Latest news with #vinyl
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Clearaudio Compass Launches Its Entry-Level Turntable At A Knock-Out Price
The Compass turntable is precision-made by German audio brand Clearaudio. It's an entry-level model. ... More If you've ever fancied owning and high-end turntable to play your vinyl on but found the price of the top-end models a little too salty, then news from the German manufacturer Clearaudio may be of interest. Clearaudio has announced the launch of its Compass turntable. This is a new and entry-level model that's designed to bring high-end audio quality within reach of many more people without compromising on quality. The new Compass is a ready-to-play turntable with a brand-new T1 tonearm, which is a smaller version of Clearaudio's Satisfy tonearm. The Compass turntable also includes a newly developed N1 moving magnet cartridge. Clearaudio's Compass turntable will ship with the newly developed N1 moving magnet cartridge mounted ... More on Clearaudio's T1 tonearm. The compact Compass is available in sleek black or silver finishes and comes with a detachable acrylic lid to keep dust off your records. Using precision-milled components made from premium materials, the Compass is the epitome of German engineering and is designed for long life and years of listening. Clearaudio CEO, Robert Suchy, says: 'Clearaudio has always stood for uncompromising quality, ultimate precision, and exceptional design. Now we are welcoming a wider audience for our high-end technology and performance with Compass: a ready-to-play turntable delivering a vinyl-listening experience that far exceeds expectations in this price range.' At the core of the Compass turntable is a precision bearing that works in combination with a specially manufactured platter and sub-platter. All three items have been manufactured with the same attention to detail that Clearaudio applies to all its products. The new T1 tonearm on the Compass turntable is a smaller version of Clearaudio's acclaimed Satisfy ... More tonearm. You can read up on the full technical specifications for the turntable, tonearm and cartridge below. The Clearaudio Compass is just entering production and will be available to buy worldwide by September 2025 and will carry a suggested retail price of €1,290. Pricing in other currencies will be confirmed closer to the launch date.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Record Roundup 31: Lamborghinis, Streamers And Wristwatches
Andover Audio's new SpinBase MAX2 speaker system for turntables Welcome to the 31st edition of Record Roundup, my ongoing coverage of the latest developments in the world of turntables and record players. This edition features several unique turntables, a new speaker system from Andover Audio, a TT-friendly streaming amp and the wristwatch for Technics SL-1200 fans. For those with deep pockets who are looking for a unique turntable, the Waiting For Ideas Turntable PP-1 should fit the bill. This Paris-based creative studio partnered with Miniot Technology to offer the ultimate in minimalist design: a monolithic block of anodized aluminum (offered in a space gray or black finish) that plays records. There's no visible tonearm, but place a record on the sunken platter and a hidden door opens beneath the record being played to reveal the cartridge and stylus. Pricing for this made to order statement turntable is around $6,000. Top view of the Turntable PP-1, showing the door that conceals the cartridge Somewhere, a marketing team produced a Venn diagram showing overlap between music lovers who prefer listening to records and car lovers who have a thing for Lamborghinis. If you are in this demographic, Technics has the turntable for you. A special edition of the Technics SL-1200 Series (a coreless direct drive turntable loved by DJs) offers Lamborghini-inspired paint jobs in a choice of three colors: Arancio Apodis, Verde Shock, and Giallo Athon (or orange, green and yellow for those not in the know). Each of these special edition turntables also includes a Lamborghini-crested slipmat and a record featuring 'the engine sounds of flagship Automobili Lamborghini cars.' The Technics Special Edition Lamborghini turntable carries a $1599.99 price tag, which is a premium over the base SL-1200, but it's a heck of a lot more affordable than a Lamborghini Revuelto. Technics Special Edition Lamborghini Turntable in Verde Shock Massachusetts-based Andover Audio never stops innovating. Two years ago I reviewed the company's SpinBase MAX, a turntable audio system that leveraged proprietary ISOgroove technology and audio engineering expertise to deliver an immersive record listening experience from a single, space-saving cabinet that sits beneath the turntable itself. Andover Audio has just released the followup SpinBase MAX 2. It's still a space-saver that sits beneath your turntable and includes an integrated PHONO pre-amp. In fact, it looks almost identical to the original. But the new version gets an upgrade to six drivers (four 3.5-inch woofers and two silk dome tweeters), making the 270 degree soundstage even more convincing. And with 100W of total amplification on tap, the SpinBase MAX 2 has the power to fill even the largest rooms. I have a SpinBase MAX 2 set up in my office, so watch for my take on the latest Andover Audio release in the