WORLD STANDARDS
34 HI-FI WORLD SEPTEMBER 201 9 http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk
TURNTABLES
AVID INGENIUM £800
Great bass response and upper midrange detail
allied to clarity makes this a must-hear at its
price-point.CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION £6400
Expensive, but offers great results from a finely
honed and beautifully finished belt drive turntable,
with servo control from the platter to keep a grip
on tempo like few others. Can be fitted with a
Clearaudio tangential arm, or any conventional
design. Awesome.INSPIRE MONARCH £4,350
A rebuilt from the ground up Technics Direct
Drive, having blistering pace and dynamics allied
with smoothness, sophistication and purity of
tone. A true reference.LINN LP12SE £3,600
The UK’s most iconic turntable, the legendary
Sondek goes from strength to strength. New Keel
sub-chassis and Radikal DC motor add precision
and grip to one of the world’s most musical disc
spinners. Expensive though.MICHELL GYRO DEC £1700
Wonderful styling coupled with great build and
finish make this turntable a delight for friends and
family. It has an attractive clear acrylic dust cover,
and you can mount just about any arm. A current
design standard.PRO-JECT ESSENTIAL DIGITAL £300
A budget turntable that turns in a great analogue
performance, but also has a hi-res digital output.
Send 24/96 across your lounge via optical cable
to a DAC and get great audio quality. Or record LP
to your laptop.REGA RP3 £550
The first of the super-quality Regas, little compro-
mised by price and featuring Rega’s outstanding
RB303 tonearm, suitable for MM and MC car-
tridges. A standard at the price point.TIMESTEP EVO £2100
The famous Technics SL-1210 MkII Direct Drive
but with improved plinth, isolation, main bearing
and power supply, plus an SME arm (add £1500).
DD convenience, rock steady pitch and fab sound
at a great price. Our in-house reference.TONEARMS
ORIGIN LIVE ENCOUNTER MK3C £1,745
Origin Live combines carbon fibre and ebony to
marvellous effect in its new 12-inch arm. Creamy
and rich in presentation, the Encounter delves
deep into the mix for a satisfying listen.HADCOCK GH-242 EXPORT £810
Consummately musical, lyrical sounding tonearm,
but needs the right turntable.ORIGIN LIVE ONYX £450
Easy, smooth, creamy nature that reminds you
why you’re listening to vinyl in the first place.
Essential audition at the price.REGA RB303 £300
A one piece tapered casting makes this arm’s
structure almost unrivalled. Great dynamics and
superb imaging, for MM and MC. Reference qual-
ity for peanuts.SME 312S £1,600
Twelve inch magnesium alloy tapered arm tube
plus SME V bearings. An insightful yet smooth and
relaxed sound. Superlative build completes the
package. Our Editor’s steed.SME 309 £1500
A one-piece tapered 9in arm finished like a cam-
era and slick to use. Superlative SME quality and
sound at affordable price.
SME V £3000
Offers rapid fire timing and a sense of precision,
plus rock solid dynamics. Top dollar for deep
pockets.CARTRIDGES
AUDIO TECHNICA AT-OC9 MLIII MC £420
A fine sounding MC with strong bass and super
fine treble from a great stylus – yet inexpensive.AUDIO TECHNICA AT-F3/III MC £150
Great value entry level moving coil with detail
and grip you just can’t get from similarly priced
moving magnets.
BENZ MICRO ACE SL MC £595
Smooth, lucid and full-bodied, award-winning,
hand-made cartridge from Switzerland.BENZ MICRO WOOD SL MC £945
Highly finessed Swiss moving coil that plays
music with riflebolt precision.DENON DL-103 £180
A popular and much loved budget MC with big
bass, smooth treble and deep sound stage.
Fantastic value.Your guide to the best products we’ve heard that are currently on sale in the UK...
WORLD
STANDARDS