We are well into the summer doldrums, when new consumer electronics releases tend to slow. Good news for record fans, though. With August approaching, I have news about three new turntables to share. First, if you happened to miss the last edition of Record roundup (with news on smash vinyl sales and counterfeit records), you can catch up here.
Linn Sondek LP12-50
If you have £50,000 (around $64,000 at current exchange rates) to spend and a burning desire for handmade artisanal audio equipment, iconic Scottish audio brands, or Sir Jony Ive’s design flourish, then you’ll want to get your name on the list for one of 250 limited edition Sondek LP12-50 turntables. Handcrafted in Linn’s Glasgow factory, each of these 50th anniversary Sondek turntables bears an embossed aluminum plaque certifying that it was built in collaboration with the former Apple design guru’s LoveFrom studio.
Crosley Ballantine’s X RZA C6 Record Player
Here’s another new collaboration turntable. This time, classic American audio brand Crosley is partnering with Ballantine’s Scotch Whiskey and Wu-Tang Clan frontman RZA. This limited edition version of Crosley’s C6 is available in black or white, both colorways adorned with themed artwork and a custom slip mat. It was released in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the 36 Chambers album.
At $299.95, this 2-speed, belt-drive turntable with a built-in preamp and Bluetooth output is considerably more accessible to most of us than that lovely Sondek. You can find the Ballantine’s X RZA C6 Record Player (and a matching Bluetooth speaker as well) on Crosley’s website.
Fluance RT81+ Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable
In 2016, Canadian audio brand Fluance (which was best known for its speakers), launched a new line of turntables to take advantage of the growing vinyl resurgence. I tested the (then) new Fluance RT81. However, decades after ditching my record collection, doing so required heading down to my local record shop and picking out a few vinyl samples–a move that ended up rekindling my love for records. I’ve spent the years since recreating my original vinyl collection (they are far more expensive the second time around) and expanding it.
Fluance designed an affordable turntable that was built to last and to be upgraded by those whose appreciation for getting the best out of their vinyl grew with their record collection. It had a solid MDF plinth, an Audio Technica AT95E cartridge, an aluminum platter and S-shaped aluminum tone arm, along with a preamp with gold-plated RCA outputs. At $249.99 the RT81 was a huge value when competitors in that price range tended to lean heavily on plastic components and cheap (often non-replaceable) cartridges.
Eight years later, Fluance has announced a successor to the RT81. The new RT81+ brings the best of the original, including that solid MDF plinth (available in five different finishes), built-in phono preamp, rubber isolation feet and S-Type tonearm. However, it also offers two significant upgrades compared to the original: a dampened aluminum anti-resonant platter and an Audio Technica VM95E cartridge.
The new platter promises to deliver improved frequency response, enhanced imaging, and greater signal clarity. Audio Technica’s next-gen VM95E cartridge features a diamond elliptical stylus which offers greater frequency response over the AT95E, while also providing an easier upgrade path through use of compatible styluses.
The new Fluance RT81+ turntable retails for $50 more than its predecessor at $299.99 but considering it’s eight years after the original’s debut and the value proposition is even greater, the price seems like a bargain.
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