coming weeks. The SpinBase MAX 2 uses IsoGroove technology so you can set your turntable on top of it without ... More distortion Eversolo has very smart-looking amplifier that's designed to deliver the best in modern streaming music capabilities. The Eversolo Play offers multi-room capability (with room correction), a multi-band professional EQ, a 32-bit DAC, extensive high resolution digital file format support and up to 110W per channel of power. The premium, CNC-machined aluminum enclosure features a 5.5-inch HD touch display–perfect for viewing album art from integrated streaming music platforms such as Tidal and Apple Music. You can also use your smartphone for control. Around back, you'll find a wide range of inputs and outputs, including an integrated PHONO stage–plug in your turntable for the best of modern digital and analog music playback. There's even a version with a built-in CD player, so you can have comprehensive physical media playback capability in a modern amplifier. Eversolo Play is a modern music streaming amplifier with turntable support Finally, for those who want to fly their vinyl flag publicly, AndoAndoAndo has the must-have wristwatch. The Vinyl Record Automatic Watch (available in a variety of color combinations) is designed to look like the iconic Technics SL-1200 turntable with a tonearm instead of an hour hand. Maybe not the most practical timepiece, but definitely among the coolest. The ultimate watch for record fans? Missed the last Record Roundup? You can read RR30 here.
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Physical media picks for June, from Laura Lippman's latest to a Freh Khodja album
As physical media continues its comeback, The National rounds up the best releases across film, music, art and more. Ken Andi Habib by Freh Khodja Algerian saxophone player Freh Khodja is a cult figure among collectors and DJs who specialise in Arabic grooves. His 1975 album Ken Andi Habib, which blends Arabic music, Caribbean and Latin grooves and funk, is among his best work. Recorded in Paris while Khodja was a member of the African diaspora group Les Flemmes, the album sounds even better 50 years on – not only for its danceable rhythm section, but for Khodja's vocals. It's being re-released on vinyl by French record label Wewantsounds and will have you grooving either on the dance floor or your apartment floor. William Mullally, arts & culture editor Tour of Japan by Minyo Crusaders There's no easy way to define Tour of Japan, but its charm is in its eclecticism. The 2023 album is the second studio release by the Minyo Crusaders, a group renowned for their experimentations with Japanese folk music. They draw their name from a genre of traditional Japanese music called minyo. The tracks on Tour of Japan have roots in songs performed by Japanese fishermen, coal miners and sumo wrestlers. They have been completely reinvented by the band's innovative arrangements. Charged with Latin, jazz and Caribbean rhythms, Minyo Crusaders' compositions incorporate sounds unexpected in Japanese folk, from synthesisers and drum machines to robust brass sections and distorted guitars. Tour of Japan is due for release on vinyl on June 13. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong I recently read Ocean Vuong's semi-autobiographical debut novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, and it shattered me. Published in 2019 and written in the form of letters from a son to his mother, it is achingly beautiful, weaving Vuong's tragic family story as a Vietnamese asylum seeker in the US into a powerful narrative about memories, human bonds and home. While he has published many poems and essays, The Emperor of Gladness is only Vuong's second novel, and was recently picked by Oprah Winfrey for her book club. It follows a 19-year-old boy who decides to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge but is urged by an old woman to reconsider. The old woman, who has dementia, and the boy then form an unusual kinship and decide to face the world together. I can't wait for my copy to arrive. David Tusing, assistant features editor Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters Yukio Mishima was one of Japan's most acclaimed authors, and one of its most controversial. After an award-winning literary career, the author gathered a group of loyal followers in order to restore the Japanese emperor to power, attempted to launch a coup from a military garrison and took his own life when they failed. Since his death, many have delved into his life and work and the events that shaped him. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, the 1985 film by American director Paul Schrader, is perhaps the most enduring international examination of Mishima's life. The film uses vignettes from the author's novels to juxtapose his writing against the events of his life. These tableaus serve as a mirror between fiction and reality. Previously released on DVD and Blu-ray, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters arrives in 4K from The Criterion Collection in June. Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman Laura Lippman is a distinctive voice in mystery fiction. Stephen King called her 'special, even extraordinary' and Gillian Flynn wrote: 'She is simply a brilliant novelist.' Here she returns with a wickedly smart mystery featuring Muriel Blossom, a sharp-eyed widow with a past in private investigation and a disarming talent for going unnoticed. When she stumbles on a winning lottery ticket, Mrs Blossom trades her quiet Baltimore life for a river cruise through France on the MS Solitaire. On the flight over, she meets Allan, a charming man who briefly reignites her long-dormant sense of romance – until he turns up dead in Paris the next day. As the ship winds down the Seine, Mrs Blossom is drawn into a web of secrets, stolen art and suspicious men who keep showing up when something goes wrong. Lippman weaves intrigue and wit into this stylish caper about reinvention, revenge and what happens when a 68-year-old woman refuses to disappear. Described as White Lotus meets Only Murders in the Building by its UK publisher Faber, what's not to like? Nasri Atallah, editor of The National's Luxury magazine Freaky Tales Portmanteau films show several stories and present them as intertwining and connected. Wild Tales, Fantasia and Sin City are just some examples. The most recent, and perhaps one of the most exciting entries to the genre is Freaky Tales by directing duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who previously directed Captain Marvel. Set in Oakland, California in 1987, the film is a nostalgic trip filled with crime, alien powers, basketball and buckets of blood. Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn and Jay Ellis star in this raucous adventure that deserves a place in everyone's library. Freaky Tales is being released in a VHS-style case to evoke the experience of renting the film from a video shop in the 1980s.
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Bang & Olufsen Recreates Another Classic With The Launch Of The Beosystem 3000c
The new Bang & Olufsen brings together the company's Beolab 8 stereo speakers and a remanufactured ... More Beogram 3000 turntable which was originally launched in 1985. For a few years now, Bang & Olufsen has been on a mission to resurrect some of the Danish audio brand's most iconic products, many from the 1970s and 1980s. That was the golden age of hi-di design. The next product to get the Bang & Olufsen makeover treatment is the Beosystem 3000c. This refined music system was originally introduced as the Beogram 3000 turntable back in 1985. Now Bang & Olufsen has meticulously recreated the device and paired it with contemporary Beolab 8 stereo speakers in a coordinated artisan walnut finish. The new Beosystem 3000c is limited to just 100 individually numbered sets and seamlessly bridges the ritual of playing vinyl with the fluidity of today's listening habits while offering a powerful and tactile experience where analog warmth and streaming can coexist in one timeless system. Bang & Olufsen has bought 100 used Beogram 3000 and completed remanufactured them before combining ... More them with Beolab 8 wireless speakers to create the Beosystem 3000c. This is the third release in Bang & Olufsen's Recreated Classics series, a program that's dedicated to giving iconic products a second life. Bang & Olufsen hunts down used examples of the products and then buys them back before restoring, reengineering and aesthetically reimagining them. In the Beosystem 3000c, hand-crafted walnut and anodized aluminum blend the past with the present using original materials that have been preserved, cleaned, upgraded and then fully future-proofed by Bang & Olufsen's team of specialists based in Struer, Denmark. 'Through our Recreated Classics series, we honor the cultural impact of vinyl listening while showcasing the long-lasting value of Bang & Olufsen products, even beyond their first lifecycle,' says Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, head of product circularity and portfolio planning. 'The Beosystem 3000c invites our customers to rediscover their vinyl collections and enjoy the emotional richness of music as it was meant to be heard, while effortlessly integrating into how we listen today.' Bang & Olufsen's Beogram 3000 was launched in 1985 and featured a tangential tracking tonearm. Originally introduced in 1985, the Beogram 3000 brought Bang & Olufsen's pioneering tangential tracking technology into a more compact and electronically automated form. Its floating appearance and refined control panel made it a design icon of its time. In the Beogram 3000c, that same design intent is preserved and elevated with modern craftsmanship. The turntable features a precision-machined solid walnut back cover, a new aluminum control panel, a dust lid, fabric cables and a future-ready pickup cartridge. The original aluminum parts have been remanufactured and finished in pearl-blasted and brushed treatments at Bang & Olufsen's Factory 5. Completing the system are a pair of Beolab 8 stereo speakers that mirror the turntable's craftsmanship with matching walnut lamellas and pearl-blasted aluminum shells, creating a cohesive visual and acoustic experience. Bang & Olufsen says the two components deliver 'deep, dynamic sound, whether immersed in the warmth of vinyl or streaming a favorite playlist.' Pricing & Availability: If you fancy being one of the 100 people on the planet able to own a Beosystem 3000c then be prepared to part with $30,000 / £22,100 / €26.000. The units are made to order and available from select Bang & Olufsen stores and from 27th May 2025.
