Author Archives: realspin
SME 3009S2
The ‘Scale Model Equipment Company Ltd’ was formed in 1946 to make parts for the model engineering trade, and by the fifties it was manufacturing bits for aircraft instruments and business machines. But it wasn’t until 1959 that SME’s first
SME 3009S2
The ‘Scale Model Equipment Company Ltd’ was formed in 1946 to make parts for the model engineering trade, and by the fifties it was manufacturing bits for aircraft instruments and business machines. But it wasn’t until 1959 that SME’s first
Chord Hugo
Rob Watts has come a long way since he “foolishly decided to get involved with manufacturing hi-fi”. After leaving Cardiff university in 1984 he cofounded Deltec Precision Audio and made a name for himself as a gifted electronics engineer. Then
Chord Hugo
Rob Watts has come a long way since he “foolishly decided to get involved with manufacturing hi-fi”. After leaving Cardiff university in 1984 he cofounded Deltec Precision Audio and made a name for himself as a gifted electronics engineer. Then
Astin Trew AT3500
Back in 2006 a new name appeared on the British hi-fi scene, launching a small range of mid-price hi-fi separates. The pick of this was the tube-buffered CD player, which sounded quite distinctively different to its price rivals. It didn’t take
Astin Trew AT3500
Back in 2006 a new name appeared on the British hi-fi scene, launching a small range of mid-price hi-fi separates. The pick of this was the tube-buffered CD player, which sounded quite distinctively different to its price rivals. It didn’t take
Propaganda – A Secret Wish
By 1984, Trevor Horn’s production work on Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Welcome to the Pleasuredome had made him legendary. The obvious choice for his next project would have been its sequel, Liverpool, but instead he chose to work with five
Propaganda – A Secret Wish
By 1984, Trevor Horn’s production work on Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Welcome to the Pleasuredome had made him legendary. The obvious choice for his next project would have been its sequel, Liverpool, but instead he chose to work with five
808 State: Ninety
Some say the nineteen sixties was still swinging until the mid-seventies. In which case, the nineties must have started in 1987 when 808 State formed. Barely had the corpse of seminal Mancunian band The Smiths been laid to rest, when Graham Massey, Martin
808 State: Ninety
Some say the nineteen sixties was still swinging until the mid-seventies. In which case, the nineties must have started in 1987 when 808 State formed. Barely had the corpse of seminal Mancunian band The Smiths been laid to rest, when Graham Massey, Martin
NAD 3020
Buying a decent budget amplifier back in the late nineteen seventies wasn’t easy. The market was swamped by brushed aluminium-fronted Japanese designs, plastered with tone controls and power meters for showroom appeal. Little had any real attention paid to sound
NAD 3020
Buying a decent budget amplifier back in the late nineteen seventies wasn’t easy. The market was swamped by brushed aluminium-fronted Japanese designs, plastered with tone controls and power meters for showroom appeal. Little had any real attention paid to sound
Sony DVP-S7000
Launched in March 1997 in Tokyo, Japan, the DVP-S7000 began to hit UK shores six months or so later and was one of the most prestigious and exciting of first generation DVD players. As ever with Sony’s ‘first’ ever product
Sony DVP-S7000
Launched in March 1997 in Tokyo, Japan, the DVP-S7000 began to hit UK shores six months or so later and was one of the most prestigious and exciting of first generation DVD players. As ever with Sony’s ‘first’ ever product
Audiolab M-DAC
If there is one product that has captured the public imagination in recent years, it is this. Like the Dual CS505 turntable, NAD 3020 integrated amplifier and Mission 760 loudspeakers before it, here is an ‘affordable audiophile’ product that sounds
Audiolab M-DAC
If there is one product that has captured the public imagination in recent years, it is this. Like the Dual CS505 turntable, NAD 3020 integrated amplifier and Mission 760 loudspeakers before it, here is an ‘affordable audiophile’ product that sounds
Aiwa AD-1250
The late nineteen seventies was a frantic time for mass market hi-fi; things were moving so fast that many Japanese manufacturers struggled to keep up. This state of affairs resulted in a number of oddball models such as this, which were almost obsolete before they
Aiwa AD-1250
The late nineteen seventies was a frantic time for mass market hi-fi; things were moving so fast that many Japanese manufacturers struggled to keep up. This state of affairs resulted in a number of oddball models such as this, which were almost obsolete before they
Creek OBH-22
It’s easy to make a passive preamplifier, I’ve made several. Buy a 50k ohm potentiometer from RS Components or suchlike, wire it up to four phono sockets, and if you’re feeling adventurous, put it in a box and add a
Creek OBH-22
It’s easy to make a passive preamplifier, I’ve made several. Buy a 50k ohm potentiometer from RS Components or suchlike, wire it up to four phono sockets, and if you’re feeling adventurous, put it in a box and add a
