Analog Gear News

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Michael Fremer  |  Apr 18, 2017  |  10 comments
Ortofon's Chief Officer of Acoustics and Technology Leif Johannsen and Dee Hustinova, Ortofon U.S. General Manager stopped over today to show me a brand new Ortofon cartridge the design of which Leif has just completed. I can't talk about it or show it (that's why it's in his cupped hand).

Mike Mettler  |  Jul 06, 2023  |  2 comments

Those of us needing sturdy wall-mount options for our turntables always have to look quite carefully at shelving-gear specs to ensure these products are truly capable of accommodating the weight of our favored ’tables. To that end, Pangea Audio has upped the ante with their just-announced Turntable Wall Mounted Premier SE Shelf MKII. Read on to see if the new Premier SE Shelf MKII might suit your own particular turntable-shelving needs. . .

Michael Fremer  |  May 09, 2016  |  6 comments
See and hear described new and upgraded turntables from Thorens L'Art du Son, Mobile Fidelity, Thales, Landmesser Audio and Blackstone. A translating glitch leaves the impression that Blackstone's Pabst motors are new. They are new old stock, not newly manufactured ones.

Michael Fremer  |  Dec 12, 2013  |  10 comments
Parasound today introduced the John Curl designed JC3+ phono preamplifier, an improved version of the highly regarded JC3. The original JC3 proved problematic for cartridge loading fetishists in that it offered limited fixed moving coil loading of 100ohms or "wide open" 47kOhms chosen via via custom-made NKK selector switches with gold-on-silver contacts.

Michael Fremer  |  Dec 02, 2020  |  9 comments
Pro-Ject just announced the release of its newest and most sophisticated phono preamp, the RS2. The no op-amp, "hand made" design built in the E.U. is fully balanced and true dual mono. The RS2 features MM gain of 40,43,46 and 50dB and MC gain of 60,63,66 and 70dB with continuously variable MC input impedance from between 10 and 1000 ohms. Capacitance for MM can be set to values between 50 and 400pF.

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 02, 2018  |  7 comments
The usually conservative (engineering-wise, don't know his politics) Ron Sutherland has thrown all electronic caution to the wind and will shortly introduce the Phono Loco, his first venture into what's commonly called a "current mode" phono preamplifier.

Mike Mettler  |  May 09, 2023  |  14 comments

When we saw some cool Plinius gear in the system utilized for a Kuzma demo at AXPONA 2023, it reminded us that we needed to see what’s been going on with the vaunted New Zealand-born company of late — and thus, here we are with our eye firmly planted on the Plinius Koru phono preamp. Read on to get all the Koru spec details. . .

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 29, 2017  |  6 comments
Sempersonus, a new audio company based in Lisbon, Portugal just announced its first product: a turntable based upon an idler wheel-type drive it calls "Epicyclic Drive", because the motor and pulley directly drive the platter's inner rim.

Michael Fremer  |  Apr 30, 2019  |  21 comments
In a pre-Munich press release, SAT announced the debut in Munich of its new XD1 Record Player System that will be presented in room F214 in Atrium 4 along with Marten Audio loudspeakers.

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 24, 2021  |  4 comments
George Harrison would have turned 78 today but this George Harrison themed Pro-Ject turntable spins at 33 1/3 and 45. It's a special edition Essential III featuring stainless steel bearing, aluminum pulley, new DC motor speee controller, acrylic platter, 8.6" one piece aluminum tonearm featuring sapphire bearings and an Ortofon OM10 cartridge.

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 02, 2021  |  5 comments
Pro-Ject just announced a pair of low cost MM/MC phono preamps and a pair of sophisticated "record cleaning arms" and in the press release re-launched the $1999 Phono Box RS2.

Mike Mettler  |  Aug 05, 2024  |  2 comments

We loved it when Pro-Ject debuted their commemorative Debut PRO turntable three years ago in conjunction with the company’s 30th anniversary, and we also love that they’ve just introduced the upgraded version of that very cool table, the Debut PRO B. Read on to see all specs and improved features of the Debut PRO B. . .

Michael Fremer  |  Apr 20, 2022  |  6 comments
Pro-Jet just announced the new X-8 turntable that utilizes features found in the more costly Extension 9 and 10 models. In Europe the X-8 costs € 1,999 (incl. VAT). With Ortofon Quintet Blue € 2,299 (incl. VAT). In America the X-8 with Sumiko Rainier standard costs $2499. Read on!

Michael Fremer  |  Jan 31, 2022  |  18 comments
Pro-Ject today introduced the $499.00 AUTOMAT A1 its first fully automatic turntable.

Michael Fremer  |  Jul 17, 2021  |  21 comments
Sumiko and Pro-Ject USA just introduced the handsome new Debut PRO turntable. Cosmetics are based around a satin black and brushed-nickel color scheme. Beyond the clearly great looks, there's a new 8.6" arm featuring a one-piece carbon fiber wrapped aluminum arm tube said to produce excellent rigidity and to reduce resonances.

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