Author Archives: realspin
Esoteric P-0
Surprisingly few great CD transports have surfaced over the years, and you have to wonder why. Until computers showed up they were pretty much the only way of getting digits into your DAC, so they did – and still do
Esoteric P-0
Surprisingly few great CD transports have surfaced over the years, and you have to wonder why. Until computers showed up they were pretty much the only way of getting digits into your DAC, so they did – and still do
Logic DM101
For much of the nineteen seventies and eighties, Linn’s LP12 was the undisputed vinyl king. New title challengers came and went, but the Sondek remained on top. Ironically, because these aspirant monarchs of vinyl didn’t turn out to be quite as
Logic DM101
For much of the nineteen seventies and eighties, Linn’s LP12 was the undisputed vinyl king. New title challengers came and went, but the Sondek remained on top. Ironically, because these aspirant monarchs of vinyl didn’t turn out to be quite as
Jelco SA-750D
Based in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo, the Jelco Ichikawa Jewel Company is one of Japan’s many small scale precision engineering companies. It has been manufacturing since 1920, and by the nineteen seventies had naturally turned its hand to turntable parts
Jelco SA-750D
Based in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo, the Jelco Ichikawa Jewel Company is one of Japan’s many small scale precision engineering companies. It has been manufacturing since 1920, and by the nineteen seventies had naturally turned its hand to turntable parts
Magnum Dynalab MD-90T
What’s not to love about the Magnum Dynalab MD-90? Any red blooded radiohead looking at its delicious fascia – peppered with analogue meters, LED digits, switches, knobs and the inscription ‘analog FM tuner’ – will be beguiled. If ever there was a product
Magnum Dynalab MD-90T
What’s not to love about the Magnum Dynalab MD-90? Any red blooded radiohead looking at its delicious fascia – peppered with analogue meters, LED digits, switches, knobs and the inscription ‘analog FM tuner’ – will be beguiled. If ever there was a product
Rotel RB-1092
The past few years have seen a quiet revolution in stereo amplifier design, as we’ve witnessed a migration from one way of designing power amplifiers to another. The slow move from Class AB to Class D operation is significant for
Rotel RB-1092
The past few years have seen a quiet revolution in stereo amplifier design, as we’ve witnessed a migration from one way of designing power amplifiers to another. The slow move from Class AB to Class D operation is significant for
SME Model 10A
When launched a decade and a half ago, this was a breath of fresh air in the turntable world, offering genuinely high performance from a compact package. It also offered the handy option of buying it with the excellent SME Series
SME Model 10A
When launched a decade and a half ago, this was a breath of fresh air in the turntable world, offering genuinely high performance from a compact package. It also offered the handy option of buying it with the excellent SME Series
ADC 1700
In November 1979, British company BSR launched a range of budget-to-mid priced turntables under the ADC brand. BSR was a challenged brand, so it made sense to use the name of the American company it owned. The Audio Dynamics Corporation
ADC 1700
In November 1979, British company BSR launched a range of budget-to-mid priced turntables under the ADC brand. BSR was a challenged brand, so it made sense to use the name of the American company it owned. The Audio Dynamics Corporation
dCS Debussy
The flagship four-box dCS Vivaldi system – with its transport, DAC, clock and upsampler – is a glorious thing. Yet it’s also crazily expensive and complex to set up, and demands large amounts of house room. The entry-level Debussy – which shares much of its
dCS Debussy
The flagship four-box dCS Vivaldi system – with its transport, DAC, clock and upsampler – is a glorious thing. Yet it’s also crazily expensive and complex to set up, and demands large amounts of house room. The entry-level Debussy – which shares much of its
Bang & Olufsen Beocord 8000
Compact Cassette, lest we forget, was a convenience medium. But it was a medium on a mission – to displace open reel as the world’s most popular recording format, and to do that it had to sound good. That’s why
Bang & Olufsen Beocord 8000
Compact Cassette, lest we forget, was a convenience medium. But it was a medium on a mission – to displace open reel as the world’s most popular recording format, and to do that it had to sound good. That’s why
Arcam rDAC
Arcam has form with digital-to-analogue converters. In fact, it invented the breed, because its Black Box was the first ‘offboard DAC’ (as they were then called) back in 1989. The idea of separating the DAC from the CD transport was
Arcam rDAC
Arcam has form with digital-to-analogue converters. In fact, it invented the breed, because its Black Box was the first ‘offboard DAC’ (as they were then called) back in 1989. The idea of separating the DAC from the CD transport was
Linn Ittok LVIII
By many people’s reckoning the Linn Ittok was the world’s first super-arm. Originally manufactured for Linn by the Denon Parts Company of Japan (no relation to the electronics brand), it was designed by a Mr Ito to Linn’s specification back in
