The DIY preamplifier kit from Hypex is a brand new product fresh off the production line. It is a fully analogue design with modern conveniences including remote control, flexible signal routing, and a large monochrome display. Herein I document the build and show how easy it is for anyone to construct this high-end preamp, regardless of experience or technical ability.
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 If the volume on your stereo randomly turns up by itself, or doesn't work at all, this article is for you.
no-nonsense amplifiers with breakthrough technical performance and stunning sonics, some of the best amplification you can buy at any price.
With a great deal of research and a bit of trial and error I have managed to assemble a list of dimensions that work to build a Linn plinth. They are published here in the hope that they will help future DIYers.
4 I was surprised by the performance improvement. A highly recommended and worthwhile DIY upgrade that must be heard to be believed.
What follows is a method of music creating using Apple's Logic Pro X recording software, but so much of what I say here will apply to pretty much any software package, as it's more about a philosophy, rather than "click this, then click that". I hope this workflow will prove useful for all budding musicians, and that it entertains you more than wading your way through one of the many enormous books on the subject.
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.
The turntables on today’s market fall into 1 of 2 categories. All-in-1 tables consist of a turntable, amplifier and speakers, contained within the same casework. Some systems include support for other formats too, including CD, digital playback via USB and even cassette. But are they as good as they seem?
Many of the most popular record players for sale today are of an all-in-1 design, meaning that the record player, amplifier and speakers are housed within the same case, which is usually of a retro design in a portable space-saving form factor. These devices can be purchased for less than £100, which compared to even a budget system comprised of a separate turntable, amplifier and speakers can make them seem like excellent value for money. To assess whether or not this is the case, we first need to see what actually makes a turntable tick.
Exploring the 2016 turntable market with a selection of turntables at various price points.
An in-depth guide to correctly setting up a turntable. The correct way to adjust vertical tracking force, vertical tracking angle, anti-skate / bias and azimuth are all discussed here.
Explains how to optimise a turntable and care for your records to achieve the best possible sound.
How to correctly install and align a phono cartridge.
A guide to selecting and purchasing a used turntable, as well as tips on checking it for full functionality.
A guide to the three primary turntable drive systems - belt drive, direct drive and idler drive - and the pros and cons of each.
A guide to the specifications of your turntable, tonearm and cartridge.
A few recommended tools and gifts for vinyl fans. These will ease the task of setting up and maintaining your turntable as well as allowing you to exact the maximum quality possible from your system and vinyl.
A selection of free cartridge alignment protractors and strobe discs to accurately align a cartridge and test the speed of your turntable.
Concludes our Guide to Turntable and Vinyl with some extra resources and a brief terminology reference.
1 Who said a proper vinyl-based system had to be large and cumbersome? It is possible to assemble a compact vinyl playback system which won’t break the bank, won’t damage your records and will sound a million times better than virtually every self-contained, all-in-one solution currently on the market.