Vinyl Shelter offer an excellent cleaning product, perfectly suited to the cleaning of vinyl records. While we only tested two fluids here, the results did not conclusively prove that one fluid was vastly superior to the other.
Truly excellent both physically and sonically and packing quality components into a pair of compact enclosures, the S880s represent real value for money. Highly recommended.
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.
They are a steal at their current price and earn a thoroughly deserved recommendation.
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.
12 Yamaha’s R-N803D is a stereo receiver packed with clever tech and plenty of connectivity. The intuitive retro-inspired design, brilliant software and the thoughtful implementation of its many features are the icing on a particularly sweet cake.
If there was ever a product deserving of its place at the bottom of a landfill, this is it.
2 Thoughtful tweaks to what was already a terrific machine have made the best even better, improving usability, performance and value across the board. Every vinyl fan should own a VC-S, I simply can’t recommend it enough.
If you like hugely over-emphasised bass and little else, these are the speakers for you. For the rest of us who favour neutrality or musicality, these are not contenders; especially at the price.
1 We recently gave the PhonoBox DS2 USB a wholehearted and thoroughly deserved recommendation, giving the HeadBox DS2 B a lot to live up to.
Truly terrific speakers, from which music flows with apparent ease. If you’ve got a little space and don’t mind the retro looks, these big Tannoys are truly deserving of their fine heritage and pride of place in your music system.
1 Small in stature with plenty of useful features, but does Pro-Ject's new USB phono stage have the performance to match?
1 I had every intention of starting a small MiniDisc collection, but ultimately it’s not going to happen. The MiniDisc technology was cutting edge on its introduction and something that few if any home computers could replicate. These days however the MiniDisc is easily outshines by the most basic digital players. While it’s a nice format, it’s not difficult to see why it has faded into obsolescence.
You could spend a fortune on the best cartridge money can buy for minimal return, or you could opt for the modestly price option that simply gets everything right and buy more music. I know which I’d rather.
Tannoy have created a giant killer here, the XT8 is a truly wonderful speaker.
Arcam have been known to produce some fine phono stages and the rPhono continues that tradition.
While some may prefer the style and sound of a traditional ‘boxy’ speaker, there’s no doubting that these are an extremely capable option for those who prefer a little more style on their desktop. They’re well made, unusually styled and are sonically capable.
A phono stage is a preamplifier used to boost the minute signal of a phono cartridge, while reversing the equalisation curves used when cutting the record. Here's our complete guide.
4 Pro-Ject’s ‘The Classic’ is a modern deck with a degree of retro charm. Clever technology meets a classic design, and the result is a worthy contender at the price. A better cartridge wouldn’t go Amiss, and a revised anti-skate system would be a major plus too.
Edifier’s R2000DB is a budget speaker with impressive build, a decent array of features and superb sonics.
8 What? A cassette deck review in 2017? A little anachronistic, surely? A few weeks ago, I mentioned to AA's own Ashley that I'd been getting a bit nostalgic for the defunct format, especially after seeing Andy Hall's extensive collection of Beatles cassettes on his great YouTube channel. Search him, and you'll see what I mean. I mentioned to Ashley that my favourite cassette deck had been my Yamaha KX-580 SE which I'd owned from new since 1999, and which I'd sadly sold for the price of a plate of beans on toast a few years later. I'd also thrown away a lot of tapes that I'd kept in the loft, when I made a necessary downsize in accommodation. I couldn't quite kick the cassette habit though, and shortly after I bought a NAD 613 deck.