Author Archives: realspin
Meridian F80
Back in 1974, one of the most striking pieces of industrial design the world had seen surfaced in the shape of the Lecson AC1/AP1 preamplifier/ power amplifier combination. At a stroke, the two men behind it – Allen Boothroyd and Robert Stuart – marked themselves
Meridian F80
Back in 1974, one of the most striking pieces of industrial design the world had seen surfaced in the shape of the Lecson AC1/AP1 preamplifier/ power amplifier combination. At a stroke, the two men behind it – Allen Boothroyd and Robert Stuart – marked themselves
JBE Series 3
It’s all forgotten about now, but once upon a time there was an expensive – but certainly not exorbitantly priced – turntable that came along, challenged the best of the best and won. Well, almost. You see, the JBE was
JBE Series 3
It’s all forgotten about now, but once upon a time there was an expensive – but certainly not exorbitantly priced – turntable that came along, challenged the best of the best and won. Well, almost. You see, the JBE was
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
“That has obviously struck a chord somewhere”, said Roger Waters when his wife burst into tears upon hearing a pre-release tape of Dark Side of the Moon. Described by Nick Mason as a document of modern life that crossed over
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
“That has obviously struck a chord somewhere”, said Roger Waters when his wife burst into tears upon hearing a pre-release tape of Dark Side of the Moon. Described by Nick Mason as a document of modern life that crossed over
Denon DL103
There are few other more controversial cartridges than this. Some believe it to have some magical, innate musicality which is simply not available from virtually every other pick-up. Others think it is an outdated old bruiser, completely out of its
Denon DL103
There are few other more controversial cartridges than this. Some believe it to have some magical, innate musicality which is simply not available from virtually every other pick-up. Others think it is an outdated old bruiser, completely out of its
Musical Fidelity X-150
Launched in 2002 as a direct rival to Naim’s Nait 5 integrated, this is one of the many quirky but charming products Musical Fidelity has produced over the years. It was a beautiful little half-width integrated – the company has
Musical Fidelity X-150
Launched in 2002 as a direct rival to Naim’s Nait 5 integrated, this is one of the many quirky but charming products Musical Fidelity has produced over the years. It was a beautiful little half-width integrated – the company has
the open reel story
Sound recording was tricky before tape. You only have to look at Thomas Edison’s cylinder phonograph recorder from 1877 to see how crude it was. Ten years later, Emile Berliner’s direct-to-disc recording system appeared, but was also far from
the open reel story
Sound recording was tricky before tape. You only have to look at Thomas Edison’s cylinder phonograph recorder from 1877 to see how crude it was. Ten years later, Emile Berliner’s direct-to-disc recording system appeared, but was also far from
Sony CDP-557ESD
Remember the CD player numbers game? The first Philips-based machines had 14-bit, 4 times oversampling, the original Japanese used 16-bits. Then in 1986 the 16×4 Philips players arrived and by 1988 a raft of 18×8 machines appeared from the Orient.
Sony CDP-557ESD
Remember the CD player numbers game? The first Philips-based machines had 14-bit, 4 times oversampling, the original Japanese used 16-bits. Then in 1986 the 16×4 Philips players arrived and by 1988 a raft of 18×8 machines appeared from the Orient.
