Author Archives: realspin
Naim NAIT 2
The original NAIT was the product that started the nineteen eighties ‘super integrated’ craze. Whereas once integrateds had been very much the poor relation of their high end pre-power brethren, suddenly it was cool to go for a high quality one-box
Naim NAIT 2
The original NAIT was the product that started the nineteen eighties ‘super integrated’ craze. Whereas once integrateds had been very much the poor relation of their high end pre-power brethren, suddenly it was cool to go for a high quality one-box
Dual CS 506
Back in the nineteen eighties, if you were serious about sound on a budget, then vinyl was your only choice. For most of the decade, Compact Disc was the province of the rich – in today’s terms, even the cheapest
Dual CS 506
Back in the nineteen eighties, if you were serious about sound on a budget, then vinyl was your only choice. For most of the decade, Compact Disc was the province of the rich – in today’s terms, even the cheapest
Philips Black Tulip
Don’t you just love Philips? Virtually every time this ingenious Dutch consumer electronics giant went anywhere near serious hi-fi, it all went horribly wrong. Such was the ‘Black Tulip’ range – the company’s portfolio of avowedly high end late nineteen seventies esoterica designed
Philips Black Tulip
Don’t you just love Philips? Virtually every time this ingenious Dutch consumer electronics giant went anywhere near serious hi-fi, it all went horribly wrong. Such was the ‘Black Tulip’ range – the company’s portfolio of avowedly high end late nineteen seventies esoterica designed
Aiwa microsystem
Warp back to 1978, and remember the Aurex System 15 by Toshiba. This was what the Japanese would call ‘epoch making’ – the first of its type, it was an incredibly small but exquisitely built ‘mini component’ system designed to
Aiwa microsystem
Warp back to 1978, and remember the Aurex System 15 by Toshiba. This was what the Japanese would call ‘epoch making’ – the first of its type, it was an incredibly small but exquisitely built ‘mini component’ system designed to
Technics SL-10
Poor old Technics didn’t have an easy time of it in the UK when it launched the company’s first parallel tracker, the SL-10, back in 1979. The British high end scene had little or no time for Japanese products, and
Technics SL-10
Poor old Technics didn’t have an easy time of it in the UK when it launched the company’s first parallel tracker, the SL-10, back in 1979. The British high end scene had little or no time for Japanese products, and
Technics SB-F1
Ever since the original Goodmans Maxim of the nineteen sixties, there have been countless small hi-fi loudspeakers on sale, but very few miniature ones. How many specialist hi-fi brands can you think of that have made serious speakers small enough
Technics SB-F1
Ever since the original Goodmans Maxim of the nineteen sixties, there have been countless small hi-fi loudspeakers on sale, but very few miniature ones. How many specialist hi-fi brands can you think of that have made serious speakers small enough
Epos ES14
The world of nineteen eighties loudspeakers was a weird but rarely wonderful one. Celestion’s SL6 with its clangy, first generation metal dome tweeter was considered state-of-the-art. Linn’s madcap Isobarik, with its multitude of forward facing and upward firing drivers, was
Epos ES14
The world of nineteen eighties loudspeakers was a weird but rarely wonderful one. Celestion’s SL6 with its clangy, first generation metal dome tweeter was considered state-of-the-art. Linn’s madcap Isobarik, with its multitude of forward facing and upward firing drivers, was
Sennheiser HD650
Back in 2003, Sennheiser spent millions of Euros on researching and developing the new HD650, taking technology developed for its £1,000 MKH40 broadcast microphone to reduce distortion and deliver clarity – while the sound balance was said to be based
Sennheiser HD650
Back in 2003, Sennheiser spent millions of Euros on researching and developing the new HD650, taking technology developed for its £1,000 MKH40 broadcast microphone to reduce distortion and deliver clarity – while the sound balance was said to be based
A&R A60
Back in the mid seventies, the UK hi-fi market was another country. At the affordable end of the market, names like Pioneer, Sony, JVC, Hitachi and Wharfedale ruled showroom shelves, whereas further up, KEF, Quad, Tannoy and Celestion prevailed. The
A&R A60
Back in the mid seventies, the UK hi-fi market was another country. At the affordable end of the market, names like Pioneer, Sony, JVC, Hitachi and Wharfedale ruled showroom shelves, whereas further up, KEF, Quad, Tannoy and Celestion prevailed. The
Marantz Tt 1000
Back in 1979, vinyl was the only serious music carrier this side of open reel tape, and – if you believed the UK hi-fi press at least – the only serious LP spinner was the Linn Sondek LP12. Elsewhere however, this
Marantz Tt 1000
Back in 1979, vinyl was the only serious music carrier this side of open reel tape, and – if you believed the UK hi-fi press at least – the only serious LP spinner was the Linn Sondek LP12. Elsewhere however, this
Sony WM-D6C Walkman Professional
Sony’s WM-D6C Walkman Professional cassette recorder is a vast, brick-like thing compared to any modern music portable. At 180x90x40mm, it’s crazily cumbersome by contemporary standards – rather like an eighties mobile phone compared to the latest iDevice. But when you
Sony WM-D6C Walkman Professional
Sony’s WM-D6C Walkman Professional cassette recorder is a vast, brick-like thing compared to any modern music portable. At 180x90x40mm, it’s crazily cumbersome by contemporary standards – rather like an eighties mobile phone compared to the latest iDevice. But when you
Rega Planar 3
Launched back in 1978, the Planar 3 was a development of Rega Research’s very first vinyl foray, the Planet. This was a zany looking creation with three large cast aluminium alloy spokes to do the job of supporting the record.
