Coming Around Again
A high-spec new turntable nods to a club classic
Readers of a certain vintage, lend us your ears. This direct-drive turntable may resemble the quintessential nightclub DJ deck, the Technics SL-1200, with its strobe-surrounded platter and controls to the front left of the plinth, but the Reloop HiFi Turn 5 is aimed at audiophiles rather than ravers. The sturdy, industrial unit weighs a comparably meaty 12.8kg but distinguishes itself with its versatile motor that allows for 33, 45 and 78rpm playback at the turn of a switch. The S-shaped tonearm also has a removable headshell, the better to accommodate the easy swapping of cartridges (for those who keep a 78rpm mono cartridge for their shellac records, for example). With superior bass and excellent sound separation this is hi-fi-grade kit at a price to please even non-superstar DJs.