AVID Acutus Reference SP vs Vertere MG-1 MkII
Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: AVID Acutus Reference SP · Vertere MG-1 MkII.
| Specification | AVID Acutus Reference SP |
Vertere MG-1 MkII |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $20,000 | Highlighted difference. $13,495 |
| Category | High-end | High-end |
| Status | current | current |
| Years | 2008–present | 2018–present |
| Drive | belt drive | belt drive |
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm | Highlighted difference. 33/45/78 rpm |
| Operation | manual | manual |
| Cartridge supplied | sold bare | sold bare |
| Phono stage | No | No |
| USB output | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Platter | aluminium, heavy | aluminium/acrylic |
| Tonearm | sold bare | Vertere SG-1 (option) |
| Wow & flutter | — | — |
Practical differences
Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.
The Vertere MG-1 MkII undercuts the AVID Acutus Reference SP by $6,505 — $13,495 against $20,000.
Both are belt-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi.
Bottom line: the Vertere MG-1 MkII has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the $6,505 gap.
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for AVID Acutus Reference SP…
Live retailer offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Vertere MG-1 MkII…