PRODUCT Thorens TD 1601 ORIGIN Germany TYPE Belt-drive turntable WEIGHT 11kg DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 440 x 180 x 370mm FEATURES • 33/45rpm • TP92 9.1in tonearm DISTRIBUTOR Signature Audio Systems TELEPHONE 07738 007776 WEBSITE signaturesystems.co.uk; thor

NAD’s story started when Marty Borish – then head of Acoustic Research – decided not to launch a range of electronics under that brand name. Instead, a worldwide group of AR distributors came together to start a co-operative to develop their own bran

WHEN YOU CONSIDER that the power supply of a Class A amplifier is effectively in series with the audio signal, it’s not difficult to appreciate the importance of the quality of the mains power cable that supplies the power. This issue is not lost on

HAVING A SMART speaker listening to your conversations may not appeal, but one benefit of building a microphone into a speaker is that it can sonically map the dimensions of the room and calibrate the sound output accordingly. So, for several of thes

Dorset’s newest record shop breaks the mould in plenty of ways. It’s no shrinking violet, for starters. The opposite of an off-the-beaten-track affair, you can’t miss it: there’s a swirling, hypnotic logo drawing you in from Dorchester South railway

AS THE NAME suggests, Kimber sees Russ Andrews move away from its traditional designs to incorporate carbon in its new range. The cable is made from eight VariStrand 19.5AWG OFE 102 percent IACS-grade pure copper conductors that have been woven toget

ONCE A NOVELTY, smart speakers are becoming more of a part of daily life. And, increasingly, they’re being used as an element in a wider household entertainment system that encompasses music, video and even allows you to control gadgets such as smart

PRICE: £380 REVIEWED: HFC 447 The 6000CDT is exceptional at revealing what’s on your discs to deliver a great big soundstage with plenty of detail inside. It can dig down deep into the mix to eke out the different musical strands while dynamically an

When I was recently reading a web-based physics news platform I came across an article that looks into what gives jazz music its swing. According to Phys.org, the answer has never really been clarified. Jazz musicians have been using the concept of s

◼ Speakers ◼ Headphones ◼ Amplifiers ◼ Turntables Must-hear albums on vinyl, CD and lossless streaming ON SALE 31 DECEMBER ■

Spot quiz question: what do the following disparate artists have in common: Pearl Jam, Genesis, Pixies, Beabadoobee, Yungblud, Brian Wilson, Chic, Saxon, Foals, Stormzy, Snow Patrol and Little Mix? Answer: at the time of going to press, they’re all a

PRICE: £2,600-£10,000 AVAILABLE: NOW UNTIL 31 DECEMBER WEB: NAIMAUDIO.COM; FOCAL.COM JUST IN TIME for Christmas, Naim is offering a selection of specially matched systems that pair Focal loudspeakers with Naim Uniti digital music streamers. The offer

I meet up with thoroughly modern gentleman Neil Hannon on a rainy afternoon over the phone. For 30 years he has been creating the kind of witty, sophisticated pop that has won an adoring following. National Express, The Pop Singer’s Fear Of The Polle

ONE THING IS clear right from the off: these speakers provide very good sound quality, along with other smart features that could influence your choice – especially if you favour Android devices over Apple. Apple’s HomePod has a lot of potential than

Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone At Alexandra Palace CD Bad Seed WHEN THE DUST has settled and we’ve re-emerged into whatever the ‘new normal’ turns out to be, it will be fascinating to look back and see what great art has emerged from the confinement a

PRICE: £174-£205 AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: RUSSANDREWS.COM RUSS ANDREWS HAS added a new pair of audio equipment supports to its Torlyte Platform range, specifically designed to fit more compact equipment. Built using the same ultra-light, rigid materials a

PRODUCT D’Agostino Progression Integrated ORIGIN USA TYPE Integrated amplifier WEIGHT 26kg DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) 432 x 178 x 432mm FEATURES • Quoted powe output: 200W (8ohm) • Inputs: RCA line; MC phono stage; 4x balanced XLR; USB-B; optical; coaxial; E