Author Archives: realspin
Sim Audio Moon 600i
A dual mono integrated Class AB powerhouse (sporting a claimed 125W into 8 Ohms), this was a pricey bit of kit when launched for £5,750 in 2010. It’s well built and nicely finished, but a £6,000 Japanese product it isn’t – there’s
Sim Audio Moon 600i
A dual mono integrated Class AB powerhouse (sporting a claimed 125W into 8 Ohms), this was a pricey bit of kit when launched for £5,750 in 2010. It’s well built and nicely finished, but a £6,000 Japanese product it isn’t – there’s
Quad II
One of the longest running British power amplifiers, the Quad II has a legendary reputation and can be considered a definitive and iconic valve design. Launched in 1953, it acquired a matching preamplifier – the QC 22 – in 1959,
Quad II
One of the longest running British power amplifiers, the Quad II has a legendary reputation and can be considered a definitive and iconic valve design. Launched in 1953, it acquired a matching preamplifier – the QC 22 – in 1959,
Roksan K3 Integrated
This £1,250 integrated amplifier was launched in 2016. It has five line inputs, moving magnet phono stage and aptX wireless Bluetooth but interestingly though, no DAC functionality is offered. Indeed, aside from the Bluetooth which is unashamedly a convenience feature, this
Roksan K3 Integrated
This £1,250 integrated amplifier was launched in 2016. It has five line inputs, moving magnet phono stage and aptX wireless Bluetooth but interestingly though, no DAC functionality is offered. Indeed, aside from the Bluetooth which is unashamedly a convenience feature, this
Michell TecnoArm
If, as LeCorbusier said, “design is intelligence made visible”, then Roy Gandy, creator of the Rega RB300, is not short of a braincell or two. This tonearm, first launched in summer 1983, is a seminal design. You can criticise its
Michell TecnoArm
If, as LeCorbusier said, “design is intelligence made visible”, then Roy Gandy, creator of the Rega RB300, is not short of a braincell or two. This tonearm, first launched in summer 1983, is a seminal design. You can criticise its
Spendor S3/5se
By the early part of the new millennium, ‘retro’ was all the rage and in hi-fi the revival of the BBC LS3/5a loudspeaker spearheaded the movement. The guilty truth was however that – even back then – this iconic little
Spendor S3/5se
By the early part of the new millennium, ‘retro’ was all the rage and in hi-fi the revival of the BBC LS3/5a loudspeaker spearheaded the movement. The guilty truth was however that – even back then – this iconic little
Quad ESL-989
Quad’s Peter Walker was absolutely right to seek a better way to make a loudspeaker. He was inspired by the failings of his flagship loudspeaker – the Quad CR Corner Ribbon – which was a bold hybrid design that used a ribbon
Quad ESL-989
Quad’s Peter Walker was absolutely right to seek a better way to make a loudspeaker. He was inspired by the failings of his flagship loudspeaker – the Quad CR Corner Ribbon – which was a bold hybrid design that used a ribbon
Leak Stereo 60
We all know how great the Leak Stereo 20 is. Introduced in 1958, it was a perfectly packaged ‘do-it-all’ stereo valve power amplifier with enough power to drive most loudspeakers of its day. Using the same basic circuit as Harold Leak’s ‘Point
Leak Stereo 60
We all know how great the Leak Stereo 20 is. Introduced in 1958, it was a perfectly packaged ‘do-it-all’ stereo valve power amplifier with enough power to drive most loudspeakers of its day. Using the same basic circuit as Harold Leak’s ‘Point
Thorens TD125
Herman Thorens first registered the company in 1883, in St Croix, Switzerland. It started as a manufacturer of musical boxes and associated equipment, and then in 1903 produced its first Edison type phonograph, then focussed on horn gramophones for the new shellac records.
Thorens TD125
Herman Thorens first registered the company in 1883, in St Croix, Switzerland. It started as a manufacturer of musical boxes and associated equipment, and then in 1903 produced its first Edison type phonograph, then focussed on horn gramophones for the new shellac records.
