Author Archives: realspin
KEF Coda 7
In 2014, this seems a rather dull, uninteresting and irrelevant loudspeaker, but in 1995 some saw it as nothing less than the future of budget hi-fi. Why? Because the Coda 7 was at the vanguard of a new generation of speakers that drew a clear
KEF Coda 7
In 2014, this seems a rather dull, uninteresting and irrelevant loudspeaker, but in 1995 some saw it as nothing less than the future of budget hi-fi. Why? Because the Coda 7 was at the vanguard of a new generation of speakers that drew a clear
Jays v-Jays
Soberly styled, these affordable portable Swedish cans are small and light (59g). Considering their low price, build quality is excellent – easily as good as anything from Sennheiser at or anywhere near their £50 retail price. Their design is also semi-foldable (with
Jays v-Jays
Soberly styled, these affordable portable Swedish cans are small and light (59g). Considering their low price, build quality is excellent – easily as good as anything from Sennheiser at or anywhere near their £50 retail price. Their design is also semi-foldable (with
IMF Transcription 300
One of the rarest turntables in existence, few have either seen or heard of this piece of Plexiglas perfection which appeared in the mid nineteen seventies. Designed and manufactured by IMF Electronics, it reputedly won several design awards, and a
IMF Transcription 300
One of the rarest turntables in existence, few have either seen or heard of this piece of Plexiglas perfection which appeared in the mid nineteen seventies. Designed and manufactured by IMF Electronics, it reputedly won several design awards, and a
Linn Ekos
1987 was a good year for tonearm fans. Just like London buses, after you’d waited seemingly ages, not one but two – then three – came along at he same time. First was the SME Series V, about which much
Acoustic Energy AE1
One of the most iconic hi-fi loudspeakers of the nineteen eighties, the AE1 sits alongside the Celestion SL6 and the Wharfedale Diamond in the great pantheon of boxes that rewrote the rule book. The BBC LS3/5a and Spendor SA1 aside,
Acoustic Energy AE1
One of the most iconic hi-fi loudspeakers of the nineteen eighties, the AE1 sits alongside the Celestion SL6 and the Wharfedale Diamond in the great pantheon of boxes that rewrote the rule book. The BBC LS3/5a and Spendor SA1 aside,
Buggles – The Age of Plastic
Thirty five years after their hit single Video Killed The Radio Star, many people still remember The Buggles – but for all the wrong reasons. Invariably seen as a a nineteen eighties novelty act, as purveyors of a catchy but
Buggles – The Age of Plastic
Thirty five years after their hit single Video Killed The Radio Star, many people still remember The Buggles – but for all the wrong reasons. Invariably seen as a a nineteen eighties novelty act, as purveyors of a catchy but
Leben CS300X Limited Edition
Say “made in Japan” and you automatically think of massive corporate consumer electronics companies – the Sonys and Matsushitas of this world. What few realise however is that, precisely because the Japanese domestic hi-fi market is so big, there’s room
Leben CS300X Limited Edition
Say “made in Japan” and you automatically think of massive corporate consumer electronics companies – the Sonys and Matsushitas of this world. What few realise however is that, precisely because the Japanese domestic hi-fi market is so big, there’s room
Tannoy Westminster Royal
Surely one of the most striking things ever to make a noise, other manufacturers’ top-of-the-range designs look small and flimsy by comparison. The king of Tannoy’s Prestige Range, this product is truly remarkable, however you look at it. Intimidating physical presence
Tannoy Westminster Royal
Surely one of the most striking things ever to make a noise, other manufacturers’ top-of-the-range designs look small and flimsy by comparison. The king of Tannoy’s Prestige Range, this product is truly remarkable, however you look at it. Intimidating physical presence
NuForce Reference 9SE
California-based NuForce launched its first range of Class D amplifiers at Las Vegas CES in 2005, with the initial products being the Reference 8 and 9 monoblocs. There was a choice of Reference 8 single-ended input (RCA) at £635 and Reference
NuForce Reference 9SE
California-based NuForce launched its first range of Class D amplifiers at Las Vegas CES in 2005, with the initial products being the Reference 8 and 9 monoblocs. There was a choice of Reference 8 single-ended input (RCA) at £635 and Reference
ANT Audio Kora 3T LTD
Alex Nikitin is one of hi-fi’s best kept secrets. Not many know his name, but he is widely respected in the industry as the gifted audio engineer behind many of Creek Audio’s products for much of the nineties and noughties. Alex Nikitin
ANT Audio Kora 3T LTD
Alex Nikitin is one of hi-fi’s best kept secrets. Not many know his name, but he is widely respected in the industry as the gifted audio engineer behind many of Creek Audio’s products for much of the nineties and noughties. Alex Nikitin
Naim ARO
