Author Archives: realspin
Linn Classik Music System
Combining CD player, amplifier and tuner in one, midi-sized box for £995 back in 2002, the Classik fell between the two traditional stalls of audio and hi-fi. This is where its problems began, because people into ‘lifestyle’ systems were unlikely
Linn Classik Music System
Combining CD player, amplifier and tuner in one, midi-sized box for £995 back in 2002, the Classik fell between the two traditional stalls of audio and hi-fi. This is where its problems began, because people into ‘lifestyle’ systems were unlikely
Linn K9
Aside from its ubiquitous LP12 turntable, Linn has always worked with other companies to make its analogue products – the original Ittok tonearm was of course named after one Mr Ito, the Japanese co-creator, and most early ones were made
Linn K9
Aside from its ubiquitous LP12 turntable, Linn has always worked with other companies to make its analogue products – the original Ittok tonearm was of course named after one Mr Ito, the Japanese co-creator, and most early ones were made
Musical Fidelity AMS35i
Talk to Antony Michaelson about his prodigious product portfolio and there are a few select designs with which he speaks with huge affection, the A1000 being one. A lavish affair, it’s a two-box design, the first being the amp itself and
Musical Fidelity AMS35i
Talk to Antony Michaelson about his prodigious product portfolio and there are a few select designs with which he speaks with huge affection, the A1000 being one. A lavish affair, it’s a two-box design, the first being the amp itself and
Spendor BC1
Loudspeaker design isn’t the black art its practitioners often claim. Speakers aren’t above and beyond the laws of physics; indeed, it is precisely these that determine the sound of any given product. Put simply, there’s the cabinets to get right,
Spendor BC1
Loudspeaker design isn’t the black art its practitioners often claim. Speakers aren’t above and beyond the laws of physics; indeed, it is precisely these that determine the sound of any given product. Put simply, there’s the cabinets to get right,
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Remember the birth of the Squeezebox? Launched in 2003 as the SliMP3, it was an MP3-only device with a wired connection, and required someone on the level of a computer programmer to interface it with its host computer – or so it
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Remember the birth of the Squeezebox? Launched in 2003 as the SliMP3, it was an MP3-only device with a wired connection, and required someone on the level of a computer programmer to interface it with its host computer – or so it
Brennan JB7
Launched way back in 2008, the metal-cased Brennan hard disk music server comprised a hard drive, slot loading CD player and 60W per channel amplifier designed to partner the optional BSB50 loudspeakers (£59) – although it could also be used
Brennan JB7
Launched way back in 2008, the metal-cased Brennan hard disk music server comprised a hard drive, slot loading CD player and 60W per channel amplifier designed to partner the optional BSB50 loudspeakers (£59) – although it could also be used
Linn Axis
Billed as ‘Son of Sondek’, as Linn’s second-ever turntable design always had much to live up to. Launched in 1987 when Compact Disc was finally taking hold, it was Linn’s attempt to lure silver disc purchasers back to vinyl. This
Linn Axis
Billed as ‘Son of Sondek’, as Linn’s second-ever turntable design always had much to live up to. Launched in 1987 when Compact Disc was finally taking hold, it was Linn’s attempt to lure silver disc purchasers back to vinyl. This
Thorens TD 160 Super
It’s almost forgotten about now, but warp back thirty years and there weren’t many serious audiophiles who hadn’t owned a Thorens TD 160 at some point – usually on their way up to a Linn LP12. It was a thoroughly middle
Thorens TD 160 Super
It’s almost forgotten about now, but warp back thirty years and there weren’t many serious audiophiles who hadn’t owned a Thorens TD 160 at some point – usually on their way up to a Linn LP12. It was a thoroughly middle
Leak TL/12
One of the most evocative names in British hi-fi, this now long-lost company was started by Harold Joseph Leak in London, 1934, later to be sold to the Rank Organisation in January 1969, when it’s fair to say its fortunes
Leak TL/12
One of the most evocative names in British hi-fi, this now long-lost company was started by Harold Joseph Leak in London, 1934, later to be sold to the Rank Organisation in January 1969, when it’s fair to say its fortunes
Marantz PM-94
Most nineteen eighties amplifiers weren’t much to write home about, especially the gadget festooned behemoths. But Marantz’s flagship was special – a chunky 25kg integrated which sold for £1,000, it boasted the company’s unusual ‘Quarter-A’ system, in which lower level signals
Marantz PM-94
Most nineteen eighties amplifiers weren’t much to write home about, especially the gadget festooned behemoths. But Marantz’s flagship was special – a chunky 25kg integrated which sold for £1,000, it boasted the company’s unusual ‘Quarter-A’ system, in which lower level signals
