Author Archives: realspin
Cambridge Audio Aeromax 6
For real-world audiophiles, this is surely the best new product of 2014, and one of the most interesting loudspeakers I have heard in a very long time. It’s so special because it is highly affordable (it costs just £900) yet delivers a sonic performance way higher than
Cambridge Audio Aeromax 6
For real-world audiophiles, this is surely the best new product of 2014, and one of the most interesting loudspeakers I have heard in a very long time. It’s so special because it is highly affordable (it costs just £900) yet delivers a sonic performance way higher than
Goldring G900IGC
It’s hard to imagine just how radical Goldring’s G900 series seemed when launched in the late nineteen seventies. In a world of relatively heavy, lowish compliance cartridges, here was a state-of-the-art device that weighed a silph-like 4 grammes. As zeitgeisty
Goldring G900IGC
It’s hard to imagine just how radical Goldring’s G900 series seemed when launched in the late nineteen seventies. In a world of relatively heavy, lowish compliance cartridges, here was a state-of-the-art device that weighed a silph-like 4 grammes. As zeitgeisty
Garrard SP25
By the time this hugely popular record player was first launched in 1967, Garrard had been a turntable specialist for nearly half a century. The provenance goes way back in 1721, when Garrard and Company was appointed Crown Jewellers of
Garrard SP25
By the time this hugely popular record player was first launched in 1967, Garrard had been a turntable specialist for nearly half a century. The provenance goes way back in 1721, when Garrard and Company was appointed Crown Jewellers of
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
Sometimes, albums come along and change everything. Pet Sounds is a case in point; different enough to make even The Beatles alter course, it could only have been a Beach Boys record yet it pushed the band into a new place, and pulled
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
Sometimes, albums come along and change everything. Pet Sounds is a case in point; different enough to make even The Beatles alter course, it could only have been a Beach Boys record yet it pushed the band into a new place, and pulled
Koetsu Red Signature
Yoshiaki Sugano’s unique combination of skills defined his Koetsu range of cartridges. He was said to be a musician, artist, calligrapher and even quite handy with swords. The story goes that his life was a study of his hero, the
Koetsu Red Signature
Yoshiaki Sugano’s unique combination of skills defined his Koetsu range of cartridges. He was said to be a musician, artist, calligrapher and even quite handy with swords. The story goes that his life was a study of his hero, the
Eclipse TD712z/2
Fujitsu Ten is a huge manufacturer of automotive audio with over four thousand employees and a vast wealth of electronic and mechanical engineering resources. It’s an ideal parent company for Eclipse TD, one of the world’s most quirky yet accomplished loudspeaker
Eclipse TD712z/2
Fujitsu Ten is a huge manufacturer of automotive audio with over four thousand employees and a vast wealth of electronic and mechanical engineering resources. It’s an ideal parent company for Eclipse TD, one of the world’s most quirky yet accomplished loudspeaker
Chord DAC64
Launched at the 2001 Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, this was a sensation. It wasn’t just the company’s first ever digital-to-analogue converter, it was the result of a chance encounter between Rob Watts and John Franks. The former is a brilliant
Chord DAC64
Launched at the 2001 Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, this was a sensation. It wasn’t just the company’s first ever digital-to-analogue converter, it was the result of a chance encounter between Rob Watts and John Franks. The former is a brilliant
Arcam E77
Not long after it introduced its award-winning A60 integrated amplifier, the Amplification and Recording company of Cambridge (A&R Cambridge, latterly ARCAM) began work on a series of high quality affordable moving magnet cartridges. The first to reach dealers was the
Arcam E77
Not long after it introduced its award-winning A60 integrated amplifier, the Amplification and Recording company of Cambridge (A&R Cambridge, latterly ARCAM) began work on a series of high quality affordable moving magnet cartridges. The first to reach dealers was the
Tellurium Q Iridium SOCA
Another of British hi-fi’s great ‘what ifs’, this Tellurium Q power amplifier arrived on the scene in 2012, and promised so much. This newish British company isn’t prone to bouts of hyperbole, rather the excitement came from it being a
Tellurium Q Iridium SOCA
Another of British hi-fi’s great ‘what ifs’, this Tellurium Q power amplifier arrived on the scene in 2012, and promised so much. This newish British company isn’t prone to bouts of hyperbole, rather the excitement came from it being a
KEF LS50
One of the universal laws of hi-fi is that a loudspeaker’s sonic ability is in inverse proportion to its aesthetic beauty. True, the Holy hi-fi provider has granted several high end panel speakers a special exemption to this rule, but
KEF LS50