Forbes
25-05-2025
- Forbes
QlearSoul SoulBox S1 Vinyl Record Player With Stereo Speakers
The Qlearsoul SoulBox S1. That slip mat looks more than a little like Canada's CBC logo... If you're looking for an affordable way to listen to your record collection, there's a new option in the SoulBox S1 from QlearSoul. The system includes a turntable, Bluetooth streaming support and bookshelf speakers, all wrapped in a warm wood finish and typically retails in the $250 range. Listening to records with true stereo sound is the ideal setup. However, many people make compromises early on and end up with a system that lacks this capability. A 'suitcase-style' portable record player, or a turntable plugged into a portable speaker delivering mono sound, for example. There are many reasons why someone might find themselves in this position. A component system with a receiver or amplifier, PHONO pre-amp, turntable and speakers can be an expensive proposition and then there's the challenge of matching components that are going to look good and, more importantly, sound good together. Space is often an issue. And then there's the complexity of setting up a component system and a turntable. For someone who's not comfortable with working with audio equipment, this prospect can be daunting. The turntable arrives largely assembled. With the SoulBox S1, QlearSoul aimed at eliminating these barriers. Both the PHONO pre-amp and the system amplifier are built into the turntable. That means stereo sound with only one power supply (the bookshelf speakers are not powered) and all that's needed is to connect the speakers to the turntable with the included cables. The turntable itself is shipped largely assembled, including having the cartridge pre-mounted on the tonearm. You'll need to attach the counterweight, balance the tonearm and set the anti-skate dial, attach the belt and platter, then slip the plastic cover on the pre-installed hinges. Clear instructions are included, no tools are required and this should be a five or 10 minute exercise that only needs to be done once. A built-in, switchable PHONO pre-amp, plus a built-in stereo amplifier to drive the bookshelf ... More speakers. Many entry level record players and turntables keep costs down by using a generic cartridge and/or stylus. Doing so does help to keep the price down, but at the cost of sound quality. A cheap stylus that tracks too heavily can also physically damage a record, which is the last thing you want to do. QlearSoul went with the Audio-Technica AT-3600L cartridge, plus an adjustable counterweight and antiskate. The AT-3600L is a popular, budget-friendly offering from a leading audio brand. It's known for providing an entertaining listen while helping to minimize skips from used records. With millions of these sold, it's easy to find a replacement stylus. Equipped with the workhorse Audio-Technica AT-3600L cartridge The speakers included with this system are each equipped with a 2-inch silk dome tweeter for crisp high notes with 4.5-inch fiberglass cones covering the mid-range and bass. Included bookshelf speakers QlearSoul describes the SoulBox S1 as 'an entry-level audiophile system designed for ultimate versatility.' To that end, the SoulBox S1 fills the role of a turntable connected to a pair of bookshelf speakers allowing users to listen to their records in true stereo sound. Its Audio-Technica AT-3600L cartridge has a reputation as a solid all-round performer and its stylus can be upgraded should you want to take the sound of records up a notch. For that matter, if you happen to buy a component stereo system later on, you can use this as a pure turntable that feeds into that system, thanks to its switchable pre-amp and RCA output jacks. Option to use this as a standalone turntable. With the SoulBox S1's built-in Bluetooth connectivity, you can go digital and wirelessly stream music from your favorite platform from your phone, tablet, or PC–enjoying the tracks in stereo. The bottom line is the QlearSoul SoulBox S1 provides a budget-friendly entry to records, with true stereo sound and support for Bluetooth wireless music streaming. All in a package that's compact, easy to set up and wrapped in a warm, wood-look finish. Disclosure: QlearSoul provided a SoulBox S1 for evaluation purposes but had no input into this article.
