The review below was kindly contributed by Nipper Varney. This review was written some time ago and is reference in Nipper’s recent phono stage comparison contribution. The Spartan 10 has now been discontinued, replaced by the Spartan 15, so I am publishing this as a kind of retrospective as there are certainly plenty of Spartan 10s out there ‘in the wild’.
2 The review below was kindly contributed by Nipper Varney. Michael Fidler of Classic Audio asked me if I would consider publishing a review of his latest Spartan 15 phonostage contributed by Nipper. I agreed and what follows is a fantastic in-depth comparison of a number of phono stages, including the Spartan 15. Also featured are the Spartan 5, Spartan 10, MM PRO, MC PRO, and units from Pro-Ject and Ifi too.
2 The finest technical performance of any phono stage I can find on the market at any price. The MC Pro will shake up this stagnated industry for the better. It demonstrates that real-world performance is not wizardry or pseudoscience, but competence and ability. The audio industry needs more of both if it is to stand a chance of survival, and Michael Fidler is a clear frontrunner.
9 A diminutive little box, in which is a simple but objectively and subjectively top-class circuit typology. The Spartan series should be underlined at the top of your shortlist. They represent high-end objective performance and save you a boatload of cash.
1 A basic primer on cassette capstan and turntable DC motors and how to repair them if they become noisy. With due care and a steady hand many can be repaired with success.
1 a genuinely clever bit of engineering turned out as a fine product, that in a good system is well worth the money.
3 A thoroughly enjoyable listen and a worthwhile upgrade for Audio-Technica VM95 cartridges.
3 a fun, enthralling experience in much the same vein as the M6, but with improvements in every area.
2 It may have its foibles but so does every audiophile-inspired manual belt drive turntable regardless of cost. A solid turntable capable of great performance.
3 A simple yet effective turntable design of perfectly acceptable quality and very well executed given the asking price.
12 Analogue Innovation's elastomer isolator kit brings considerable sonic advantages while removing most of the frustration inherent with the ownership of a suspended turntable.
Switchable inputs, plenty of adjustment, accurate RIAA equalisation and a neutral sound.
21 For those looking to play records to a high standard with minimal fuss and an easy upgrade path, the LP5X is hard to fault. It's not the be-all and end-all direct drive deck. But it looks perfectly respectable, sounds great out of the box and has a lot of modding potential.
6 The Audio Appraisal reference system. This post will be updated to reflect future changes and kept as a historic reference to log the equipment used to create these reviews.
11 cracking carts for the money, continuing a logical reshuffle and welcome refresh of AT's cartridge line.
2 The Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is without doubt one of the best-selling budget turntables to date, and the newly released AT-LP60X is sure to follow. But will either turntable cause undue damage to your records?
6 A couple of years ago I tested a GPO Stylo which was at the time one of the cheapest turntables available on the market. It was suggested that I repeat the test with an Audio-Technica AT-Lp60, arguably one of the best-selling budget turntables.
A tale of two turntables continues. In part 4 we’ll wrap up the series with some final observations, build notes and listening tests.
25 Like the SP10 in the late ‘60s, the SL-1200G has raised the bar and set new performance standards that should redefine expectations for what high-end vinyl playback should be. The SL-1200G is a masterpiece. You owe it to yourself to hear one.
1 Herein we continue the tale of two turntables with the build of the AAP12, a turntable based on a Thorens TD-150 but with extensive modifications.
4 a stock Thorens TD-150 transformed but with its original charm intact.