Author Archives: realspin
The second age of Sony cassette decks
Sony set out its stall as a high end cassette deck manufacturer as far back as 1974 with the TC-177SD. A top loading, dual-capstan, three-head design, it was one of the most sophisticated machines around at the time, and presaged some excellent recorders
The second age of Sony cassette decks
Sony set out its stall as a high end cassette deck manufacturer as far back as 1974 with the TC-177SD. A top loading, dual-capstan, three-head design, it was one of the most sophisticated machines around at the time, and presaged some excellent recorders
ABC – Lexicon of Love
“A bizarro trio who show occasional flashes of promise, but whose pretentiousness becomes quite tiresome”, is how the New Musical Express described Vice Versa in early 1978. It was an interesting point, and one which perhaps caused Mark White, Stephen Singleton
ABC – Lexicon of Love
“A bizarro trio who show occasional flashes of promise, but whose pretentiousness becomes quite tiresome”, is how the New Musical Express described Vice Versa in early 1978. It was an interesting point, and one which perhaps caused Mark White, Stephen Singleton
Stello DA100 Signature
We’ve all heard of Samsung, LG, Kia and Hyundai now – South Korea is a growing South East Asian economic power with a thriving technology sector. It also has an audiophile scene too – and one of its greatest exponents is April Music. A
Stello DA100 Signature
We’ve all heard of Samsung, LG, Kia and Hyundai now – South Korea is a growing South East Asian economic power with a thriving technology sector. It also has an audiophile scene too – and one of its greatest exponents is April Music. A
the Compact Disc story
Economic austerity, high unemployment, inflation, severe weather, humiliation for our national football team, wars in distant lands – some things never change! Looking back soberly, 1982 was hardly a vintage year, but one particular moment marks it out as special.
the Compact Disc story
Economic austerity, high unemployment, inflation, severe weather, humiliation for our national football team, wars in distant lands – some things never change! Looking back soberly, 1982 was hardly a vintage year, but one particular moment marks it out as special.
Pioneer TX-9500 II
There was a short period in the history of hi-fi when many people considered this tuner to be the best in the world. It wasn’t a universal view, but along with the Yamaha CT-7000 of a few years before, this
Pioneer TX-9500 II
There was a short period in the history of hi-fi when many people considered this tuner to be the best in the world. It wasn’t a universal view, but along with the Yamaha CT-7000 of a few years before, this
Technics SH-50P1
This beautiful electronic stylus pressure gauge was originally designed to be bundled with Technics’ EPA-500 tonearm, itself made to match the SP-10mkII transcription turntable. It was also made available separately however, and by 1978 most of the world’s hi-fi magazines
Technics SH-50P1
This beautiful electronic stylus pressure gauge was originally designed to be bundled with Technics’ EPA-500 tonearm, itself made to match the SP-10mkII transcription turntable. It was also made available separately however, and by 1978 most of the world’s hi-fi magazines
Nagaoka GL602
The late nineteen seventies saw fierce competition amongst turntable manufacturers – especially in Japan. The UK market missed much of this, thanks to the reign of the Linn LP12 which seemed to be most hi-fi dealers’ – and magazines’ –
Nagaoka GL602
The late nineteen seventies saw fierce competition amongst turntable manufacturers – especially in Japan. The UK market missed much of this, thanks to the reign of the Linn LP12 which seemed to be most hi-fi dealers’ – and magazines’ –
Sony SCD-XA9000ES
Sony came out in favour of SACD as its preferred digital audio format, leaving DVD-A for the likes of Pioneer and Matsushita. The company’s first machine was 1999’s SCD-1, followed by the second generation, multi channel SCD-XA777ES of 2002. Then,
Sony SCD-XA9000ES
Sony came out in favour of SACD as its preferred digital audio format, leaving DVD-A for the likes of Pioneer and Matsushita. The company’s first machine was 1999’s SCD-1, followed by the second generation, multi channel SCD-XA777ES of 2002. Then,
Sony TC-K60
Costing Y80,000 (£300) in its native Japan when launched in 1978, this was a high end cassette deck with a difference. Indeed, for Sony it was an uncharacteristically clumsy attempt at bringing added convenience to the Compact Cassette format. The
Sony TC-K60
Costing Y80,000 (£300) in its native Japan when launched in 1978, this was a high end cassette deck with a difference. Indeed, for Sony it was an uncharacteristically clumsy attempt at bringing added convenience to the Compact Cassette format. The
Rega RP1
This sleek £230 package is pretty much the best entry-level hi-fi turntable you can get. The long-established. Essex-based Rega company has an illustrious history of making vinyl spinners that sound better than they should for the money. Indeed it’s a distant cousin of
Rega RP1
This sleek £230 package is pretty much the best entry-level hi-fi turntable you can get. The long-established. Essex-based Rega company has an illustrious history of making vinyl spinners that sound better than they should for the money. Indeed it’s a distant cousin of
