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Will A Cheap Turntable Damage Your Records?

Shopping for a turntable? You'll have undoubtedly seen the surplus of budget-priced models from the likes of Crosley, Ion, GPO and many others, sold by high street retailers and online retailers such as Amazon and eBay. Many claim that these sub-#100 turntables will cause irreparable damage to the vinyl they play. Wanting to offer some conclusive evidence either way, we purchased a GPO Stylo and conducted an experiment to see what it really takes to damage a vinyl record.

Maple Td 150 Original Top Cover Off

Thorens TD-150, Rebuild & Modification Part One

It’s been a while since I owned a suspended belt drive turntable. I decided to build two decks; one based on a stock TD-150 MK2 in a Maple plinth and the other, using the inner workings of the TD-150 (sub chassis, bearing, platter and motor) but with a new top plate and extensive modification and in a Cherry plinth.

CD Box S2 Silver Front 4

Pro-Ject CD Box S2 Review

If Pro-ject can tweak the software and include a better remote handset in the box (a must at this price), this would be a serious contender and is very much worth an audition.

SL-1200GR turned on top view

Technics SL-1200GR / SL-1210GR Turntable Review

When Technics commercialised the direct drive turntable in the ‘70s, they became known as class-leading products among the best available at any price. These new Technics turntable set new technical standards which will pave the way for future evolution of vinyl and the equipment we use to play it.

A300 Pair on stands 2

AirPulse A300 Active Speakers Review

Their price and size places them in a segment of the market where there is a great deal of competition, but they compare very favourably to models far beyond their price.

Vinyl Styl Audio Cassette Head Cleaner And Demagnetiser

Cassettes may be making a comeback, but as yet the machines to play them aren’t. As such it is necessary to keep old machines in good health with regular maintenance and TLC. The Vinyl Styl cleaning and demagnetising tape does just that.

Edifier S350 front view of 3 speakers

Edifier S350DB Review

If you’re after plenty of inputs, smart aesthetics and convenience features with better sonics than the average one box solution, these are worth a look. For no compromise audio performance, look elsewhere.

Clear Groove Logo 1

Clear Groove Vinyl Record Cleaner

Herein we feature the products of Clear Groove, a family run business specialising in the design and supply of products for vinyl and CD care and cleaning

SL-L20 Open Lid Platter View 8

Technics SL-L20 Linear Tracking Turntable Service

I’ve yet to come across a Technics that didn’t at least sound good, and I had great fun spinning 7” singles on the L20 before returning it to its rightful owner ready to deliver another few decades of faithful service.

Pads

Meze Audio 99 Classic Headphones Review

These are some of the best headphones I’ve heard regardless of price or brand status. They simply must be heard because until you wear a pair on your own head you don’t know what you’re missing.

Little Fwend Automatic Tonearm Lifter Review

The Little Fwend is as thoughtfully designed as it is nicely machined. Setup correctly it does its job with no hassle and minimal user input, besides a quick push on its platform after each use. Expensive it may be, but it’s a terrific accessory and is therefore highly recommended.