Creek Evolution 50A
Traditionally Creek has been king of budget British integrated amplifiers. The CAS4040 for example, is a lovely listen, and in its day one of the best things any budding audiophile could afford. It had a warm but grippy, detailed and musical sound that offered enormous bang
Creek Evolution 50A
Traditionally Creek has been king of budget British integrated amplifiers. The CAS4040 for example, is a lovely listen, and in its day one of the best things any budding audiophile could afford. It had a warm but grippy, detailed and musical sound that offered enormous bang
Icon Audio MB90
Back in the late nineteen nineties, tube amplification was regarded as an extreme niche in hi-fi – something akin to how most petrolheads think about kit cars (i.e. “interesting, but not for me”). So perhaps it’s a sign of the
Icon Audio MB90
Back in the late nineteen nineties, tube amplification was regarded as an extreme niche in hi-fi – something akin to how most petrolheads think about kit cars (i.e. “interesting, but not for me”). So perhaps it’s a sign of the
Akai GX-625
This mid-priced open reel recorder was still lingering on dealer shelves and in shop windows at the time Compact Disc players were launched in 1983 – and suddenly it looked like an old fashioned, oversized white elephant. By the mid nineteen eighties, reel-to-reel was
Akai GX-625
This mid-priced open reel recorder was still lingering on dealer shelves and in shop windows at the time Compact Disc players were launched in 1983 – and suddenly it looked like an old fashioned, oversized white elephant. By the mid nineteen eighties, reel-to-reel was
Nakamichi CR-7E
1976’s 600 was the first affordable Nak. Being a cassette deck, few took it seriously at the time but those who did get to hear it, heard something seriously unexpected. Instead of Compact Cassette’s trademark broken, cracked, muffled warble, real music
Nakamichi CR-7E
1976’s 600 was the first affordable Nak. Being a cassette deck, few took it seriously at the time but those who did get to hear it, heard something seriously unexpected. Instead of Compact Cassette’s trademark broken, cracked, muffled warble, real music
Stello S200
The ultimate sleeper, here was a great sounding solid-state power amplifier at an affordable price, built like the proverbial brick wash room and finished to the standard of the finest Japanese hi-fi. Trouble is, it was made in South Korea by
Stello S200
The ultimate sleeper, here was a great sounding solid-state power amplifier at an affordable price, built like the proverbial brick wash room and finished to the standard of the finest Japanese hi-fi. Trouble is, it was made in South Korea by
Denon TU-260
The great pantheon of hi-fi is full of iconic, highly celebrated products about which reviewers wax lyrical – Linn LP12, Technics SL-1200, Naim NAP250, NAD 3020, Quad ESL-57, Celestion SL6, etc. – but what about the forgotten, fallen heroes? Denon’s
Denon TU-260
The great pantheon of hi-fi is full of iconic, highly celebrated products about which reviewers wax lyrical – Linn LP12, Technics SL-1200, Naim NAP250, NAD 3020, Quad ESL-57, Celestion SL6, etc. – but what about the forgotten, fallen heroes? Denon’s
Classic Christmas Quiz winners
Thanks to everyone who took part in what was a difficult and diverse quiz! The answers have been posted in the Reply section at the bottom of each quiz webpage, and the winners are as follows… The first prize winner
Classic Christmas Quiz winners
Thanks to everyone who took part in what was a difficult and diverse quiz! The answers have been posted in the Reply section at the bottom of each quiz webpage, and the winners are as follows… The first prize winner
Classic Christmas Quiz – part 3
Seasons greetings, pop pickers. Here’s your chance to win one of a host of bumper classic hi-fi goodies in the last of our three sensational Classic Christmas Quizzes! The first prize winner gets a broken BBC-branded ferric C60 cassette with writing on
Classic Christmas Quiz – part 3
Seasons greetings, pop pickers. Here’s your chance to win one of a host of bumper classic hi-fi goodies in the last of our three sensational Classic Christmas Quizzes! The first prize winner gets a broken BBC-branded ferric C60 cassette with writing on
Sony HAP-S1
Sony found things difficult back in the late nineteen nineties, when MP3 files began to replace Compact Disc. The company’s instinct had always been to maintain control of the entire music recording and replay chain, from record company to format
Sony HAP-S1
Sony found things difficult back in the late nineteen nineties, when MP3 files began to replace Compact Disc. The company’s instinct had always been to maintain control of the entire music recording and replay chain, from record company to format
Classic Christmas Quiz – part 2
Seasons greetings, pop pickers. Here’s your chance to win any one of a host of bumper classic hi-fi goodies in the second of our three sensational Classic Christmas Quizzes! The first prize winner gets a broken BBC-branded ferric C60 cassette with writing
Classic Christmas Quiz – part 2
Seasons greetings, pop pickers. Here’s your chance to win any one of a host of bumper classic hi-fi goodies in the second of our three sensational Classic Christmas Quizzes! The first prize winner gets a broken BBC-branded ferric C60 cassette with writing
Classic Christmas Quiz – part 1
Seasons greetings, pop pickers. Here’s your chance to win any one of a host of bumper classic hi-fi goodies in the first of our three sensational Classic Christmas Quizzes! The first prize winner gets a broken BBC-branded ferric C60 cassette with
Classic Christmas Quiz – part 1
Seasons greetings, pop pickers. Here’s your chance to win any one of a host of bumper classic hi-fi goodies in the first of our three sensational Classic Christmas Quizzes! The first prize winner gets a broken BBC-branded ferric C60 cassette with
Marantz SA-10/PM-10
Launched on December 1st, 2016, the new Marantz SA-10 SACD player/DAC and PM-10 amplifier are technologically the boldest products the Eindhoven-based company has done in many years. The silver disc spinner replaces the SA-7, and sports a bespoke, newly designed optical disc
Marantz SA-10/PM-10
Launched on December 1st, 2016, the new Marantz SA-10 SACD player/DAC and PM-10 amplifier are technologically the boldest products the Eindhoven-based company has done in many years. The silver disc spinner replaces the SA-7, and sports a bespoke, newly designed optical disc
zStereo 