Turntable and Accessories Reviews

8 May 2024
Thorens TD1600 Turntable with TP 160 Tonearm premium
Recently, Thorens issued a new tonearm, the TP 160, which is now fitted as standard to the TD 1600 and TD 1601 turntables instead of the TP 92 arm. In this review, I will assess how these two arms compare using Thorens TAS 1600 and TAS 1500 MC cartridges.
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Thorens TAS 1500 and TAS 1600 premium
Further to my review of the Thorens TD 1600 with the new TP 160 tonearm, I've taken the time to carefully compare the TAS 1500 and TAS 1600 cartridges, using the new arm as well as the older TP 92 arm.
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1 January 2024
Audio Technica AT-OC9XML and AT-OC9XSL MC Cartridges premium
With the AT-OC9XML and AT-OC9XSL, I wanted to investigate the relative performance of the Special-) Fine Line versus MicroRidge/MicroLinear stylus shapes. And what better way to do this than by using otherwise practically identical cartridges of the same brand?
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Denon DP-3000NE Direct-Drive Turntable with DL-103, DL-103R, and DL-A110 Cartridges premium
Denon has a strong reputation for its direct-drive designs of the past and the DP-3000NE is their current flagship premium direct-drive turntable. For this review, I will listen to it using the Denon DL-103 and DL-103R MC cartridges.
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4 December 2023
Bergmann Magne Air-Bearing turntable with DS Audio DS W3 Optical Cartridge premium
Here's a special combination: the Bergmann Magne Air-Bearing turntable with Air-Bearing tonearm with the DS Audio W3 cartridge and phono equalizer. As it turns out, they work together seamlessly.
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AVIDHIFI ALTUS and NEXUS Tonearms premium
After years of development and thoroughly testing various techniques, AVIDHIFI has now released two Tonearms: the entry-level ALTUS and the range-topping NEXUS. In this in-depth review, I will assess both arms using an AVIDHIFI Sequel SP turnbtable.
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AVIDHIFI BORON MC Cartridge premium
AVIDHIFI offers three MC phono cartridges, of which the BORON is the mid-range model. Distinguished from the REFERENCE RUBY top model only by its BORON cantilever, the BORON may well represent the sweet spot of the range.
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Onzow, DS Audio Dynavox, Winyl, and LAST Stylus Cleaning compared premium
The purpose of Dry Cleaning methods is to introduce a safe and easy method for stylus cleaning. But with so many available solutions, how do they compare? And where does this leave the special wet-cleaning methods?
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17 September 2022
Bergmann presentation Euromast Rotterdam premium
On September 12th, 2022, Dutch distributor Mafico organized an event for Johnnie Bergmann to showcase his Galder air-bearing turntable and Odin linear air-bearing tonearm. The venue for this event was as special as the occasion: the Euromast in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Constructed in 1960, the Euromast was built to mark the first ‘Floriade’, which was […]
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Degritter premium
The Degritter not only cleans records very deeply, but it also makes them sound leaps and bounds better. It is a must-have for everyone who values their vinyl collection.
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30 September 2021
ZYX R50 Bloom3 premium
Even though I have found time and again that the marriage between a turntable, the arm, and the cartridge can make or break a performance, the Bloom3 worked just as magnificently with the AVID Sequel and Audio Origami PU7 arm as with the Thorens TD1601 and its stock TP-92 arm.
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3 June 2021
Thorens TD1601 vs AVID Diva II SP – Mini Review premium
A quick comparison between two very different turntables, done in the Ayon/Xavian system.
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Audio Technica AT33Sa premium
Ever since reviewing the Thorens TD1601 turntable, I had been thinking of fitting it with an Audio Technica AT33Sa cartridge. Now's the time to find out if it is indeed the great match that I anticipated.
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Dynavector 10X5 MkII and DV20X2 premium
A comparison between two cartridges by the same maker that, on the surface, seem to differ only in terms of coil windings and stylus shape.