Linn Ittok LVIII
By many people’s reckoning the Linn Ittok was the world’s first super-arm. Originally manufactured for Linn by the Denon Parts Company of Japan (no relation to the electronics brand), it was designed by a Mr Ito to Linn’s specification back in
Meridian MCD Pro
Ever since its inception back in 1977, Meridian has been a great innovating company. Before its launch, founders Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd had already been involved in some of the most interesting hi-fi products to come out of the nineteen seventies – from the Lecson
Meridian MCD Pro
Ever since its inception back in 1977, Meridian has been a great innovating company. Before its launch, founders Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd had already been involved in some of the most interesting hi-fi products to come out of the nineteen seventies – from the Lecson
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions – Rattlesnakes
1984 was a brilliant year for British music. The Smiths wowed the world with their eponymous debut album, the Cocteau Twins produced their magnificent Treasure, Prefab Sprout served up the beguiling Swoon – and then just when you thought it was safe to walk
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions – Rattlesnakes
1984 was a brilliant year for British music. The Smiths wowed the world with their eponymous debut album, the Cocteau Twins produced their magnificent Treasure, Prefab Sprout served up the beguiling Swoon – and then just when you thought it was safe to walk
Cyrus dAD7
The nineteen nineties was Cyrus’s first decade, having previously been a mere sub-brand of loudspeaker specialist Mission. For this reason, it was an interesting time – a number of products appeared which showed the genesis of the company’s thinking, and
Cyrus dAD7
The nineteen nineties was Cyrus’s first decade, having previously been a mere sub-brand of loudspeaker specialist Mission. For this reason, it was an interesting time – a number of products appeared which showed the genesis of the company’s thinking, and
Esoteric X-05
Every Japanese company has a specialisation; something about which it’s particularly proud. With Sony it was always innovation and miniaturisation, with Matsushita it was always reliability and affordability (just like Honda and Toyota respectively). Nakamichi’s oeuvre was always cassette, Pioneer made
Esoteric X-05
Every Japanese company has a specialisation; something about which it’s particularly proud. With Sony it was always innovation and miniaturisation, with Matsushita it was always reliability and affordability (just like Honda and Toyota respectively). Nakamichi’s oeuvre was always cassette, Pioneer made
Dynavector DV505
When a small Japanese engineering outfit called Dynavector launched the DV505, it rocked the hi-fi world. Rather than the usual sales spiel, the company released its extensive engineering research findings into tonearm geometry and resonance characteristics. It didn’t take the world long
Dynavector DV505
When a small Japanese engineering outfit called Dynavector launched the DV505, it rocked the hi-fi world. Rather than the usual sales spiel, the company released its extensive engineering research findings into tonearm geometry and resonance characteristics. It didn’t take the world long
Benchmark DAC1 USB
When this DAC arrived in the UK in 2007, it was practically in a gang of one. Funny to think it now, but the digital to analogue converter had almost completely died out. The Benchmark DAC1 was something of a
Benchmark DAC1 USB
When this DAC arrived in the UK in 2007, it was practically in a gang of one. Funny to think it now, but the digital to analogue converter had almost completely died out. The Benchmark DAC1 was something of a
Sony HMK-80
In the nineteen seventies hi-fi boom, when every lifestyle magazine was telling people to buy large, unwieldy stereo separates, every self-respecting mass manufacturer offered the same thing in a single package. It was called a music centre, and admittedly the breed
Sony HMK-80
In the nineteen seventies hi-fi boom, when every lifestyle magazine was telling people to buy large, unwieldy stereo separates, every self-respecting mass manufacturer offered the same thing in a single package. It was called a music centre, and admittedly the breed
Human League – Dare
As punk showed us, the nineteen seventies was a hard and hopeless time. Ten years of social unrest, racial tension and recession had taken its toll on a country whose star had hitherto shone so brightly. Now though, Britain was
Human League – Dare
As punk showed us, the nineteen seventies was a hard and hopeless time. Ten years of social unrest, racial tension and recession had taken its toll on a country whose star had hitherto shone so brightly. Now though, Britain was
Sony MDS-JB940QS
Launched in 1992, MiniDisc spent its early days in a dogfight with Philips’ now moribund DCC format, then pretty much disappeared off the scene. Despite its superb ergonomics, the format sounded so bad that its premature demise looked assured. But then,
Sony MDS-JB940QS
Launched in 1992, MiniDisc spent its early days in a dogfight with Philips’ now moribund DCC format, then pretty much disappeared off the scene. Despite its superb ergonomics, the format sounded so bad that its premature demise looked assured. But then,
zStereo 