Author Archives: realspin
Marantz SA-1
In 2001, Marantz’s SA-1 represented the state of the art in high resolution digital audio thinking. Compact Disc had been around for some twenty years, during which time it had been refined and streamlined to the edge of its performance
Marantz SA-1
In 2001, Marantz’s SA-1 represented the state of the art in high resolution digital audio thinking. Compact Disc had been around for some twenty years, during which time it had been refined and streamlined to the edge of its performance
Inca Tech The Claymore
Remember the nineteen eighties? At the beginning of the decade, the only serious amplification came in two boxes. Whether it was Naim, Meridian, Exposure or Quad, you’d have to buy one marked ‘pre’ and another marked ‘power’. Then, in 1984, Naim
Inca Tech The Claymore
Remember the nineteen eighties? At the beginning of the decade, the only serious amplification came in two boxes. Whether it was Naim, Meridian, Exposure or Quad, you’d have to buy one marked ‘pre’ and another marked ‘power’. Then, in 1984, Naim
Yamaha TC-800GL
No cassette deck has ever been an oil painting, but early examples of the breed were particularly nasty to look at. Seventies top-loaders, with their controls scattered haphazardly were fussy and unergonomic to use, while front loaders looked brash and
Yamaha TC-800GL
No cassette deck has ever been an oil painting, but early examples of the breed were particularly nasty to look at. Seventies top-loaders, with their controls scattered haphazardly were fussy and unergonomic to use, while front loaders looked brash and
Musical Fidelity A1
When Antony Michaelson needed his first Musical Fidelity integrated amplifier, the obvious place to go was Tim de Paravicini – the talented former Lux designer who had worked with Antony previously at Michaelson and Austin. The A1 began life as “a breadboard that I
Musical Fidelity A1
When Antony Michaelson needed his first Musical Fidelity integrated amplifier, the obvious place to go was Tim de Paravicini – the talented former Lux designer who had worked with Antony previously at Michaelson and Austin. The A1 began life as “a breadboard that I
Mission Cyrus 2
When NAD’s 3020 first appeared at the beginning of the eighties, it swept all other budget integrateds aside, along with countless amps selling for well over twice its price. For the next few years, the hi-fi market cried out for
Mission Cyrus 2
When NAD’s 3020 first appeared at the beginning of the eighties, it swept all other budget integrateds aside, along with countless amps selling for well over twice its price. For the next few years, the hi-fi market cried out for
Lecson AC1/AP3
Hi-fi isn’t just about listening to music. Of course, sounding good has to be its primary function, but it also serves an aesthetic purpose too. There’s no shortage of equipment that fulfills one of these roles perfectly well, but rarely
Lecson AC1/AP3
Hi-fi isn’t just about listening to music. Of course, sounding good has to be its primary function, but it also serves an aesthetic purpose too. There’s no shortage of equipment that fulfills one of these roles perfectly well, but rarely
the MiniDisc story
Mid-nineteen eighties Tokyo was a frenetic place. Japan’s economic miracle looked unstoppable, as decade after decade of near double digit growth had lifted the country out of poverty and up to the world’s second largest economy. But Shizuo Takashino, president
the MiniDisc story
Mid-nineteen eighties Tokyo was a frenetic place. Japan’s economic miracle looked unstoppable, as decade after decade of near double digit growth had lifted the country out of poverty and up to the world’s second largest economy. But Shizuo Takashino, president
Linn Sondek LP12
The story of this legendary record player starts with it emerging from the Castlemilk factory, blinking into the Glasgow sunlight, way back in 1972. That’s a long time gone, and indeed in more recent years the Sondek has been lambasted
Linn Sondek LP12
The story of this legendary record player starts with it emerging from the Castlemilk factory, blinking into the Glasgow sunlight, way back in 1972. That’s a long time gone, and indeed in more recent years the Sondek has been lambasted
Monitor Audio R352
In some ways, the nineteen eighties was a troubled decade for loudspeaker design. Although a number of ‘milestone’ products appeared – such as Celestion’s SL6 and Acoustic Energy’s AE-1 – it’s hard to argue these were completely successful designs in
Monitor Audio R352
In some ways, the nineteen eighties was a troubled decade for loudspeaker design. Although a number of ‘milestone’ products appeared – such as Celestion’s SL6 and Acoustic Energy’s AE-1 – it’s hard to argue these were completely successful designs in
NXT X-Space
For most hi-fi lovers, the biggest deterrent to buying multimedia speakers is that they’re not designed expressly for hi-fi. Therefore, so the reasoning goes, they can’t possibly even be worth an audition. This perception has stuck since the dark days
NXT X-Space
For most hi-fi lovers, the biggest deterrent to buying multimedia speakers is that they’re not designed expressly for hi-fi. Therefore, so the reasoning goes, they can’t possibly even be worth an audition. This perception has stuck since the dark days
Nakamichi 600
Back in 1973, Compact Cassette was still viewed as a mere convenience medium, designed by Philips a decade previous for dictation purposes only. The idea that it could offer real hi-fi performance was laughable. Serious tape users had Revoxes – specifically
Nakamichi 600
Back in 1973, Compact Cassette was still viewed as a mere convenience medium, designed by Philips a decade previous for dictation purposes only. The idea that it could offer real hi-fi performance was laughable. Serious tape users had Revoxes – specifically
Naim CD555/PS555
“Naim Audio make musical instruments, other manufacturers make hi-fi,” so says one posting on a certain Naim-friendly internet forum. It’s an interesting proposition, because it encapsulates what Naim Audio acolytes see in the marque. Of course, glib statements like this
Naim CD555/PS555
“Naim Audio make musical instruments, other manufacturers make hi-fi,” so says one posting on a certain Naim-friendly internet forum. It’s an interesting proposition, because it encapsulates what Naim Audio acolytes see in the marque. Of course, glib statements like this
Yamaha NS-1000M
Why, if man has put vehicles on Mars and mastered open heart surgery, can he not design an accurate loudspeaker? Even at the best of times, modern speakers are seriously compromised devices, and the prospect of getting one to work
Yamaha NS-1000M
Why, if man has put vehicles on Mars and mastered open heart surgery, can he not design an accurate loudspeaker? Even at the best of times, modern speakers are seriously compromised devices, and the prospect of getting one to work
zStereo 