Sharp RT-3151
Billed rather ambitiously as ‘The First Computer that Plays Music’, the Sharp RT-3151 (called the RT-3388 in the United States and Canada) was actually a fairly standard two-head, single capstan tape deck with an undistinguished permalloy record/reply head and an
Sharp RT-3151
Billed rather ambitiously as ‘The First Computer that Plays Music’, the Sharp RT-3151 (called the RT-3388 in the United States and Canada) was actually a fairly standard two-head, single capstan tape deck with an undistinguished permalloy record/reply head and an
Origin Live Onyx
Introduced in 1983 to wide acclaim, the Rega RB300 was arguably the world’s first truly modern tonearm – sporting a straight pipe, tapered tube with integral headshell, high quality bearings and a small tungsten counterweight for just £90. Its brilliance was such
Origin Live Onyx
Introduced in 1983 to wide acclaim, the Rega RB300 was arguably the world’s first truly modern tonearm – sporting a straight pipe, tapered tube with integral headshell, high quality bearings and a small tungsten counterweight for just £90. Its brilliance was such
Cambridge Audio Azur 851D
Packed with most of the features and functionality that has popped up over the past decade or so, Cambridge Audio’s new flagship DAC is a veritable ‘greatest hits of digital’ in one convenient package. It’s certainly big and heavy for a
Cambridge Audio Azur 851D
Packed with most of the features and functionality that has popped up over the past decade or so, Cambridge Audio’s new flagship DAC is a veritable ‘greatest hits of digital’ in one convenient package. It’s certainly big and heavy for a
Sony TC-K700ES
From the year that pre-recorded cassette sales overtook LP records, comes this swish black box. Whereas previous generations of flagship Sony cassette decks sported features that were once the stuff of dreams, the 1987 700ES brought nothing new to the party. It’s
Sony TC-K700ES
From the year that pre-recorded cassette sales overtook LP records, comes this swish black box. Whereas previous generations of flagship Sony cassette decks sported features that were once the stuff of dreams, the 1987 700ES brought nothing new to the party. It’s
B&O Beocord 2200
When launched in 1973, this was the top Bang & Olufsen cassette deck on sale. Costing £169.50, it was an extremely expensive design by the standards of that time. A typically slick Jacob Jensen creation, it looks crisp even by today’s standards – and from an early
B&O Beocord 2200
When launched in 1973, this was the top Bang & Olufsen cassette deck on sale. Costing £169.50, it was an extremely expensive design by the standards of that time. A typically slick Jacob Jensen creation, it looks crisp even by today’s standards – and from an early
Uher CR210
Most audio equipment is only intended for leisure use at home, so although accuracy and dependability are high on the list of ‘nice things to have’ they are seldom considered absolutely essential. There are other uses for audio products too
Uher CR210
Most audio equipment is only intended for leisure use at home, so although accuracy and dependability are high on the list of ‘nice things to have’ they are seldom considered absolutely essential. There are other uses for audio products too
Braun TGC 450
The exact moment that Compact Cassette came of age can be endlessly debated, but it would be easy to make the case for it being around 1975. At this time a number of key factors came together: the standardisation of
Braun TGC 450
The exact moment that Compact Cassette came of age can be endlessly debated, but it would be easy to make the case for it being around 1975. At this time a number of key factors came together: the standardisation of
Death of a Dandy
David Bowie is dead. After sixty nine years and many changes of style, the great man – nicknamed ‘The Thin White Duke’ – has made his final transformation. In the great scheme of popular music, he make a massive impact.
Death of a Dandy
David Bowie is dead. After sixty nine years and many changes of style, the great man – nicknamed ‘The Thin White Duke’ – has made his final transformation. In the great scheme of popular music, he make a massive impact.
Cocteau Twins – Treasure
One of the great Scottish bands to come out of the immediate post-Punk era of the late nineteen seventies – think Associates, Simple Minds, Altered Images, Josef K and Orange Juice – Cocteau Twins formed at a Grangemouth disco in 1979. Named after
Cocteau Twins – Treasure
One of the great Scottish bands to come out of the immediate post-Punk era of the late nineteen seventies – think Associates, Simple Minds, Altered Images, Josef K and Orange Juice – Cocteau Twins formed at a Grangemouth disco in 1979. Named after
Arcam Delta 70/Black Box
The company’s first product, the A&R Cambridge A60 integrated amplifier, was a fine, worthy design with broad appeal to well healed, middle class audiophiles. Launched in 1976, it sold in huge quantities for a specialist British product, but after ten
Arcam Delta 70/Black Box
The company’s first product, the A&R Cambridge A60 integrated amplifier, was a fine, worthy design with broad appeal to well healed, middle class audiophiles. Launched in 1976, it sold in huge quantities for a specialist British product, but after ten
zStereo 