Succeeding the AT95 was a tough ask, but Audio-Technica have risen to the challenge. May the ‘green king’ rest in peace, the successor has arrived to steal the throne.
When Technics commercialised the direct drive turntable in the ‘70s, they became known as class-leading products among the best available at any price. These new Technics turntable set new technical standards which will pave the way for future evolution of vinyl and the equipment we use to play it.
The SugarCube enhances the listening experience with vinyl old and new, and for that it earns a thoroughly deserved recommendation.
I’ve yet to come across a Technics that didn’t at least sound good, and I had great fun spinning 7” singles on the L20 before returning it to its rightful owner ready to deliver another few decades of faithful service.
I was surprised by the performance improvement. A highly recommended and worthwhile DIY upgrade that must be heard to be believed.
The Little Fwend is as thoughtfully designed as it is nicely machined. Setup correctly it does its job with no hassle and minimal user input, besides a quick push on its platform after each use. Expensive it may be, but it’s a terrific accessory and is therefore highly recommended.
If there was ever a product deserving of its place at the bottom of a landfill, this is it.
You could spend a fortune on the best cartridge money can buy for minimal return, or you could opt for the modestly price option that simply gets everything right and buy more music. I know which I’d rather.
Arcam have been known to produce some fine phono stages and the rPhono continues that tradition.
A phono stage is a preamplifier used to boost the minute signal of a phono cartridge, while reversing the equalisation curves used when cutting the record. Here's our complete guide.
Should you Buy an All-In-One Turntable?
The turntables on today’s market fall into 1 of 2 categories. All-in-1 tables consist of a turntable, amplifier and speakers, contained within the same casework. Some systems include support for other formats too, including CD, digital playback via USB and even cassette. But are they as good as they seem?
Exploring the 2016 turntable market with a selection of turntables at various price points.
Many of the most popular record players for sale today are of an all-in-1 design, meaning that the record player, amplifier and speakers are housed within the same case, which is usually of a retro design in a portable space-saving form factor. These devices can be purchased for less than £100, which compared to even a budget system comprised of a separate turntable, amplifier and speakers can make them seem like excellent value for money. To assess whether or not this is the case, we first need to see what actually makes a turntable tick.
An in-depth guide to correctly setting up a turntable. The correct way to adjust vertical tracking force, vertical tracking angle, anti-skate / bias and azimuth are all discussed here.
How to correctly install and align a phono cartridge.
Explains how to optimise a turntable and care for your records to achieve the best possible sound.
A guide to selecting and purchasing a used turntable, as well as tips on checking it for full functionality.
A guide to the specifications of your turntable, tonearm and cartridge.
A guide to the three primary turntable drive systems - belt drive, direct drive and idler drive - and the pros and cons of each.
A selection of free cartridge alignment protractors and strobe discs to accurately align a cartridge and test the speed of your turntable.