Rega Planar 3
Launched back in 1978, the Planar 3 was a development of Rega Research’s very first vinyl foray, the Planet. This was a zany looking creation with three large cast aluminium alloy spokes to do the job of supporting the record.
Dynavector DV10X4 II
Way back in the mists of time when hi-fi was as popular as mobile phones are now, serious audiophiles used turntables as their primary music source. The magazines of the day vociferously recommended that upgraders should buy the best possible
Dynavector DV10X4 II
Way back in the mists of time when hi-fi was as popular as mobile phones are now, serious audiophiles used turntables as their primary music source. The magazines of the day vociferously recommended that upgraders should buy the best possible
MF Audio Passive Preamplifier
Passive preamps do have something going for them – the short signal paths and lack of circuit complexity make for a clean, detailed sound. However, they’re not a miracle cure for the problem controlling your source. Traditionally, they have relied
MF Audio Passive Preamplifier
Passive preamps do have something going for them – the short signal paths and lack of circuit complexity make for a clean, detailed sound. However, they’re not a miracle cure for the problem controlling your source. Traditionally, they have relied
Philips CD850/II
It is 1989, and the hi-fi world is a very different place. We’re still in the midst of an intense debate on the merits, or otherwise, of digital audio – and unless you’re one of a handful of hi-fi hacks
Philips CD850/II
It is 1989, and the hi-fi world is a very different place. We’re still in the midst of an intense debate on the merits, or otherwise, of digital audio – and unless you’re one of a handful of hi-fi hacks
Audio Technica AT-LP1240USB
Not long after Technics announced the demise of its famous SL-1200 turntable, Audio Technica has surfaced with a deck that is surely an homage to that evergreen Japanese direct drive. The new AT-LP1240USB sports a direct-drive 16-pole, three phase motor running at
Audio Technica AT-LP1240USB
Not long after Technics announced the demise of its famous SL-1200 turntable, Audio Technica has surfaced with a deck that is surely an homage to that evergreen Japanese direct drive. The new AT-LP1240USB sports a direct-drive 16-pole, three phase motor running at
Technics SL-150 MK2
The follow-up to the iconic SL-150 of 1975, the mark 2 version launched in 1977 added quartz-locked servo control to the original’s excellent direct drive motor, introduced a redesigned and quieter plinth and incorporated wood into the equation; the armboard
Technics SL-150 MK2
The follow-up to the iconic SL-150 of 1975, the mark 2 version launched in 1977 added quartz-locked servo control to the original’s excellent direct drive motor, introduced a redesigned and quieter plinth and incorporated wood into the equation; the armboard
Sansui SR-222/II
Popular wisdom has it that Pioneer’s classic PL-12D was the best budget belt drive ever made, and for my money at least, it’s not far off. But as with so many products, there’s always something that comes along a couple
Sansui SR-222/II
Popular wisdom has it that Pioneer’s classic PL-12D was the best budget belt drive ever made, and for my money at least, it’s not far off. But as with so many products, there’s always something that comes along a couple
Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 2400
Let’s be frank. Bang & Olufsen’s philosophy is not ‘sonics first, all else after’. But then again, if we’re being honest it is very hard to say the same about most so-called ‘real hi-fi’ manufacturers, to which we serious minded
Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 2400
Let’s be frank. Bang & Olufsen’s philosophy is not ‘sonics first, all else after’. But then again, if we’re being honest it is very hard to say the same about most so-called ‘real hi-fi’ manufacturers, to which we serious minded
zStereo 