OPUS 3 CONTINUO TURNTABLE with Cantus parallel tracking tone arm

The
Opus3 Continuo turntables with Opus3 Cantus parallel tracking tone
arm are handmade in Sweden. The manufacturing started in the
beginning of the eighties and the record player has been exported
around the world since. The intention from the constructor was to
create a record player that could reproduce music as close as
possible to the master tapes. This record player can be used with any
kind of cartridge.

The
OPUS 3 Continuo is the result of a lifetime's dedication to research
and development in recording and reproducing the sound and atmosphere
of natural, acoustic music and instruments. It has become widely
accepted that the construction of a turntable greatly affects the
reproduction quality of the HiFi system and even with the advent of
CD, it is apparent that more of the original performance can be
redeemed from an analogue recording.

At
Opus3 we have the unique combination of experience in being present
at the recording venue, transfering the master tape to the disc,
amplifying and reproducing it through the loudspeakers, and
recreating the image in the listening room.

We
know that at any split moment in a recording there is a plethora of
micro-sounds which make up the timbre, dynamics and the three
dimensional presentation of the original sound. This information not
only holds the obvious differences between the sax and the clarinet,
but the spirit and the life - the emotion of the artists.
Unfortunately, microbyte technology has not yet managed to represent
these analogue sounds, but the Continuo, coupled with it's partner
the Cantus parallel tracking arm. We have created a material which is
a compound of crushed marble and poly- urethane that is incredibly
dense and hence almost resonance free. The size and weight of the
turntable combined with it's 3-rubber/air suspension mountings
decouple the unit from airborne and floor/wall vibrations feeding
back from the listening environment. The isolation is further
enhanced by the mineral compound used in the platter and the special
felt-like mat supporting the record. This latter item is essential to
cope with the standard cross-sectonal shape of the LP disc (which
continually varies from hole to edge) and the tremendously high
forces and vibrations injected into the disc by the stylus, in its
attempt to follow the modulations of the groove.

Our
experience has shown that the materials used in supporting a record
are audibly imposed over the reproduced image. Hence we have aimed to
choose a dry or dead soundstage to attain the largest contrast
between it and and the tonal color of the music. To drive the platter
we use a simple 24v AC motor coupled via a rubber belt of 3 mm
diameter. Two grooves in the motor pulley allow for 45 and 33 1/3 RPM
simply adjusted by finger tip pressure. The motor is driven by a
separate mains adaptor and is suspended within the chassis by three
vibration dampers.

$
2,750.00 / Wood Veneers / Including Cantus Tonearm, Dustcover and
Record Mat

$
3,200.00 / Black or White Pearl Gloss Finish / Including Cantus
Tonearm, Dustcover and Record Mat

About
the OPUS 3 CANTUS Parallel Tonearm

​

A
tonearm's main task is to provide the cartridge with an absolute
reference to the platter. Its second task is to allow the cartridge
to precisely follow the advance of the disc groove, and insulate
against unwanted information such as disc unevenness below the
audible range. Essentially it should allow the cartridge the
possibility of reading the disc information as it was originally
engraved on the Master / Plate by the disc cutting lathe.

The
traditional solution is to make a so-called pivot arm which has the
benefit of good adherence. The disadvantage is that the pivot arm
causes the pickup head to read information in the wrong place, with
high distortion as a result. The next problem is that the pivot arm
is a resonator with unwanted energy artifacts. It also exhibits
compatibility problems with different cartridges. This, as the
sensitivity of the acoustic tube transmits mechanically trapped
energy.

The
Cantus represents a “rethink”, whereby the majority of the
traditional problems of disc playback have been eliminated by
innovative design solutions.

The
first prerequisite for low distortion, is that the stylus tracks
precisely in each play-subsection of the disc, as and where it was
engraved by the lathe. The second premise is that the system is
released from resonance, and the amplification of resonances arising
in the system.

The
Cantus is by design in every way free of resonances. The reduction of
the resonant system makes the Cantus practically insensitive to
external disturbances, acoustic feedback, and hum. It also provides a
stable soundstage, when the system moving mass is low.

The
requirement of fidelity is of course primordial. As such, the Cantus
must be - and is - also adaptable to virtually any turntable. It must
be - and is - reliable. The Cantus is simple to operate, and if an
accident should occur, this is easily repaired.

​Call us for pricing Combo Offers with our Soundsmith or London decca cartridges.