Oracle believes that achieving simplicity in design is the combination of knowledge and common sense. A properly designed device creates its own form, one that reflects the beauty of its function. True artistry combines these elements by means of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Oracle turntables are praised as much for their appearance as for their performance.

Accurate reproduction of music begins with a clear understanding of the problems involved. Record playback occurs in a sea of unwanted vibrations. External vibrations from loudspeakers and footfalls of people walking in the room are transmitted to the record through the air and the room structure. Internal vibrations from the turntable motor, the platter main bearing system and from the record itself also interfere with the recovery of musical information. The finest details of a musical recording correspond to changes in groove width of only a few microns (millionths of an inch). Thus, even the tiniest vibrations during playback can result in the loss of fine details. Equally damaging to musical integrity is the distortion that extraneous vibrations add to the sound. For musical reproduction to be accurate, the record groove has to be completely isolated from such sources of vibration.

Thanks to our "Groove Isolation" concept, you hear all the fine nuances concealed in your records.

Craftsmanship

"The appearance of the Oracle Mk V is elegant, exotic, legendary... A beautifully built open chassis turntable aiming to offer superb finish... The attention to detail and care of finish exhibit a substantial amount of pride in manufacture..."
  - reported from the speciality press.

In order to achieve an impeccable natural finish on most machined parts, diamond tool cutting is extensively used. To seal and preserve their beautiful appearance, all aluminium components are coated with a high gloss polyester lacquer.

In manufacturing at Oracle, we feel, people really do make the difference ! Our craftsmen are devoted to you, the sophisticated consumer. Their work creates pride of ownership, their passion for detail shows at every step of the manufacturing process. Their manufacturing techniques result in a work of art. Oracle couldn't imagine any better way to achieve built-in quality assurance.

Experiencing an Oracle after any other record playing system is like rediscovering your recordings all over again !

Suspension

Because the world itself vibrates, the turntable must be immune to surrounding vibrations. Oracle's suspension system has proven to be among the very best in the industry.

"The spring system establishes a new standard of sophistication..."

True enough ! The Oracle's subchassis / platter / tonearm assembly is suspended by a tripedal mounting, which cuts out room vibrations. Each suspension tower assembly combines no less than 12 different components on the Delphi turntable. The Mk V suspension system is a highly sophisticated device combining 7 different mechanical filters, all working as a whole to efficiently control unwanted vibrations. The turntable's convex shaped levelling feet constitute the first barrier in preventing vibrations from reaching the record-playing platform. The Delrin suspension pillars will cut mid and higher frequencies. The upper spring rubber bushing controls spring resonance, while the conical shaped suspension spring takes care of the crucial lower frequencies from 5Hz and up. The spring adjustment sleeve provides for spring calibration, while controlling spring resonance. The Sorbothane damper represents the mechanical energy trap that reduces vibrations to an insignificant level, while the felt dampers control the internal resonance of the springs.

"As the result of this test, my prejudice against the floatable-type turntable has gone and moreover, I have decided to use an Oracle as my own reference in future !"
  - Stereo Sound, Japan.

Bearing Assembly

The bearing assembly plays a crucial role in turntable performance. It must allow the platter to rotate smoothly and consistently, eluding the tendency to wobble and send interfering vibrations to the stylus. The new Delphi Mk V is provided with a unique main bearing configuration. The two bushings traditional system has been replaced by a new system using six precision surfaced nylon setscrews. With this new system, Oracle reaches the highest level of rotational accuracy ever achieved. This bearing assembly requires no adjustment and will perform flawlessly for a very long period of time.

Motor, Drive Electronics and Drive Belt

A turntable motor, like any other kind, vibrates. It must generate the required force to maintain the massive 4 kilograms platter without sending back unwanted energy to the stylus. To achieve this goal, Oracle engineers selected a specially designed low voltage AC synchronous motor. This motor is not only smoother and quieter but more stable than any other. The new Mk V features a dual current drive circuitry having maximum start-up torque energy and minimum efficient operational energy, which guarantees lowest possible motor vibration, as well as perfect speed accuracy and stability. Oracle's precision moulded belt possesses unusual structural uniformity. It plays an important role in maintaining maximum speed stability, while filtering the vibrations generated by the motor.

Record / Platter Interface

Because the record vibrates slightly as the stylus moves through the groove, Oracle created an interface system that effectively controls unwanted vibrations, through an innovative combination of materials and their interaction.

Platter
Because of its large surface area, an improperly dampened turntable platter will vibrate and distort the musical signal. When reading a complex groove, if it does not have enough momentum to effectively offset the dragging force of the stylus, it will equally smear important details of the music. The massive maximum rigidity of the 4 kilograms platter in Oracle's design is immune to vibration and by distributing most of the mass around its outer edge, the flywheel effect increases momentum.

Record Coupling System
Warps are a persistent feature of the vinyl disc, these cause two major problems, i.e.

1) The warped part of a record is suspended in free air above the platter ­ this makes it much more likely to vibrate.

2) To cope with these imperfections the stylus must suddenly rise and fall ­ this sudden loss of contact with the groove causes the stylus to accelerate and decelerate rapidly, thereby introducing distortion.

Oracle pioneered the now well established "record clamp" system to solve these specific problems. The Mk V standards, as defined by our engineers, deliver improved efficiency that is simple and very user-friendly. The new Oracle mat, made from specially formulated polymer, shows better matching characteristics (impedance) with the vinyl disc. Furthermore, by giving the mat a slightly concave shape ensures the maintenance of even contact from the centre of the record to its outer edge. The Oracle developed tapered washer is an effective toll against excessively warped records.

Subchassis

The subchassis plays an important role within the turntable system: it must rigidly support both the platter and the tonearm. Maximum rigidity, minimal surface area and energy control are key design parameters. Oracle demonstrates that superior engineering can also be aesthetic. The finely brushed skeletal subchassis finely machined from a special magnesium/aluminium alloy will dissipate unwanted energy through efficient coupling and clamping methods. In order to minimise the surface area and cut down on any inherent resonance, its shape is deliberately asymmetrical.