Turntable Reviews

Technics SL-1200G turntable

Alex Halberstadt Nov 23, 2022 First Published: Nov 23, 2022

People tend to believe that things are what they appear to be. This turned out to be the case in 2016, when Panasonic introduced the limited-edition Technics SL-1200GAE turntable. It appeared almost identical to an SL-1200arguably the best-selling and most loved record player series of all time, discontinued in 2010 after more than 30 yearsbut it cost a whopping $4000. The similar model designation didn't help stem the griping that Panasonic had made a "fancy" version of their legendary DJ turntable at six times the price of the original.

Turntable Reviews

Pure Fidelity Harmony Record Player

Ken Micallef Nov 17, 2022 First Published: Nov 17, 2022

When scouring the labyrinthine halls of big audio shows for products to review in Stereophile, I use three main markers to determine which rooms to visit: a must-hear designation from Editor Jim Austin; a company or brand whose products always light my fire; and systems fellow Stereophile correspondents have described, in a text or an in-person conversation, as worth checking out. Other times, though, I just follow my nose.

Analog Corner Phono Preamp Reviews Turntable Reviews

Analog Corner #263: Zesto Andros Téssera phono preamp & Acoustic Signature Ascona turntable and TA-9000 tonearm

Michael Fremer Nov 02, 2022 First Published: Jul 01, 2017

Maybe you've seen the widely circulated New Yorker cartoon: Two guys stand in front of a nicely drawn, tubed audio system, under which are shelves full of LPs. One guy says, "The two things that really drew me to vinyl were the expense and the inconvenience."

Turntable Reviews

Music Hall Stealth record player

Herb Reichert Sep 29, 2022 First Published: Sep 29, 2022

The earliest direct-drive record player I've discovered is Garrard's Model 201 from 1930. It only played 78s. In their advertising, Garrard claimed the 201 was the world's first "transcription turntable." It employed Garrard's latest in a line of what they called "prestige" motors: an AC-induction "Super Motor." Garrard described the 201's platter as "plush covered" and said it was "popular with HiFi enthusiasts and used by the BBC." The 201 was superseded by the 201A, which rotated at both 78 and 33 1/3 rpm. The venerable Garrard 301 that followed was an idler-drive design.

Analog Corner Turntable Reviews

Analog Corner #267: Reed Muse 3C turntable & Reed 3P tonearm

Michael Fremer Jul 12, 2022 First Published: Nov 01, 2017

The Reed 3P tonearm, which I reviewed in my April 2016 column, was an impressive piece of imaginative engineering and manufacturing prowess. I asked Reed's importer, Axiss Audio, if I could hold on to the 3PI was already planning to review Reed's Muse 3C turntable. I'm glad I didthe 3P ($5000) and 3C ($15,000) make an outstanding combination. (When the only complaint you have about a turntable is that the cable from its power jack to the power supply isn't long enough to reach the floor, you can be sure you're going to write a very positive review.)

Turntable Reviews

Clearaudio Reference Jubilee record player

Ken Micallef Jun 29, 2022 First Published: Jun 29, 2022

There's an enduring debate among the turntable-tech intelligentsia between opposing theories of turntable design. Some designers, notably Roy Gandy of Rega, follow a less-is-more approach, building stiff, lightweight turntables that release energy rather quickly. Others, such as Franc Kuzma, whose Kuzma Ltd. manufactures my reference Kuzma Stabi R turntable and Kuzma 4Point tonearm, believe in heavy mass-loading to dampen vibrations, including transparency-miring resonances.

Analog Corner Tonearm Reviews Turntable Reviews

Analog Corner #323: J.Sikora Reference turntable and KV12 VTA tonearm

Michael Fremer Jun 21, 2022 First Published: Jun 21, 2022

Lublin, Poland, is about 130 miles from Lviv, Ukraine, a town that has been in the news lately. That's about the same distance as Hershey, Pennsylvania, is from my desk in northern New Jersey, where I'm writing this. They are close. Russian missiles struck Lviv on March 18, 2022, and as I write these words Lviv is preparing for more intense bombardment.

Phono Cartridge Reviews Tonearm Reviews Turntable Reviews

Linn Klimax LP12 Record-Playing System

Herb Reichert Jun 08, 2022 First Published: Jun 08, 2022

Playing records is a delight-filled chore. The simple, quiet act of lowering a tonearm places one's mind at the ready for something marvelous to happen. Surely, this gentle ritual initiates a higher mode of psychic connectedness than poking absentmindedly at a side-facing equilateral triangle on a piece of cheap plastic.

Analog Corner Tonearm Reviews Turntable Reviews

Analog Corner #269: TechDAS Air Force III turntable and Graham Engineering Phantom III tonearm

Michael Fremer May 10, 2022 First Published: Jan 01, 2018

It was great fun having our editorial coordinator, Jana Dagdagan, shoot a video profile of me in my listening room. As I write this, it's had more than 88,000 views. While the ratio of thumbs up to thumbs down has remained consistently around 10:1, some of the negative comments, particularly about our industry and about this magazine, do enrage me.

Analog Corner Turntable Reviews

Analog Corner #270: Rega Research RP10 turntable and Aphelion MC phono cartridge

Michael Fremer Apr 05, 2022 First Published: Feb 01, 2018

In February 2017, for the first time in almost 20 years, I visited Rega Research's factory in Southend-on-Sea, UK. I found a company that had added to its just-built factory a second building of the same size, had added an upper level within that space, and already was running out of space. Corridors and walkways were being used for assembly and storage.