In keeping with the vintage ethos of this column, I mounted a blue NOS Ortofon MC20 moving coil cartridge and set it to track at the factory specification of 1.8 grams. When properly set up, the Alexandria is still a formidable turntable. If possible, find an Alexandria that comes with its original box. Chances are 50/50 that you will be able to spray contact cleaner inside and get it back in operation, but if not, send it to Oracle. You’ll know if the potentiometer needs attention if the table will not hold stable speed. Oracle Director of Operations Jacques Riendeau f informed me that there should be 36 volts at the tip of the DC adaptor and that the potentiometer was somewhat of a weak link in the turntable. Oracle has indicated that it can bring the older tables back to life, but shipping to Canada isn’t cheap.* Plan on spending another $300 to $700 to get a substandard Alexandria back in shape.* The one pictured here is an MK 1 and is actually number 53 produced!
#ORACLE DELPHI 6VI WITH 309 SME TONEARM CRACKED#
But be aware that the metal subchassis can often be cracked or damaged, and is usually a costly repair.* Most tables also no longer have a functioning auto lift. These days on the used market, most Alexandrias tend to be earlier MK 1 and MK 2 versions since they were produced for the longest period of time.Ĭlean examples of the MK 1 and MK 2 versions often range between $600 and $800. Oracle produced four different variations on the Alexandria, making incremental improvements on each one, until the line culminated with the MK IV. However, Oracle’s tech department reveals that the Delphi springs are unique to that model and will not work in the Alexandria. Upon further inspection, the spring arrangement looks just like that of the Delphi. The former features a two-piece, subplatter/platter arrangement that looked very similar to the Linn LP-12.Ī suspended subchassis, just like the one in the Delphi, and equipped with three spring-loaded towers, is located underneath the conventional plinth. Both tables share the sorbothane “Groove Isolator” semi-squishy turntable mat, yet the Alexandria’s platter isn’t as massive as that belonging to the Delphi. Speed adjustment is located on the front of the Alexandria and can be adjusted with your finger rather than via the tiny, ten-turn potentiometer adjustment found on the Delphi’s motor pod. It does have one major advantage over its more expensive sibling, though. Whereas the Delphi had a more sophisticated AC motor, the Alexandria uses a simpler mechanism. Remember, this was long before tonearm cables boasted four-figure pricetags. And the tonearm is terminated with a pair of RCA jacks on the rear of the turntable base, so you could use your choice of interconnects. It has a similar counterweight to that of the Rega RB300 but uses a nylon filament-mounted anti-skate weight and a VTA adjustment system not unlike that of the Triplanar tonearm. The Premier tonearm included with the Oracle looks very similar to the Jelco arm of the day, and was simple to set up. However, back then, two grand represented a ton*of cash to spend on a turntable my car wasn’t worth $2,000 in 1979.Ī couple years later, Oracle introduced the Alexandria, which was not only half the price ($995, including tonearm) but more conventional in appearance. After dropping $2,000 and adding a tonearm, many listeners (including yours truly) found themselves in analog bliss. What’s more, the era’s audio magazines piled on the praise. Linn and Rega owners were rather taken back by the new Canadian in the neighborhood. The Oracle also blazed a new trail for turntable aesthetics its open suspended chassis and clear acrylic plinth dramatically contrasted with those of the then-voguish British tables. Oracle burst on the scene in 1979 with the Delphi turntable, and to many, set a new benchmark for analog playback.