Sony TCD-D3
For keen amateur recordists everywhere, 1992 was a special year. In the diminutive shape of the TCD-D3, Sony introduced its first ever DAT portable, offering better-than-CD quality digital recording on the move for under £600. Contrary to popular belief though,
Sony TCD-D3
For keen amateur recordists everywhere, 1992 was a special year. In the diminutive shape of the TCD-D3, Sony introduced its first ever DAT portable, offering better-than-CD quality digital recording on the move for under £600. Contrary to popular belief though,
Sugden A21SE
Sugden needs no introduction; anyone with more than a passing interest in audiophilia knows the A21 is a series of English amplifiers which started in the mid nineteen sixties with an 11 watt solid-state bipolar integrated amplifier. It was produced over
Sugden A21SE
Sugden needs no introduction; anyone with more than a passing interest in audiophilia knows the A21 is a series of English amplifiers which started in the mid nineteen sixties with an 11 watt solid-state bipolar integrated amplifier. It was produced over
Mission 752
One of the nicest and most interesting affordable floorstanding loudspeakers of the nineteen nineties, the Mission 752 had a wonderfully smooth, open and easy sound in a world of hard, harsh and spitty budget boxes. One of the reasons for this
Mission 752
One of the nicest and most interesting affordable floorstanding loudspeakers of the nineteen nineties, the Mission 752 had a wonderfully smooth, open and easy sound in a world of hard, harsh and spitty budget boxes. One of the reasons for this
JVC QL-70
The Victor Corporation of Japan was a fully committed hi-fi manufacturer in the nineteen seventies, making a range of very clean sounding amplifiers, tuners, cassette decks and turntables. The 1977 QL-70 was one of its very best vinyl spinners, being
JVC QL-70
The Victor Corporation of Japan was a fully committed hi-fi manufacturer in the nineteen seventies, making a range of very clean sounding amplifiers, tuners, cassette decks and turntables. The 1977 QL-70 was one of its very best vinyl spinners, being
Audiolab 8000A
It all started in a Cambridge bedroom – Audiolab, that is. Alongside Derek Scotland, Philip Swift quit his ‘day job’ as a director of Lentek Audio to start a company that was to have a major impact on the hi-fi
Audiolab 8000A
It all started in a Cambridge bedroom – Audiolab, that is. Alongside Derek Scotland, Philip Swift quit his ‘day job’ as a director of Lentek Audio to start a company that was to have a major impact on the hi-fi
Sony TC-399
When the TC-399 appeared in Sony’s Autumn 1978 catalogue, the sun was already setting on the domestic open reel tape recorder. Just two years earlier, the Akai 4000DS had surprised the world by selling in large quantities, offering excellent sound-per-pound
Sony TC-399
When the TC-399 appeared in Sony’s Autumn 1978 catalogue, the sun was already setting on the domestic open reel tape recorder. Just two years earlier, the Akai 4000DS had surprised the world by selling in large quantities, offering excellent sound-per-pound
Technics SL-1200LTD
For the DJ who had everything, in 1997 Technics brought you the SL-1200LTD, a thousand pounds’ worth of piano black lacquer and 24-carat gold plating affixed to probably the biggest selling, most long lived turntable in history. And as if that
Technics SL-1200LTD
For the DJ who had everything, in 1997 Technics brought you the SL-1200LTD, a thousand pounds’ worth of piano black lacquer and 24-carat gold plating affixed to probably the biggest selling, most long lived turntable in history. And as if that
Myst tma3
“We were trying to achieve an amplifier that was properly made”, says Michael Maloney. “At the end of the nineteen seventies when we came into being, the quality of the components was pretty poor. They were still using old carbon
Myst tma3
“We were trying to achieve an amplifier that was properly made”, says Michael Maloney. “At the end of the nineteen seventies when we came into being, the quality of the components was pretty poor. They were still using old carbon
Mission 775
Everyone knows about Mission loudspeakers – for a long time in the nineties the brand was ubiquitous, omnipresent and virtually synonymous with ‘speakers in the way that Wharfedale was back in the seventies. Some people know about Mission amps too
Mission 775
Everyone knows about Mission loudspeakers – for a long time in the nineties the brand was ubiquitous, omnipresent and virtually synonymous with ‘speakers in the way that Wharfedale was back in the seventies. Some people know about Mission amps too
Rega RB300
Until August 1983, the best budget tonearm in the world was the Rega R200. An S-shaped, Japanese sourced variant of the mid-price Lustre GST-1, it gave excellent results for its £46 selling price. But then along came an arm with
Rega RB300
Until August 1983, the best budget tonearm in the world was the Rega R200. An S-shaped, Japanese sourced variant of the mid-price Lustre GST-1, it gave excellent results for its £46 selling price. But then along came an arm with
zStereo 