Pro-Ject Introduces Phono Box Preamp Models and Record Brooms

Following the announcement of the Phono Box RS2 reference class preamp, Pro-Ject has confirmed the launch in the North-American market of a series of phono products and accessories, some of which were released previously in Europe. Those included the Phono Box S2 Ultra discrete MM/MC phono preamplifier, the limited edition Phono Box Ultra 500 in polished chrome, and the Sweep It E and Sweep It S2 record brooms to clean vinyl while records are playing.

To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, the audio software wizards at iZotope are offering an updated version of its Vinyl plug-in, the first product ever offered by the Cambridge, MA-based company two decades ago. Vinyl is a fantastic effects plug-in, used in countless successful songs, particularly popular for its lo-fi and realistic spindown turntable effects. This vinyl simulation plug-in received new features and a new look and iZotope is offering it totally free!

We know vinyl is trending and that turntable options are expanding in every price segment. But after the return of some "ghosts" from the distant past (in electronics, basically everything before the eighties), Bang & Olufsen now tops the list of "resurrections" with the rebirth of its Beogram 4000c Recreated Limited Edition. Bang & Olufsen says it's the return of an icon, "reimagined for contemporary homes," and the start of a new approach for the Danish brand.

Andover Audio announced the latest addition to its Spin Collection of products and accessories for vinyl fans. SpinStand ($169) provides a lightweight yet robust storage solution for audio components and up to 150 vinyl records. SpinStand is compatible with all common turntable models, but it’s particularly well-suited to Andover’s own SpinDeck turntable, SpinBase powered speaker system, or even the company’s flagship Model-One Turntable Music System.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems' new Debut Carbon EVO turntable, an updated and refined version of the brand's most beloved turntable design, and further expanding its critically-acclaimed Debut Collection is now available for purchase. The new Debut Carbon EVO (for Evolution) features the brand’s famous one-piece carbon fiber tonearm technology, electronic speed selection, suspension elements from the EISA award winning X1 turntable, and a factory mounted Sumiko Rainier phono cartridge.

Massachusetts-based Andover Audio continues to focus on expanding its portfolio of self-branded products. Following the introduction of the Model One Record Player, an integrated record player, speaker and entertainment system; the Spinbase, a compact, speaker solution for under-turntable placement; and the launch of the PM-50 planar magnetic headphones, the company now announces the Spindeck, an affordable belt-driven turntable, custom designed by Pro-Ject for Andover.

Technics released the SL-1210GAE Limited Edition direct drive turntable to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the brand. This special model is based on the internationally acclaimed Grand Class SL-1200G hi-fi turntable and features a full black color scheme which has already proved popular with other recent Technics products. The SL-1210GAE will be available from June 2020 and only 1000 units will be sold in the world.

It must be tough to have a product ready, a Kickstarter campaign planned, and then being faced with a global shutdown. That is what happened with Canadian company, Six Acoustic, who recently launched the York, an "ultra" high fidelity phono preamplifier targeting new generations of vinyl enthusiasts looking for an extra level of audio performance that doesn't cost a fortune. And what is “ultra” high fidelity you might ask? According to Steve Meszlenyi, the company founder, it's a level of transparency where noise and distortion are “undetectable to the human ear and nearly impossible to measure with the most sophisticated instrumentation.”

This approach to RIAA equalization results in a high-quality phono preamp featuring the high-transconductance 5842 tubes. The author adapts Erno Borbely's project of a transistorized phono preamp with a vacuum tube implementation. These articles were originally published in audioXpress, October 2003 and January 2010. For this repost, we decided to merge the two articles in one single page.

This article explains the methods of cutting disc records, the characteristics of magnetic phono cartridges, and how their combined response determines the required playback equalization. The article is based on a paper the author presented at the May 1996 conference of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) in Kansas City, and was first published in the Fall 1996 issue of the ARSC Journal. Later, the article was featured as part of "The LP Is Back!" compilation book published in 1999 by The Audio Amateur company.