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18 May 2021
AVID Ingenium, Diva II SP, and Sequel SP premium
In this review, I will dive very deeply into all the aspects of three Avid Turntables, how they compare to one another, how they interact with different tonearms and cartridges, and where exactly each model excels. Be prepared - this has resulted in a very long article, even by my standards, but there's a summary for those who want to jump straight to the conclusion.
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Nagaoka MP-150 premium
In this Mini-Review, I will be looking at the MP-150's performance using three tonearms and three Avid turntables.
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Origin Live Turntable Record Weight premium
When Origin Live issues a Record Weight you can be sure that it will be very different from the competition. While counting at least 9 layers of various combined materials that are all interconnected in a cleverly loosely-coupled manner using nylon screws it's obvious that this product is unlike any other Record Weight.
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Aidas Gala Gold LE MC Cartridge premium
Highly-sophisticated, super-silent, velvety-smooth and extremely refined, the Gala Gold LE is the most revealing cartridge that I have heard so far. It's rare to hear a cartridge so very precise, so linear and so highly resolving yet with an absolute absence of dryness and with seemingly eternal decays.
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Holbo Airbearing Turntable and Acoustical Systems Aiwon and Palladian MC cartridges premium
High-end turntables tend to be bulky, large, heavy and complex but the Holbo is none of these. This turntable has been very thoughtfully with ultimate transparency and neutrality as well as ease of use in mind.
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14 December 2019
Thorens TD1601 Turntable premium
Having changed owners has clearly worked out well for the beloved Thorens brand. The TD1601 strikes precisely the right balance between classic values and modern engineering.
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11 December 2019
Origin Live Calypso mk4 with Multi-Layer Platter, Illustrious arm and Silver Hybrid cable premium
The Origin Live Calypso Mk4 with Illustrious tonearm keeps you at the tip of your seat in anticipation of what the next record will uncover but even though it is so very capable of unveiling microscopic details, it is, most of all, a music machine.
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29 April 2019
Aidas Rainbow MC Cartridge premium
the Rainbow cartridge has a beautiful, rainbow-like, multicolor Durawood body and uses an Adamant boron composite cantilever with a double damping system, leading to exceptional sound quality.
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23 October 2017
Origin Live Onyx Tonearm premium
An excellent upgrade for many standard tonearms
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15 October 2017
Aidas Panzerholz MC Cartridge premium
Powerful, incisive and dynamic with incredible transient behavior
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25 February 2017
Audio Technica ATN150MLX and Shure M97xE MM Phono Cartridges premium
Although both cartridges really are excellent, I am most surprised by the affordable Shure M97xE.
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Audio Technica AT-HS10 and Ortofon LH 2000 Turntable Headshells premium
Phono cartridges can make or break a turntable, but the headshell also has a not inconsiderable influence on the sound.
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Wooden Bull Turntable Mat premium
Technics SL1210, Technics SL-7, Pioneer SL-L1000, Yamaha PX-2, Avid Volvere, Linn LP12 and Thorens TD160MKII.
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The Big Turntable Comparison premium
Technics SL1210, Technics SL-7, Pioneer SL-L1000, Yamaha PX-2, Avid Volvere, Linn LP12 and Thorens TD160MKII.
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25 November 2014
Benz MC Gold, ACE L and ACE LH – Mini Review premium
Benz MC Gold Used with: Michell Tecnodeck and Tecno Arm MC Gold is Benz’ most affordable product, and it seems to offer good value for money, but in terms of playback precision, it is no substitute for the brand’s dearer cartridges. Both ACE L and ACE SH have significantly better tracking which results in clearer […]
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Technics Linear Tracking Turntables – part 1 premium
Technics SL1210, Technics SL-7, Pioneer SL-L1000, Yamaha PX-2, Avid Volvere, Linn LP12 and Thorens TD160MKII.
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