma Stogi tonearm and a brand new counterweight. The item includes a power supply, but does not include a cartridge or dustcover. We can offer a deal on a new cartridge with the turntable if anyone is interested. If so, please contact us.
 

Description 
To begin with, the Delphi Mk.IV—the Oracle du jour here—is a belt-driven, suspended-subchassis design. Nothing particularly new there, but, as in most things, the story is in the execution. The open design of the Delphi, which gives it its striking good looks, was apparently a deliberate design choice. Eliminating the conventional cabinet which surrounds virtually all other turntables (with a few notable exceptions) eliminates any chance of cabinet resonances being excited by airborne vibrations and of those resonances being passed on to the system's moving parts. While this is not likely to be a serious problem if the suspension design is well executed, what is possible is transmission of vibrations to the system's suspended parts—the subchassis, platter, arm, and cartridge. Oracle keeps the size of these to a minimum by reducing the dimensions of the subchassis to the barest essentials—just what is needed to hold the tonearm, the bearing assembly on which the platter rests, a built-in bubble-level, and the support arms which rest on the three suspension towers. The subchassis itself is a four-ply laminate.

New to the Mk.IV is a 3 lb counterweight on the subchassis opposite the tonearm, which improves the overall stability of the suspended system. The use of such a counterweight was, to my knowledge, first proposed by Brooks Berdan several years ago and incorporated in his mods for earlier Oracles (footnote 2).

The Delphi Mk.IV's platter is a laminate of a composite material sandwiched between layers of aluminum. This platter is also new to the Mk.IV (previous versions were all-aluminum). Its mass is concentrated at the perimeter to increase momentum and minimize the effect of outside disturbances, including the increase in stylus drag which is known to occur with heavy groove modulations. Atop this platter is a hard polymer mat—a significant change in the Mk.IV from Oracle's older soft, sticky mat. This new "mat" is actually an integral part of the laminated platter, machined in-place to its finished form and not merely stuck on in final assembly.

Also incorporated into the platter is Oracle's record-coupling system. The top of the spindle is threaded and a threaded clamp is provided which secures the record tightly to the platter—assisted by a slight upward dishing of the latter at its outer edge. A tapered washer is provided which may be used over the spindle under the record; in conjunction with the clamp, this helps force the record down against the platter. While this clamping system is less effective than a vacuum platter, it is also less complicated to implement. Perhaps that's why it's been used in various guises by a number of other turntable manufacturers. To the best of my knowledge, Oracle was the first to use it. With their new, dished mat, Oracle feels that the under-disc washer is not really necessary. I found that without the washer the degree to which the clamp was tightened was much more critical. Tighten it too much and the outside of the record would rise and lose contact with the disc. With the washer, this was far less likely.

Decibel Audio is a retail store and custom installation business in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago.  We have serviced the Chicagoland area with new, used and vintage equipment for over 20 years.  Visit our brick and mortar store at 1429 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622.   

We are Authorized Dealers for Audioquest, Benz Micro, Cambridge Audio, Cary Audio, Clearaudio, Creek, Crestron, Denon, Draper Screens, Dynaudio, Epos, Goldring, Grado, Harbeth, Jolida, Music Hall, James Loudspeaker, KEF, Marantz, Parasound, Pro-Ject, PS Audio, Plateau,  Rega, Rogue Audio, Russound, SONOS,  Stewart Filmscreen, Samsung, Skylan, Yamaha, and more.     

All shipping is via UPS ground unless other arrangements are made. Buyer is responsible for reviewing cosmetic condition detailed in photos before bidding. You are welcome to pay with Visa, MC, Checks, Discover, Diners, AmEx, Etc. We prefer Paypal for international bidders. Local customers are welcome to view and pick up auction items during store hours. Illinois residents please add 10.25% sales tax.