Reputedly made ‘hand in glove’ for the Linn Sondek LP12 turntable and Troika cartridge, the ARO is one of the quirkiest performance-focused tonearms yet made. The story starts back in 1987 when Naim Audio was pulling back on its special relationship with Linn Products; Linn
Shure M75ED Type 2
It’s a very long time ago now, but if you warped back to the mid nineteen seventies and did a survey of the most popular phono cartridge in existence, this would surely win. From around 1974 to 1979, the Shure
Shure M75ED Type 2
It’s a very long time ago now, but if you warped back to the mid nineteen seventies and did a survey of the most popular phono cartridge in existence, this would surely win. From around 1974 to 1979, the Shure
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream
Every now and then, the stars align just at the right time to produce a beautiful spectacle – and that’s precisely what happened when this superlative long player was released in September 1982. Glasgow-based Simple Minds’ fifth studio album perfectly captured the early nineteen
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream
Every now and then, the stars align just at the right time to produce a beautiful spectacle – and that’s precisely what happened when this superlative long player was released in September 1982. Glasgow-based Simple Minds’ fifth studio album perfectly captured the early nineteen
Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 1900
As nineteen seventies hi-fi became ever more dominated by the Japanese, the more gaudy it got. Although the mass market was awash with large, brushed aluminium fronted steel boxes – festooned with knobs and flashing lights – some more discerning buyers moved to Bang &
Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 1900
As nineteen seventies hi-fi became ever more dominated by the Japanese, the more gaudy it got. Although the mass market was awash with large, brushed aluminium fronted steel boxes – festooned with knobs and flashing lights – some more discerning buyers moved to Bang &
Naim NAIT
Until the Naim NAIT surfaced in 1983, integrated amplifiers had traditionally been regarded as something you bought before you could afford a ‘real’ preamplifier/power amplifier combination. The breed, it’s fair to say, wasn’t widely respected. The little Naim changed all this, because
Naim NAIT
Until the Naim NAIT surfaced in 1983, integrated amplifiers had traditionally been regarded as something you bought before you could afford a ‘real’ preamplifier/power amplifier combination. The breed, it’s fair to say, wasn’t widely respected. The little Naim changed all this, because
Sony RCD-W3
It was late 1998 that Sony’s first CD recorder was released in the company’s home market of Japan. At the time it came as something of a surprise, as Sony had previously intimated that MiniDisc was its rival to Philips’
Sony RCD-W3
It was late 1998 that Sony’s first CD recorder was released in the company’s home market of Japan. At the time it came as something of a surprise, as Sony had previously intimated that MiniDisc was its rival to Philips’
Audio Research VSi55
Few would dispute that a decently done valve amplifier is capable of superb sonics, but the problem is that they’re not as user-friendly as solid-state designs – at least to the uninitiated. While you can buy any sensible transistor integrated,
Audio Research VSi55
Few would dispute that a decently done valve amplifier is capable of superb sonics, but the problem is that they’re not as user-friendly as solid-state designs – at least to the uninitiated. While you can buy any sensible transistor integrated,
Syrinx PU2
The tale begins at the end of the nineteen seventies, with the arrival of Linn’s Ittok LVII tonearm. It put the cat amongst the pigeons in an analogue landscape dominated by the SME 3009S2, which appeared on virtually every turntable motor unit at
Syrinx PU2
The tale begins at the end of the nineteen seventies, with the arrival of Linn’s Ittok LVII tonearm. It put the cat amongst the pigeons in an analogue landscape dominated by the SME 3009S2, which appeared on virtually every turntable motor unit at
Lyra Dorian
Selling for £495 at launch in the UK back in 2007, this was the Japanese cartridge specialist’s cheapest pickup ever, and although benefiting from designer Jonathon Carr’s tremendous experience, was not entirely hand built by Lyra’s artisan Yoshinori Mishima. Instead, the
Lyra Dorian
Selling for £495 at launch in the UK back in 2007, this was the Japanese cartridge specialist’s cheapest pickup ever, and although benefiting from designer Jonathon Carr’s tremendous experience, was not entirely hand built by Lyra’s artisan Yoshinori Mishima. Instead, the
SME Series III
SME’s name precedes the brand itself. Everyone in the audiophile world knows it’s a superb company, with a fantastic heritage behind it. The quality of any SME product is assured, and it has never made a duffer. Or has it?
SME Series III
SME’s name precedes the brand itself. Everyone in the audiophile world knows it’s a superb company, with a fantastic heritage behind it. The quality of any SME product is assured, and it has never made a duffer. Or has it?
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