The S-DUO PRO by HumminGuru is the latest incarnation of their ultrasonic stylus cleaner and tracking for gauge. Is this a must-have turntable accessory, or is it just another hi-fi gimmick? The S-DUO Pro replaced the original S-DUO, introducing upgrades in the form of a rechargeable battery and built-in accessory storage. Rechargability, in particular, is a welcome upgrade, as some … Read More
MM PRO: The Sub $1000 Phono Preamp You Need to Hear
Having quietly lived with the MM Pro phono preamp for just under a year, has this become my new reference phono stage of choice for moving magnet cartridges? Michael Fidler’s Classic Audio brand of boutique all-through-hole-circuitry phono preamps has gained a strong reputation across the vinyl community over the last few years. His engineer-led, attention-to-detail approach and refreshing honesty when … Read More
Fosi Audio V3 Mono Triumphs After Blow Up? Full Review
Fosi Audio continues to make a name for itself, delivering audiophile-grade equipment at surprisingly wallet-friendly prices. The Fosi Audio V3 Mono amplifier aims to offer monoblock performance (usually reserved for high-end systems) in a compact, accessible package. Having been suitably impressed with their Audio Box X5 phono preamp, can they impress me again with the V3 Mono? Listening to Customer … Read More
Top Five Turntables Under $500 – Can You Still Get a Good One?
Over the years, getting a great turntable in this price range has become a challenge. There are so many options out there, and not all of them are worth your hard-earned cash. In addition, the cost of everything these days, just keeps going up – pushing turntables that were once available for well under the $500 price mark out of … Read More
Best Budget Phono Preamps for Amazing Sound
If you’re buying your first vinyl setup, you’ll need to make sure you have a phono preamp somewhere in the signal chain. In straightforward terms, a phono preamp amplifies the signal up to a level suitable for the AUX input on your Hi-Fi receiver. Also, it will apply an equalization curve to inverse the standard frequency adjustment made during the … Read More
Fosi Audio Box X5: Is it Worth the Hype? New Standard in Phono Preamps?
My first experience of Fosi Audio products was while reviewing the Box X2 tube phono preamp, and I was suitably impressed. For a phono stage costing as little as $70 (£65), it delivered a lively, energetic sound that I would happily recommend to anyone on a budget seeking their first upgrade from a built-in phono stage. Since then, Fosi Audio … Read More
Ortofon 2M Red vs 2M Blue – Is it worth the upgrade?
The 2M series from Ortofon has, for many, become the de facto cartridge and styli range for the vinyl revival. The ubiquitous 2M Red, in particular, has rightly earnt a reputation as one of the best-sounding affordable cartridges on the market at just $99 or £95. Sound-wise, the performance is undoubtedly impressive across the 2M range, which is semi-modular to … Read More
Best Speakers for Vinyl Records – Affordable Options in 2025
Make your records sing with the best speakers for vinyl records that won’t break the bank. The speakers are your turntable’s voice to the world. If you’re lucky enough to have a nice turntable or record player, you want to do it justice with a nice set of speakers. And while I always say the first part of the audio … Read More
The Best Vinyl Record Subscription Services in 2025
Across the vinyl community, there is a shared appreciation for the experience of collecting and playing records. We all have an affection for the physical product and the extra dimension it brings to the music we love. As an increasing number of music fans discover the joy of vinyl, there is a growing number of vinyl record subscriptions and record … Read More