Welcome to the August, 2023 edition of Record Roundup. Featured this month in my roundup of all things vinyl are next-gen Orbit turntables from U-Turn Audio, a pair of turntable-friendly amplifiers from Rotel, 10 year celebrations for the Vinyl Me Please record subscription service and a series of 45th anniversary red vinyl releases from Rhino Records.
U-Turn Audio Launches Next-Gen Orbit Turntables
Supporters of made-in-America products and record collectors looking for affordable, high quality turntables will appreciate the latest releases from U-Turn Audio. The brand behind the popular Orbit turntable lineup designs and assembles its products at a Woburn, MA production facility. The company is launching three new, next-gen versions of its popular Orbit turntables: the Orbit Basic entry level, best-seller Orbit Plus and the Orbit Special with upgraded components and features including an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge.
U-Turn Audio co-founder and Orbit designer Bob Hertig speaks to his company’s contribution to the growing number of record enthusiasts:
“Our mission is to make great analog audio more accessible. Over the last decade, we’ve built and shipped hundreds of thousands of Orbits across North America and have earned a reputation for high-level performance and quality craftsmanship that doesn’t break the bank. This new generation of Orbit represents a decade of experience, learning, and turntable development. We were able to take something that was already great and make it even better.”
Look for my review of one of these exciting new Orbit turntables shortly.
Two New Turntable-Friendly Rotel Amplifiers
Rotel is a name that vinyl fans have known for decades, with the company producing Hi-Fi audio equipment including amplifiers for over six decades.
Rotel has just launched a pair of upgraded, turntable-friendly amplifiers as part of its Tribute Series, each with a Moving Magnet PHONO stage.
The A10MKII Integrated Amplifier (MSRP $599) offers 2 x 50W output, 67 component upgrades compared to the previous model and includes an IR remote control. The A10MKII Integrated Amplifier also offers 2 x 50W output and adds features including aptXTM HD and AAC Bluetooth wireless streaming, a TI 32-bit/384kHz DAC and motorized volume control.
Rhino Reds Record Series
In celebration of its 45th anniversary, Rhino Records has released a “Rhino Reds” series of red vinyl records. The Reds series includes individual releases of classic albums such as The Doobie Brothers’ Minute By Minute (with bonus 7-inch singles), along with several bundle collections. Collectors who are looking for a shot of colored vinyl for their record bins can get their red fix starting at under $30 a pop.
Vinyl Me Please Celebrates a Decade of Helping Record Fans Grow Their Collections
Finally, for those who are looking to expand their record collection, curated subscription service Vinyl Me Please is celebrating 10 years of offering monthly record deliveries. Memberships start at $36/month with bonus records available based on the length of term you sign up for, and over 250 exclusive titles to choose from. Included in the Vinyl Me Please catalog are new and classic albums in a wide range of genres, many of which are offered in unique, colored and patterned vinyl pressings.
Missed the last Record Roundup? You can find July’s edition (featuring three new turntables ranging from $300 to $60,000) here.
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