As far as I can determine, £600 is enough to buy you the finest moving magnet phono stage currently in production. And that phono stage is the MM Pro by Michael Fidler. I will stand by that statement until someone shows me verifiable scientific data, not just audiophile hyperbole, to prove otherwise.
Category: Turntables
Origin Live DC100 Turntable Motor Upgrade Kit Review
kindly contributed by Nipper Varney covering his Origin Live DC100 motor kit. “When half the price of this Origin Live DC100 Motor Kit will buy you an Audio Technica record player complete with motor, PSU, arm, cartridge and phono stage that is able to provide quartz accuracy for speed control first time and every time (as well as three speed settings and the ability to adjust speed) there is no getting away from £530 being expensive for something which is just tasked to turn a platter at one of two constant speeds, especially when the Speed-Box casework is so cheap that it requires masking tape on the back to label the adjusters. That it is also far noisier and much more temperamental (in needing to settle down over days to work optimally) than my Technics SL1200GR turntable, which is silent even with my ear right beside it, is also undeniable.”
Spartan 10 By Michael Fidler Retrospective Review
The review below was kindly contributed by Nipper Varney. This review was written some time ago and is reference in Nipper’s recent phono stage comparison contribution. The Spartan 10 has now been discontinued, replaced by the Spartan 15, so I am publishing this as a kind of retrospective as there are certainly plenty of Spartan 10s out there ‘in the wild’.
Phono Stage Comparison – Classic Audio Spartan & Pro, Pro-Ject, Ifi
The review below was kindly contributed by Nipper Varney. Michael Fidler of Classic Audio asked me if I would consider publishing a review of his latest Spartan 15 phonostage contributed by Nipper. I agreed and what follows is a fantastic in-depth comparison of a number of phono stages, including the Spartan 15. Also featured are the Spartan 5, Spartan 10, MM PRO, MC PRO, and units from Pro-Ject and Ifi too.
MC Pro by Michael Fidler Moving Coil Phono Stage Reviewed
The finest technical performance of any phono stage I can find on the market at any price. The MC Pro will shake up this stagnated industry for the better. It demonstrates that real-world performance is not wizardry or pseudoscience, but competence and ability. The audio industry needs more of both if it is to stand a chance of survival, and Michael Fidler is a clear frontrunner.
Spartan 5 by Michael Fidler Phono Stage Reviewed
A diminutive little box, in which is a simple but objectively and subjectively top-class circuit typology. The Spartan series should be underlined at the top of your shortlist. They represent high-end objective performance and save you a boatload of cash.
Repairing Cassette Capstan & Turntable DC Motors
A basic primer on cassette capstan and turntable DC motors and how to repair them if they become noisy. With due care and a steady hand many can be repaired with success.
Musical Fidelity M6x Vinyl Phono Stage Reviewed
a fun, enthralling experience in much the same vein as the M6, but with improvements in every area.
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo Turntable Reviewed
It may have its foibles but so does every audiophile-inspired manual belt drive turntable regardless of cost. A solid turntable capable of great performance.
Audio-Technica AT-LP5X Turntable Full Teardown
A simple yet effective turntable design of perfectly acceptable quality and very well executed given the asking price.
Musical Fidelity M6 Vinyl Phono Stage Reviewed
Switchable inputs, plenty of adjustment, accurate RIAA equalisation and a neutral sound.
Audio-Technica AT-LP5X Direct-Drive Turntable In-Depth Review
For those looking to play records to a high standard with minimal fuss and an easy upgrade path, the LP5X is hard to fault. It’s not the be-all and end-all direct drive deck. But it looks perfectly respectable, sounds great out of the box and has a lot of modding potential.
Will An Audio-Technica AT-LP60 / AT-LP60X Turntable Damage Your Records?
The Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is without doubt one of the best-selling budget turntables to date, and the newly released AT-LP60X is sure to follow. But will either turntable cause undue damage to your records?
Repairing an Audio-Technica AT-LP60 With a Failed Motor
A couple of years ago I tested a GPO Stylo which was at the time one of the cheapest turntables available on the market. It was suggested that I repeat the test with an Audio-Technica AT-Lp60, arguably one of the best-selling budget turntables.
Technics SL-1200G Review & Comparison With SL-1200GR
Like the SP10 in the late ‘60s, the SL-1200G has raised the bar and set new performance standards that should redefine expectations for what high-end vinyl playback should be. The SL-1200G is a masterpiece. You owe it to yourself to hear one.
Technics SL-1200GR / SL-1210GR Turntable Review
When Technics commercialised the direct drive turntable in the ‘70s, they became known as class-leading products among the best available at any price. These new Technics turntable set new technical standards which will pave the way for future evolution of vinyl and the equipment we use to play it.
Dual CS-435-1 Fully Automatic Turntable Review
if you need, or favour the convenience of an automatic mechanism, the CS-435-1 does sound surprisingly good despite its shortcomings.
Reloop HiFi Turn 5 Direct Drive Turntable Review
The Reloop HiFi Turn 5 is a well built, well specified and keenly priced alternative to the norm.
SweetVinyl SugarCube SC-1 Vinyl Click & Pop Remover Review
The SugarCube enhances the listening experience with vinyl old and new, and for that it earns a thoroughly deserved recommendation.
Technics SL-L20 Linear Tracking Turntable Service And Repair
I’ve yet to come across a Technics that didn’t at least sound good, and I had great fun spinning 7” singles on the L20 before returning it to its rightful owner ready to deliver another few decades of faithful service.