Author Archives: realspin
JungSon JA-88D
Much of what is wrong with transistor amplifiers can be surmised in two words; switching distortion. The sound of those little three legged semiconductors turning themselves on and off on demand is omnipresent, and most people get used to it
JungSon JA-88D
Much of what is wrong with transistor amplifiers can be surmised in two words; switching distortion. The sound of those little three legged semiconductors turning themselves on and off on demand is omnipresent, and most people get used to it
Quad 909
Quad has traditionally sold hi-fi to affluent, (small c) conservative types who appreciate quality but don’t want to pay outlandish amounts of money for it. Perhaps this explains why the 909 power amplifier is little more than a lightly reworked and rehoused
Quad 909
Quad has traditionally sold hi-fi to affluent, (small c) conservative types who appreciate quality but don’t want to pay outlandish amounts of money for it. Perhaps this explains why the 909 power amplifier is little more than a lightly reworked and rehoused
Monitor Audio PL100
Monitor Audio was to be congratulated for its decision to use ribbon tweeters in its flagship Platinum series, launched back in 2007. The PL100 – which cost £2,300 – ran a very nice ceramic coated aluminium/magnesium ribbon HF unit riding shotgun with
Monitor Audio PL100
Monitor Audio was to be congratulated for its decision to use ribbon tweeters in its flagship Platinum series, launched back in 2007. The PL100 – which cost £2,300 – ran a very nice ceramic coated aluminium/magnesium ribbon HF unit riding shotgun with
Sony PS-8750
1975, one decade into the widespread use of stereo LP in this country, and vinyl was living through in its harvest years. Sales records were constantly being broken as the likes of Mike Oldfield, Pink Floyd and Electric Light Orchestra
Sony PS-8750
1975, one decade into the widespread use of stereo LP in this country, and vinyl was living through in its harvest years. Sales records were constantly being broken as the likes of Mike Oldfield, Pink Floyd and Electric Light Orchestra
Naim UnitiQute
Time was when a baby Naim delivered about 7W per channel, as per the original 1985 Nait. By 2010 however, small boxes from Salisbury like the (then) new UnitiQute put out 45W a side – and threw in DAB, FM, uPnP
Naim UnitiQute
Time was when a baby Naim delivered about 7W per channel, as per the original 1985 Nait. By 2010 however, small boxes from Salisbury like the (then) new UnitiQute put out 45W a side – and threw in DAB, FM, uPnP
Audiolab 8200CD
From the man who gave us the mighty Pink Triangle Da Capo DAC in 1993 and the superb budget Cambridge Audio CD4SE Compact Disc player a couple of years later, came another great digital product in 2012. Audiolab’s 8200CD CD
Audiolab 8200CD
From the man who gave us the mighty Pink Triangle Da Capo DAC in 1993 and the superb budget Cambridge Audio CD4SE Compact Disc player a couple of years later, came another great digital product in 2012. Audiolab’s 8200CD CD
Musical Fidelity A1000
Traditionally, British hi-fi amplifiers start as integrateds, then grow up into preamplifier/power amplifier combinations as the price rises. If spending more than around £2,000, it’s not normal to buy a one-box amplifier – you’ll start to look at two. That’s
Musical Fidelity A1000
Traditionally, British hi-fi amplifiers start as integrateds, then grow up into preamplifier/power amplifier combinations as the price rises. If spending more than around £2,000, it’s not normal to buy a one-box amplifier – you’ll start to look at two. That’s
Naim NAP 135
Some may think this just another of the many power amplifiers that the Salisbury solid-state specialists have produced over the years, but I think it has something about it that warrants a special place in the great scheme of hi-fi
Naim NAP 135
Some may think this just another of the many power amplifiers that the Salisbury solid-state specialists have produced over the years, but I think it has something about it that warrants a special place in the great scheme of hi-fi
the Compact Cassette story
The story starts in August 1963, when Dutch electronics company Philips displayed a prototype of a small cartridge of magnetic tape designed to work in highly compact players that could be battery operated and taken anywhere. It was reversible, and
the Compact Cassette story
The story starts in August 1963, when Dutch electronics company Philips displayed a prototype of a small cartridge of magnetic tape designed to work in highly compact players that could be battery operated and taken anywhere. It was reversible, and
Goldmund Reference
Hi-fi’s pantheon is packed with products that aspire to be ‘the ultimate’, and turntables are a particularly hotly contested area. Some swear blind that Linn’s LP12 is the best deck ever made, others say it’s a Garrard, Roksan, Oxford Acoustics,
Goldmund Reference
Hi-fi’s pantheon is packed with products that aspire to be ‘the ultimate’, and turntables are a particularly hotly contested area. Some swear blind that Linn’s LP12 is the best deck ever made, others say it’s a Garrard, Roksan, Oxford Acoustics,
Gale GS401A
