The LP60 is one of Audio Technica’s most affordable turntables at just $199. For such a low price, it’s also very feature-rich, boasting fully automatic playback and convenient Bluetooth connectivity. Can it live up to Audio Technica’s longstanding reputation? Audio Technica have a reputation for making some fantastic budget turntables, including the LPW50 and the LP3, both of which I’ve … Read More
Gift Ideas For Vinyl Lovers & Record Collectors 2024
Gift Ideas For Vinyl Lovers & Record Collectors – lots of ideas.
JDS Labs Atom Phono: Phono Preamp and EQ in One. Is it Useful?
The new JDS Labs Atom Phono is more than just a phono preamp, it’s a RIAA phono stage that doubles as a tone control. As the company’s first major move into the phono preamp market, does it measure up? According to JDS Labs, the Atom Phono is “a strong RIAA phono preamp and clean tone control all in one.” There … Read More
Angels Horn H019 – All-In-One Record Player That Actually Sounds Good?
The H019 is an all-in-one record player with built-in speakers and Bluetooth input connectivity. All-in-one record players have a bad reputation for poor sound, low build quality, and sometimes even both. Can this affordable record players from Angels Horn buck the trend? The Angels Horn H019 plays 33 1/3 & 45 RPM records and comes factory-fitted with an Audio Technica … Read More
Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 Review: Sweet Spot for Price V.S Sound Quality?
The Debut Evo 2 represents the fifth generation of Pro-Ject’s acclaimed Debut line, a series celebrated for its quality and accessibility. With upgrades inspired by Pro-Ject’s higher-end turntables, could this be the ultimate “sweet spot” model for those seeking affordable audiophile sound? The last Debut model I reviewed, the Debut Carbon Evo, introduced several welcome enhancements to the series. Most … Read More
Albums for Autumn – Five Cozy Records for Fall
As the seasons change, so does our desire for music, food, drink, and many other pleasures that make life worth living. As spring passes to summer and summer to autumn (or fall, depending on where you live), we’re encouraged into a state of reflection that reminds us of our own humanity. Put more eloquently, in the words of Yoko Ono: … Read More
Fluance RT85N Review – Reference Series Turntable with Nagaoka Cartridge
The RT85 sits at the top of Fluance’s Referrence Series of turntables, which starts with the RT82 model and offers incremental upgrades at each step. Originally, the RT85 shipped only with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge—a superb cartridge at its price point and one I’ve used for many years. That said, the Ortofon range of cartridges have a distinct sound … Read More
MC Pro Review: Quietest Phono Preamp Available?
The MC Pro phono preamp by Michael Fidler (Classic Audio Ltd) promises a whisper-quiet signal-to-noise ratio, alongside hyper-accurate RIAA performance. Having been suitably impressed with Michael’s Spartan 15 moving magnet phono stage, can his first venture into the delicate world of moving coil amplification knock it out of the park once again? As is the case with all Michael Fidler … Read More
Best Budget Phono Preamps for Amazing Sound
If you’re buying your first vinyl setup, you’ll need to make sure you have a phono preamp somewhere in the signal chain. In straightforward terms, a phono preamp amplifies the signal up to a level suitable for the AUX input on your Hi-Fi receiver. Also, it will apply an equalization curve to inverse the standard frequency adjustment made during the … Read More
iFi Zen Phono Review: Better than the Mani 2?
The iFi ZEN Phono lists some impressive specs for a phono preamp sitting in the sub-$200/£200 price bracket. iFi makes the bold statement that “you will fall in love with your LPs all over again,” but with such stiff competition in the market, how does the ZEN phono measure up? Having reviewed many affordable phono preamps here at Sound Matters, … Read More