One of the universal laws of hi-fi is that a loudspeaker’s sonic ability is in inverse proportion to its aesthetic beauty. True, the Holy hi-fi provider has granted several high end panel speakers a special exemption to this rule, but
Linn Basik LV X
By 1979 Linn had a problem, although admittedly it was a nice problem to have. The trouble was that the £298 Sondek LP12 turntable was truly taking off – sales were going through the roof – but not everyone could
Linn Basik LV X
By 1979 Linn had a problem, although admittedly it was a nice problem to have. The trouble was that the £298 Sondek LP12 turntable was truly taking off – sales were going through the roof – but not everyone could
Sony TC-152
One of the most widely available classic Sony portable cassette decks, TC-152s seem to pop up from under every stone! That’s because they’re hardy little things, rugged enough to keep on working down the decades. When launched in 1974 it brought
Sony TC-152
One of the most widely available classic Sony portable cassette decks, TC-152s seem to pop up from under every stone! That’s because they’re hardy little things, rugged enough to keep on working down the decades. When launched in 1974 it brought
Wharfedale Diamond
The first Wharfedale Diamond was famously said to be derived from research undertaken for the company’s high end TSR102 project, but in truth it was simply its treble and midrange unit in a tiny, bespoke bass reflex box. The result
Wharfedale Diamond
The first Wharfedale Diamond was famously said to be derived from research undertaken for the company’s high end TSR102 project, but in truth it was simply its treble and midrange unit in a tiny, bespoke bass reflex box. The result
Sony CDP-101
Much has been written about this machine of late; it is fast becoming collectible. Of course it has a right to be, being not just Sony Corporation’s first ever silver disc spinner, but also the world’s first commercially available CD
Sony CDP-101
Much has been written about this machine of late; it is fast becoming collectible. Of course it has a right to be, being not just Sony Corporation’s first ever silver disc spinner, but also the world’s first commercially available CD
Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Forty years ago this month, Supertramp released Crime of the Century. It came out eighteen months after Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, an album with which it shares many things – both thematically and in terms of production
Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Forty years ago this month, Supertramp released Crime of the Century. It came out eighteen months after Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, an album with which it shares many things – both thematically and in terms of production
Michell Orbe SE
Turntables come and go. Many are excellent when launched, but slowly fade away into mediocrity as the years pass. Others endure however, and perhaps that is a measure of their greatness? Into that category, you’d have to put the likes of Linn’s
Michell Orbe SE
Turntables come and go. Many are excellent when launched, but slowly fade away into mediocrity as the years pass. Others endure however, and perhaps that is a measure of their greatness? Into that category, you’d have to put the likes of Linn’s
Naim mu-so
“A gateway drug” is how one Naim insider describes this one-box music machine. In truth, it is unlikely to be able to take on Bose and B&O at their own game, because both the aforementioned companies – especially the latter – plough so much
Naim mu-so
“A gateway drug” is how one Naim insider describes this one-box music machine. In truth, it is unlikely to be able to take on Bose and B&O at their own game, because both the aforementioned companies – especially the latter – plough so much
Onkyo D-TK10
Fascinating. This little box breaks all the rules about loudspeaker cabinet design, the ones that say that boxes should be seen and not heard. Put ten speaker designers in the same room and while they’ll disagree on everything from the merits
Onkyo D-TK10
Fascinating. This little box breaks all the rules about loudspeaker cabinet design, the ones that say that boxes should be seen and not heard. Put ten speaker designers in the same room and while they’ll disagree on everything from the merits
Usher S-520
One of the best affordable small speakers of recent times is this. Predictably perhaps It’s a two-way reflex ported bookshelf design, although there the routine ends. It has an Usher UA25-10 25mm silk dome tweeter and KSW2-5029B 125mm mid/bass unit
Usher S-520
One of the best affordable small speakers of recent times is this. Predictably perhaps It’s a two-way reflex ported bookshelf design, although there the routine ends. It has an Usher UA25-10 25mm silk dome tweeter and KSW2-5029B 125mm mid/bass unit
Bren 1
This is one of the nicest sensibly priced record clamps I’ve come across. Beautifully hewn on a CNC machine, it is just the right profile and weight for most applications, and works extremely well. The latest version has a 79mm diameter base and is 38mm high, and it weighs 391g
Bren 1
This is one of the nicest sensibly priced record clamps I’ve come across. Beautifully hewn on a CNC machine, it is just the right profile and weight for most applications, and works extremely well. The latest version has a 79mm diameter base and is 38mm high, and it weighs 391g
zStereo 