Oracle Delphi updates have always been worthwhile. The company
has concentrated on three areas, in most cases designed to be
retrofittable all the way back to the first Delphi; the Mk IV
mods are not. First has been a continuing program to improve
the ease of set-up; in my estimation unpacking and preparing this
Canadian turntable remains the biggest pain in the butt in all of
hi-fi. Second has been the continuing refinement of the power
supply and/or motor, while third has been even further detail
improvement of the exceptional aesthetics.

The Delphi has always been one of the smartest-looking decks
money can buy, and I've no doubt that just as many were sold on
styling as they were on performance. The Mk IV is just as pretty
as its predecessors, so we can dispense with the facelift: the
Oracle Delphi is an absolute stunner even as it enters its teens.
More impressive, though, is the way that Oracle has changed just
about everything else without changing the overall look. And the
changes which constitute a Mk IV are the most extensive in this
turntable's history.

The first thing which anyone familiar with Oracles will notice is
that the mat has disappeared, Oracle joining Goldmund, Basis,
Pink Triangle and others by having the LP mate directly to the
platter. The Mk IV's platter is made of a composite material
sandwiched between aluminum, the top surface being hard like
that on the Basis. The screw-down clamp is still part of the
recipe, but its press-down, anti-warp action is no longer so
severe; I didn't crack a single LP while using the turntable. No,
I don't miss the too-sticky Oracle mat, which -- however good it
'sounded' -- was an annoyance.

Underneath is a new Teflon bearing, while the sub chassis has been
redesigned to make set-up even easier by eliminating the chore of
choosing three different springs. It's still fiddly (let your
dealer do it), but now it's no worse than setting up a Roksan or
an Alphason.

The Delphi in Mk IV guise is available as a single-speed model at
a substantial savings over the two-speed version, but the
difference isn't just a two-step pulley or a speed control box.
Although it can be upgraded to two-speed status, the single speed
Oracle uses a 7.5V AC motor as in the Mk III; the two-speed
version is fitted with a 16V DC motor. The power supply, too, has
been improved with AC filtering, a complex network designed to
reduce mains spikes.

The prices of the two decks -- not counting the expensive,
optional black/gold finish -- are #1450 for the single-speed
model with a soft cover or #1950 for the two-speed, with an
acrylic dust cover. The #500 difference is reflected in the
upgrade prices: #350 for conversion from single to dual-speed,
and #150 for an acrylic dust cover.

The pricing positions the Oracle(s) in the netherworld between
the killer British decks of Linn/Pink/Roksan persuasion and the
current high-end champions like the Goldmunds, the Basis, etc. As
Oracle has its Premier to fight with the latter and the Alexandra
and Paris to fight with the former, the Delphi is now the
occupant of a half-way house. I think of the three classes as
Real World High-End, Luxury High-End and I'm-So-Rich-I-Can-
Afford-Turntables-Which-Cost-As-Much-As-Cars High End. My own
feelings about jumping from class to class are that the consumer
gains in a couple of areas, including status amongst one's peers.

As one moves up the scale, at least in my experience, one hears
improvements in stability, bass extension and bass control. Other
bonuses might include greater immunity to air-borne and
mains-borne irritants. That's not to suggest that the occupants
of the 'up to #1000' class are less than stellar performers; a
Linn, Roksan or Pink Triangle will not be shamed in a state of
the art system, whatever anyone tells you. But switch to a Basis
or a Goldmund and you hear why they cost six-to-twenty times as
much.

I've had an Oracle in my system at all times since 1984 and have
heard an improvement with each update. The 'IV was fitted with an
SME Series V arm and auditioned with a similarly-equipped Delphi
Mk III and the Basis, as well as the complete Roksan front end.
My beliefs about the relative status of the three classes were
confirmed, with the Oracle resting comfortably between the Roksan
and the Basis, and easily bettering its Mk III sibling. The most
vivid improvement over the 'III, practical considerations aside,
was a greater sense of weight and extension in the lowest
registers, especially noticeable on works dependent on the power
of the bass reproduction. Willy DeVille's 'Assassin Of Love' had
a 'thwack' not available from the 'III or the Roksan, though the
Basis exercised even greater control on the decay of the bass
notes.

Also improved was image stability, albeit slightly, while
transient attack and (to a lesser extent) decay benefitted almost
as much as did the bass. How much of this is down to the revised
platter and how much to the new power supply and bearing I cannot
determine, as the platters aren't interchangeable on the 'III and
'IV. Suffice to say, though, that the disappearance of that
sticky mat is no sacrifice whatsoever, and thumbs up to Oracle
for abandoning one of its primary traditions with such bravery.

So where does that leave the Oracle at the beginning of the
1990s? It remains my reference in the under-a-king's-ransom price
category, and it's something of a bargain in single-speed mode if
you can do without 45rpm. Furthermore, I think it's still the
prettiest platter spinner since the late, lamented Gale.