Analog Gear News

Since first posting this story, a reader points out that it's also on the Onkyo America site.

The news is that Onkyo is re-entering the turntable market with the CP-1050, a direct drive model featuring a die-cast aluminum platter, MDF plinth and "S" shaped arm fitted with a MM cartridge. The MSRP in America is a steep $599.

Okay, we'd prefer a heavy platter of machined aluminum but, depending on the build quality of the direct drive system and the quality of the tone arm and MM cartridge this could be a decent entry-level product like the one from Audio-Technica recently reviewed here.

If the quality is no greater than the Audio Technica, which is also direct drive and includes a built in phono preamp, A/D converter and USB output plus the highly regarded AT 95E cartridge, I wonder what Onkyo is thinking here? Analogplanet will try to get a sample to review.

Meanwhile a new one from Pioneer just arrived and will shortly be reviewed.