Funny how some products cause a huge splash early on in their lives, yet go on to sink into relative obsolescence after they are discontinued. The Gale GS401 speaker is just such a design, having won the prestigious CES Design and
Gale GS401A
Funny how some products cause a huge splash early on in their lives, yet go on to sink into relative obsolescence after they are discontinued. The Gale GS401 speaker is just such a design, having won the prestigious CES Design and
STD 305D
Launched in 1978, this was one of the swishest British turntables around at the time. In a sea of Japanese direct drives that worked with riflebolt precision, the STD 305D was an attempt to bring convenience and ease of use
STD 305D
Launched in 1978, this was one of the swishest British turntables around at the time. In a sea of Japanese direct drives that worked with riflebolt precision, the STD 305D was an attempt to bring convenience and ease of use
Audio-Technica AT-OC9
It is 1987, and Compact Disc is in the ascendant. In high streets and shopping malls, turntables and LPs are rapidly disappearing, with the new digital silver taking its place. The talk is of “the death of vinyl”, and the
Audio-Technica AT-OC9
It is 1987, and Compact Disc is in the ascendant. In high streets and shopping malls, turntables and LPs are rapidly disappearing, with the new digital silver taking its place. The talk is of “the death of vinyl”, and the
Pioneer PL-112D
Rather like the first Volkswagen Golf, the original Pioneer PL-12D was the start of a generation of affordable, high quality products that did their job without a moment’s fuss, and did it well. It was a turntable to rid budget buyers of
Pioneer PL-112D
Rather like the first Volkswagen Golf, the original Pioneer PL-12D was the start of a generation of affordable, high quality products that did their job without a moment’s fuss, and did it well. It was a turntable to rid budget buyers of
Wharfedale E70
There were never that many great nineteen seventies loudspeakers. Possibly because the wisdom of the time was that big, muscular transistor power amps were the way ahead, speakers became increasingly complex and power-hungry. Multi-driver designs using heavy polypropylene and Bextrene cones
Wharfedale E70
There were never that many great nineteen seventies loudspeakers. Possibly because the wisdom of the time was that big, muscular transistor power amps were the way ahead, speakers became increasingly complex and power-hungry. Multi-driver designs using heavy polypropylene and Bextrene cones
Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD
To commemorate the two long decades since its famed Dr. Thomas preamp first graced dealers’ shelves, in 2003 Anthony Michaelson uncorked the Cockburn’s Special Reserve, polished the silver and launched a celebratory range of Tri-Vista products. The first two were
Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD
To commemorate the two long decades since its famed Dr. Thomas preamp first graced dealers’ shelves, in 2003 Anthony Michaelson uncorked the Cockburn’s Special Reserve, polished the silver and launched a celebratory range of Tri-Vista products. The first two were
Creek CAS4040
At the beginning of the nineteen eighties, the greatest hi-fi success story ever told was surely the NAD 3020. This little integrated amplifier had made a huge impact on the budget hi-fi market, and rightly so. Introduced in 1979, costing
Creek CAS4040
At the beginning of the nineteen eighties, the greatest hi-fi success story ever told was surely the NAD 3020. This little integrated amplifier had made a huge impact on the budget hi-fi market, and rightly so. Introduced in 1979, costing
Celestion SL6
If ever there was a hi-fi product that drew an invisible line under the nineteen seventies, as if to say, ‘this chapter is now closed’, it was Celestion’s SL6 standmounting loudspeaker. It’s hard to describe just how modern it seemed
Celestion SL6
If ever there was a hi-fi product that drew an invisible line under the nineteen seventies, as if to say, ‘this chapter is now closed’, it was Celestion’s SL6 standmounting loudspeaker. It’s hard to describe just how modern it seemed
Ariston RD11
Ariston was once one of hi-fi’s illustrious brands. The proud name on one of Scotland’s finest turntables, it was revered by many a well-heeled nineteen seventies audiophile. Nowadays though, the brand is a shadow of its former self, long gone
Ariston RD11
Ariston was once one of hi-fi’s illustrious brands. The proud name on one of Scotland’s finest turntables, it was revered by many a well-heeled nineteen seventies audiophile. Nowadays though, the brand is a shadow of its former self, long gone
Michell GyroDec Spider Edition
Now over thirty years old, the Michell GyroDec has become a great British vinyl icon. When launched in 1981, it was one of the very first ‘skeletal’ designs with a vestigial sandblasted aluminium chassis rather than a conventional wooden plinth.
Michell GyroDec Spider Edition
Now over thirty years old, the Michell GyroDec has become a great British vinyl icon. When launched in 1981, it was one of the very first ‘skeletal’ designs with a vestigial sandblasted aluminium chassis rather than a conventional wooden plinth.
zStereo 