Microdisney – Everybody is Fantastic
Microdisney, The Irish Steely Dan, as they would have been called if the world had been a kinder place. And also if the Cork-formed band hadn’t actually spent most of its life in London, the city that provided much of
Microdisney – Everybody is Fantastic
Microdisney, The Irish Steely Dan, as they would have been called if the world had been a kinder place. And also if the Cork-formed band hadn’t actually spent most of its life in London, the city that provided much of
Sony TT-S8000
As far as the late seventies British hi-fi scene was concerned, many overseas audiophiles must have been praying for us in our darkness. The UK hi-fi press was obsessed with Linn’s Sondek LP12. This deck was (is) without doubt superb,
Sony TT-S8000
As far as the late seventies British hi-fi scene was concerned, many overseas audiophiles must have been praying for us in our darkness. The UK hi-fi press was obsessed with Linn’s Sondek LP12. This deck was (is) without doubt superb,
Marantz MA-5
Back in 1980, Japanese manufacturers were engaged in mortal combat trying to make the cleanest and most powerful transistor amplification yet devised. Whereas Sony and Yamaha had both recently gone down the V-FET route (with the TA-N7B and B2 respectively)
Marantz MA-5
Back in 1980, Japanese manufacturers were engaged in mortal combat trying to make the cleanest and most powerful transistor amplification yet devised. Whereas Sony and Yamaha had both recently gone down the V-FET route (with the TA-N7B and B2 respectively)
ATC SCM19
If ever there was a loudspeaker company with its heart and soul in the professional audio market, it is ATC. Started in 1974 by Billy Woodman to produce drive units for broadcast and recording studios, its first design was a
ATC SCM19
If ever there was a loudspeaker company with its heart and soul in the professional audio market, it is ATC. Started in 1974 by Billy Woodman to produce drive units for broadcast and recording studios, its first design was a
Brinkmann Bardo
The traditional objection about direct-drive, where the platter is driven from a motor mounted right at its centre, was that you could here it ‘cogging’. This was the issue arising from the fact that the fields of a direct-drive motor’s
Brinkmann Bardo
The traditional objection about direct-drive, where the platter is driven from a motor mounted right at its centre, was that you could here it ‘cogging’. This was the issue arising from the fact that the fields of a direct-drive motor’s
Thomas Dolby – The Golden Age of Wireless
This beautiful, quirky and timeless debut album has a unique blend of the old and new. It’s defined by Thomas Dolby’s eccentric leanings, his artistic urge to draw from the past and his unfailing fascination – which he still holds to
Thomas Dolby – The Golden Age of Wireless
This beautiful, quirky and timeless debut album has a unique blend of the old and new. It’s defined by Thomas Dolby’s eccentric leanings, his artistic urge to draw from the past and his unfailing fascination – which he still holds to
Naim CDX2
When the Naim CDX2 was launched in 2003, it seemed that Compact Disc was beginning to falter, faced as it was with an onslaught from SACD and DVD-Audio. So for Naim to pitch a new CD player right into the
Naim CDX2
When the Naim CDX2 was launched in 2003, it seemed that Compact Disc was beginning to falter, faced as it was with an onslaught from SACD and DVD-Audio. So for Naim to pitch a new CD player right into the
Marantz SA-12S1
After the stereophonic splendour of the SA-1 – Marantz’s first SACD player launched in 2001 – came the multi-talented, multimedia, multichannel SA-12. This little beauty not only played Red Book CDs and SACDs (of both the stereo and multichannel variety)
Marantz SA-12S1
After the stereophonic splendour of the SA-1 – Marantz’s first SACD player launched in 2001 – came the multi-talented, multimedia, multichannel SA-12. This little beauty not only played Red Book CDs and SACDs (of both the stereo and multichannel variety)
Freeez – Southern Freeez
1980 was a great year for pop music, but also something of a transitional one. It was to prove the last hurrah of great, genre-defining new wave bands like The Jam, as well as the final nail in the coffin of
Freeez – Southern Freeez
1980 was a great year for pop music, but also something of a transitional one. It was to prove the last hurrah of great, genre-defining new wave bands like The Jam, as well as the final nail in the coffin of
Marantz CD-73
The top model in the company’s first generation range of CD players, it shared much of its genetic make-up with a Philips machine – the CD303. To wit, its line up of component parts reads like a wish list from
Marantz CD-73
The top model in the company’s first generation range of CD players, it shared much of its genetic make-up with a Philips machine – the CD303. To wit, its line up of component parts reads like a wish list from
Quad ESL-57
Fifty seven years after development work first began, there is still something magical about this iconic electrostatic. Thanks to its combination of superb sound quality and elegant styling, the ESL-57 offered outstanding clarity compared to other loudspeakers of its day.
Quad ESL-57
Fifty seven years after development work first began, there is still something magical about this iconic electrostatic. Thanks to its combination of superb sound quality and elegant styling, the ESL-57 offered outstanding clarity compared to other loudspeakers of its day.
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zStereo is a slice of cyberspace devoted to everything weird and/or wonderful about two-channel audio – past and present. Share your experiences in the Leave a Comment box under each article, if you’ve anything interesting to add. For questions, suggestions or requests,
Onkyo A-9755
By the end of the first decade of the twenty first century, China was beginning to make real inroads into the world’s hi-fi market, taking advantage of its low manufacturing costs to produce large and impressive amplifiers for less money
Onkyo A-9755
By the end of the first decade of the twenty first century, China was beginning to make real inroads into the world’s hi-fi market, taking advantage of its low manufacturing costs to produce large and impressive amplifiers for less money
zStereo 