Tech Talk: Stephen Cosh of Audio Origami

BLOG
hi-fi+ Staff
Jan 22, 2026

Audio Origami is one of the UK’s hidden audio gems. Stephen Cosh is an expert engineer in his own right and has been quietly making a range of vinyl-centric audio products for decades. The company is best known for its tonearms, a modern derivation of the evergreen Sphinx arm. Its sister brand, J7 Rewires, is famous for its ability to repair, rewire and refurbish all makes of tonearm.

We caught up with Stephen recently and asked him about his company, what goes into making a high-performance tonearm, and more…

Tell us a little about yourself!

We’re a 20-year-old tonearm manufacturer, also producing tonearm cables, bespoke turntable isolation systems, and custom hi-fi racks.

How did the PU8 come about?

The PU8 Reference tonearm resulted from two years of dedicated research into armtube damping, initially aimed at enhancing our PU7. Most tonearms utilise bare aluminium, titanium, or carbon-fibre tubes, all of which transmit ground, airborne, and groove-induced vibrations. After thoroughly studying these behaviours, we devised a repeatable, high-precision method for manufacturing a constrained-layer armtube: an outer carbon-fibre tube bonded to an inner aluminium tube with a specialised damping resin. This construction is considerably more resistant to vibration.

We then re-engineered our Meta Material Arm Damping System (M.M.A.D.S.) to function within this new tube. It provides additional damping and supports the internal wiring to reduce resonance and RF interference.

Because the armtube marked a significant advancement, we designed a completely new baseplate and gimbal to complement it. Both parts are machined from stainless steel and polished to a mirror finish.

When did development for PU8 begin?

Development started in late 2023 and finished with the PU8’s launch in 2025. The longer timeline shows our dedication to making every part (except the Japanese-made bearings) entirely in Scotland.

What challenges did you face in producing the PU8?

The most challenging aspect of production is achieving consistent quality in the constrained-layer armtube. Each one is handcrafted and takes about four hours if everything goes smoothly. Polishing the stainless-steel parts is equally labour-intensive, but the flawless finish is one of the first things customers comment on; photographs never quite capture it.

What are the tonearm’s strengths?

The PU8 Reference is our flagship tonearm. It provides exceptional stability, very low noise, and excellent tracking performance. Designed to safeguard the cartridge’s signal from groove to cable, it easily surpasses many tonearms priced two to three times higher.