Turntables

Mark Levinson Expands Their 5000 Series with New Amps, a Turntable, and a Network Streaming SACD Player and DAC

Mark Levinson, by Harman, makes audio equipment that many of us can only ever aspire to own. I’ve been able to listen to several of their system set-ups in person, and each time I’ve walked away thinking that if I ever become rich and famous, I’d be tempted. If you’re already in a position to buy, then you’ll be glad to know that they’ve expanded their offering of luxury-line components. Even though the prices are still quite aspirational, they are a little more obtainable than Mark Levinson’s typical price-points.

News

Ion Audio Proves Everything Old Is New (and Everything New Is Exciting) with a New Speaker Lineup

Ion Audio might not be a name that you immediately know when it comes to speakers. But that may change with their announcements for CES 2019 since they seem to be leaning hard into both cutting-edge offerings as well as the nostalgia for the days when radio was still an exciting concept.

Music Diary

The Strangest Turntables Ever Made

A turntable is a simple machine. All it really needs is a platter to hold the record, a stylus to pass through the grooves, and some method of amplifying the vibration from the stylus. While most record players keep it pretty simple, a few have stretched the machine to new limits.

Music Diary

Vinyl Care Mistakes You Might Be Making

Vinyl is back. For years, hipsters have ironically foretold the format’s return, but the numbers finally support it. 2017 marked the highest year for vinyl sales since 1991, and it shows no signs of slowing down. But vinyl is a delicate medium. And with so many new people hopping on the vinyl train, many people are inadvertently damaging their records.

Gift Guides

Gear Diary’s 2018 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is coming up sooner than you think, and if you’ve been racking your brain for some great gifts that think outside of the jewelry, flowers, and candy box, we’ve got you covered. Whether you need to stick to a budget or the sky’s the limit, there is something for everyone.

Music Diary

The Complete Noob’s Guide to Choosing a Turntable

Against all expectations, vinyl sales continue to rise. That means that more people than ever are buying record players. However, building a stereo setup for your vinyl can be a difficult undertaking if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

Music Diary, Reviews

Affordable and Audiophile Approved: The Orbit Turntable from U-Turn Audio

Vinyl is back with a vengeance. 2017 was the twelfth consecutive year that vinyl sales have risen. It’s also the year that I got the most questions from newcomers to the hobby about the best start turntables.

News

Crosley Radio Announces Two Blast from the Past Products You Have to See to Believe

A leader in the audio world since launching their first radio way back in the early 1920’s, Crosley Radio is now debuting a new top-of-the-line product that you just have to check out.

Gift Guides, Reviews

The Crosley Nomad Turntable: A Great Gift Idea for the Vinyl Lover

As a child, I remember watching the record spin ‘round and ‘round on the turntable at home – and Dad yelling at us to stop making it skip. Vinyl albums went the way of the Dodo bird decades ago but wait – there is a new resurgence in long-playing albums, and Crosley Radio is at the forefront.

Gear Bits

AMG Viella 12 Redefines the Classic Turntable

Do you still have a vinyl collection that you just can’t part with? If so, then you’ll be glad that you held on to it, as AMG may have just released the ultimate turntable, the AMG Viella 12 “V12”. Werner Roeschlau, designer and driving force behind AMG, works with his son and other master machinists at their bespoke multi-story Bavarian factory located north of Munich. All machining is done in house, combining the latest Computer Aided Design and CNC machines with “classic analog” tools including custom lathes and drill presses. Their factory has been manufacturing key, precision parts for some…

Autos, How to Do It Yourself!

Long Playing Long Gone an In-Vehicle USB-powered Turntable

I read a story the other day about how automakers have finally axed putting cassette players in new vehicles. Lexus was the final brand to do so and that went away with the announcement of the SC430 being discontinued. As I look around my office area here at home I am reminded of other technology gone the way of the Dodo bird. Nearby sits an old 8-track tape and in the other room is a “stack of wax” as DJs of days gone by described them. LPs. Long-Playing Records. This past Christmas I bought a USB-powered turntable to turn some…

Reviews

Stanton T.55 Belt-Driven Turntable – Unboxing and Review

Whoever thought I would be using a belt-driven turntable in 2009? And yet, that’s what I did over the weekend. Sure, we all know DJs love vinyl, but me, the typical end-user? What gives? Well, it turns out there are a host of treasures to be found if you “go retro”. LPs stored in the attic are just waiting to be broken out once again. And if you don’t have any disks left you can just go to your local record store where your favorite music can be had for a song. (Ha, music… song… get it???) If you DO…