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

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

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

Featuring Bluetooth connectivity, a rosewood veneer MDF plinth, and a sleek carbon fiber tonearm, Audio Technica’s LPW50BT combines stylistic flair with impressive sound. Is this the levelling-up manual turntable you’ve been looking for? Pros Cons Engaging and well-balanced sound. Bluetooth was temperamental to connect (in my experience). Excellent build quality from both a look and feel perspective – a joy … Read More

Vinyl is back! The momentum behind consumer enthusiasm for the vinyl experience shows no sign of slowing, and while streaming offers day-to-day convenience on a mass-market level, vinyl continues to appeal among the most decerning of music fans.  Hi-Fi equipment across the board has a reputation for costing a lot of money, but in truth, there are plenty of options … Read More

Michael Fidler’s company, Classic Audio Ltd made significant waves across the vinyl community back in December 2021 with the release of his Spartan 10 model phono preamp. By favoring all through-hole original circuit technology in place of cheaper surface-mounted exotically-sourced parts, the Spartan 10 was a breath of fresh air in a world where price and production scalability often take … Read More

I reviewed an earlier incarnation of Soundeck’s unique platter mat a few years ago, and I was so impressed it became one of my go-to platter mats. Having released a new and improved model, is the Soundeck still king? On first glance, a turntable platter mat made from metal sounds like a terrible idea. After all, metal platters are notorious … Read More

At a time when music lovers shopping for an entry-level turntable have an abundance of choice, is Rega’s Planar 1 still the one to beat? Since its initial release in 2005, Rega’s Planar 1 entry-level option has rightly earned a reputation as the benchmark by which all other affordable audiophile decks are measured. Pros Cons Easy setup Molded phono cable … Read More

For music lovers looking to add hassle-free vinyl playback to their system, the AT-LP3XBT offers much convenience and connectivity. Audio Technica’s LP3XBT is a fully automatic turntable based on their popular LP3 model. As the model number suggests, the latest incarnation brings the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity, but it doesn’t stop there… The LP3XBT also features the new AT-VM95 cartridges … Read More

Record subscription services offer vinyl lovers and music fans the opportunity to discover new music and enjoy premium and exclusive record releases.  I’ve trialed many record subscription services in my time running Sound Matters and seen numerous services come and go.  During this time, I’ve learned one crucial thing: for a subscription service to endure, it must be unique; in … Read More