McIntosh MC275 VI
McIntosh is a redoubtable marque with an illustrious history of producing very high quality products. The huge MC275 power amplifier is now in its sixth generation, the first one appearing way back in 1961. Designed by company co-founder Sidney A. Corderman and Gordon
McIntosh MC275 VI
McIntosh is a redoubtable marque with an illustrious history of producing very high quality products. The huge MC275 power amplifier is now in its sixth generation, the first one appearing way back in 1961. Designed by company co-founder Sidney A. Corderman and Gordon
Micromega CD-30
In 2007, the well established French hi-fi brand Micromega was acquired by the flamboyant ex-motorsport man Didier Hamdi, leaving the company’s founder Daniel Schar to engineering duties. The 2010 CD-30 was one of the first products of the new epoch. On the
Micromega CD-30
In 2007, the well established French hi-fi brand Micromega was acquired by the flamboyant ex-motorsport man Didier Hamdi, leaving the company’s founder Daniel Schar to engineering duties. The 2010 CD-30 was one of the first products of the new epoch. On the
Denon TU-1500AE
The problem for Denon’s TU-1500AE was that it was the long-awaited replacement to one of the best and most long running budget tuners in history. True, there were a couple of super rivals from the likes of NAD and Creek, but
Denon TU-1500AE
The problem for Denon’s TU-1500AE was that it was the long-awaited replacement to one of the best and most long running budget tuners in history. True, there were a couple of super rivals from the likes of NAD and Creek, but
the Elcaset story
In Japan, Sony has traditionally been regarded as one of the country’s great innovating companies. Co-founder Akio Morita once said that if Sony didn’t actually invent a technology, it would at least be the one able to translate it into something
the Elcaset story
In Japan, Sony has traditionally been regarded as one of the country’s great innovating companies. Co-founder Akio Morita once said that if Sony didn’t actually invent a technology, it would at least be the one able to translate it into something
Associates – Sulk
One of the best albums of the nineteen eighties in an already overcrowded arena, Sulk was the high point of Associates’ canon and a landmark LP release back in 1982. Nine months after the Human League had shook the pop charts,
Associates – Sulk
One of the best albums of the nineteen eighties in an already overcrowded arena, Sulk was the high point of Associates’ canon and a landmark LP release back in 1982. Nine months after the Human League had shook the pop charts,
Pioneer SA-9500
Pioneer is one of the more interesting Japanese brands, and – if you aggregate the quality of its products over time – one of the most impressive. Since 1937 when it was founded by Japanese engineer Nozomu Matsumoto, it has
Pioneer SA-9500
Pioneer is one of the more interesting Japanese brands, and – if you aggregate the quality of its products over time – one of the most impressive. Since 1937 when it was founded by Japanese engineer Nozomu Matsumoto, it has
Trio KD-1033B
The Pioneer PL-12D changed everything. It was the point at which established British manufacturers such as BSR and Garrard found themselves denuded of their core market – entry-level turntables. Suddenly in 1973, for a few pounds more than the price of
Trio KD-1033B
The Pioneer PL-12D changed everything. It was the point at which established British manufacturers such as BSR and Garrard found themselves denuded of their core market – entry-level turntables. Suddenly in 1973, for a few pounds more than the price of
Spendor SA1
The original Spendor SA1 was launched just before the BBC LS3/5a surfaced back in the early nineteen seventies, and many thought it was a better sounding loudspeaker than its more popular rival. But the SA1 you see here is a distant cousin, and
Spendor SA1
The original Spendor SA1 was launched just before the BBC LS3/5a surfaced back in the early nineteen seventies, and many thought it was a better sounding loudspeaker than its more popular rival. But the SA1 you see here is a distant cousin, and
Goldring 1042
Back in the early nineteen nineties, vinyl was on the wane. There was an ‘end of the century’ feel to it, a sense that the sting of death would visit it before too long. For this reason, the supply of
Goldring 1042
Back in the early nineteen nineties, vinyl was on the wane. There was an ‘end of the century’ feel to it, a sense that the sting of death would visit it before too long. For this reason, the supply of
Bose 901
The story of this decidedly peculiar product started when Armar G Bose decided that contemporary loudspeakers simply didn’t deliver. Fascinated by sound propagation, and an avowed fan of spatiality in sound, he thought the majority of designs on sale were too directional. He believed
Bose 901
The story of this decidedly peculiar product started when Armar G Bose decided that contemporary loudspeakers simply didn’t deliver. Fascinated by sound propagation, and an avowed fan of spatiality in sound, he thought the majority of designs on sale were too directional. He believed
zStereo 