“Be Humble” like Kendrick Lamar
In a world where the “Reference” moniker is widely misused, the only true benchmark remains unbiased external verification. Three months ago, I made the decision to submit the flagship BennyAudio construction, the Odyssey turntable, to the most brutal test a manufacturer can face: a head-to-head confrontation with two highly respected, top-tier European designs, each costing more than twice as much.
The conclusions drawn from this trial were invaluable. They provided a concrete list of refinements that allowed the Odyssey to land exactly where I aimed from the start – in the perfect equilibrium between analog lushness and laboratory precision.
The “external ear” for this venture was Jacek Pazio of Soundrebels magazine. His experience, refined sonic aesthetic, and frankness aimed straight at the designer’s ego are qualities I value immensely. This is why his opinion is so important to me: the engineer knows what they built, but an experienced reviewer is the one who pushes the limits and precisely places the equipment on the holographic audio map.
The Test Parameters: Audio’s Himalayas and a Neutral Cartridge
To eliminate all variables, the test was uncompromising:
- Confrontation: Odyssey vs. two top machines (names deliberately omitted, as the focus was on sonic character), both 2× more expensive.
- System: A signal path valued close to 1 million Euros—a rare, high-end setup designed to ruthlessly expose any shortcomings in the source component.
- Cartridge: Instead of my elegant and slightly sweet Hana Umami Red (which gains impetus on the Odyssey), we selected the extremely neutral and transparent MC model by Yoshio Matsudaira. This is a highly demanding cartridge tasked with revealing the absolute truth about the component’s dynamics, resolution, and timbre (tone color).
Initial Findings: Three Distinct Signatures
Against the backdrop of the reference system and the hyper-neutral cartridge, three distinct characters emerged:
- Machine A: Decidedly on the warmer side of the spectrum. The sound was dense, organic, and sweet, with beautiful saturation, though at times too syrupy. It was a brilliant class machine, but with a noticeable analog patina.
- Machine B: The extreme opposite. Technical precision, surgical detail, and phenomenal instrument separation. The sound was analytical and rigorous, yet still very engaging.
- Odyssey (with the neutral cartridge): Extreme speed and purity. Unfortunately, the impression was akin to listening “above the guitar’s fretboard” rather than over its resonant body. It lacked mass and weight. Micro-vibrations were extinguished too quickly, resulting in a lean (or etiolated) and somewhat “dry” sound.
The Diagnosis: Overly Effective Damping
The root of the issue lay in the initial design ambition: the complete minimization of resonances and the flattening of all peaks in the frequency range.
- Tonearm and Plinth – The Silent Assassin: The solid connection of the tonearm to the massive, acoustically “dead” plinth resulted in extremely efficient conduction of spring waves into the mass. The effect? The sound was stripped of the very resonance that naturally builds body and emotional weight in the recording.
- POM Platter – Double Damping: The POM material inherently absorbs energy from the record exceptionally well. In synergy with the highly effective tonearm, this combination damped far too effectively, essentially extinguishing the impulse of the music.
Consequently, we achieved outstanding resolution and blackness of the background, but at the expense of saturation and timbre.
Precision Correction: Point Damping and Energy Control
Knowing I had to regain mass and fullness without sacrificing the Odyssey’s hallmark speed, I implemented three critical changes:
1. Tonearm–Plinth Decoupling
I introduced a minor, non-invasive change to the tonearm’s coupling system with the plinth, which gently “decouples” it, allowing the tonearm a little more operational independence. This proved to be the right direction: the body of the sound began to return.
2. The Platter Revolution: Energy Isolation
The most effective way to recover energy from the record without unwanted resonance was to minimize the contact surface between the vinyl and the platter. Testing over a dozen mats was enlightening:
- Glass: It acted like a booster, accentuating frequencies and adding “vigour” uncontrollably (glass is better suited for weaker tonearm/table combinations).
- Felts/Leathers: They caused dynamic sluggishness and a drop in transparency.
Ultimately, the choice fell to the HexMat Eclipse (supplied by PremiumSound). This mat revolution was a home run. Its minimal-contact philosophy practically cuts the platter out of the resonant equation. The effect? Unprecedented control over the record’s energy and an immediate increase in saturation. The HexMat Eclipse with the BennyAudio logo is now standard equipment on every Odyssey.
3. Point Damping and DIN Socket
The internal tonearm damping was changed from full to point damping. This gave me a better tonal balance between extreme speed and natural saturation. It also eliminated unwanted sibilance or harshness in the higher registers.
Additionally, I introduced a DIN socket instead of a fixed cable, offering users full flexibility in cable selection – the essence of high-end audio.
Jacek’s Discovery: The Omicron Luxury Clamp
After a few days of non-interventional listening, Jacek suggested the Omicron Luxury Clamp – a heavy record weight with moving elements. Two years ago, I would have been concerned about its negative impact on wow & flutter and the potential for “freezing” micro-vibrations.
Unexpectedly, the clamp acted as a precise energy organizer. Instead of aggressively forcing the character, it stabilized the energy between the cartridge and the record, significantly increasing focus and soundstage coherence without “killing the life” in the music. The synergy with the drive/platter/tonearm system was so profound that the Omicron Luxury Clamp in the BennyAudio version has also become a standard component of the Odyssey.
The Final Effect: Precise Equilibrium
Following the implementation of these precise refinements, the Odyssey ceased being an ultra-fast but soulless surgeon. It achieved the desired fullness and mass without losing its signature speed and transparency.
- Standing in the Test: It landed precisely in the middle—between the sweetness of Machine A and the rigor of Machine B. It does not mean it is better. I just just sound as I wanted.
- With the Hana Umami Red: It retained its elegant composure and added impulse, avoiding oversweetening.
- With the neutral Matsudaira cartridge: It rendered micro-dynamics and full timbre without descending into clinicality or exaggerated sweetness.
What is Standard on the Odyssey Today?
- HexMat Eclipse (BennyAudio): Maximum energy control, minimal contact—total isolation of the record from platter resonance.
- Omicron Luxury Clamp (BennyAudio): Energy organization and stabilization without “killing the life” of the music.
- Improved tonearm–plinth coupling and point damping for optimal tonality.
- DIN socket for complete cable flexibility.
This was a Humility Test that resulted in a real sonic advantage. Instead of declaring “reference,” we gave voice to an experienced ear and returned with a turntable that delivers more music in the music, without sacrificing the speed and transparency critical to our design philosophy.
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