THAT WAS THEN
The result of our budget turntable Group Test this month (p44) has left us a little dissatisfied. The likes of the winning Audio Technica ATLP60USB deliver a fair amount for the money, but we can’t stop thinking back to the fine affordable decks we’ve tested in the past.
We’re going to look past early purist record players from the likes of Rega and Pro-ject. Those aren’t quite reflective of the kind of products in our test. What we want is something that’s got mass-market appeal and still sounds great. The answer? Dual’s terrific CS5052. Especially in luxury deluxe guise.
Can you digit? No, you can’t
Your £129 bought a smart wooden plinth – the main upgrade on the deluxe model – a suspended sub-chassis to minimise external interference, and a good arm/cartridge combo. It was all nicely made, reliable and easy to use – but, importantly, it performed well too.
Well enough to put the current crop in the shade? We’d have to say yes. The Dual featured a standard of engineering that similarly priced products from today simply can’t match. That’s understandable given inflation, perhaps, but there’s also a difference in attitude.
Today’s contenders are much more about convenience. They have built-in phono stages and are designed to require minimal input from their owners. They are built, of course, for an audience grounded in free streaming services such as Spotify – those who just want to dip their toes into the vinyl pond.
The manufacturers have decided that, for this market, performance sits below a fuss-free nature and bulging spec-sheet. Back in the old days it was more about sound quality.
It is still perfectly possible to get sonically talented, affordable turntables. It’s just that these start at around £250, rather than half that. Listen to one, though, and you’ll understand what the fuss over records is really about.