Three new record players offer fresh ways to experience old vinyl
Each of these recently released record players makes it easy to bring the warmth of vinyl back into your daily listening habits
Whether you're reviving a long dormant collection or indulging the ongoing trend for new vinyl releases, you'll need a record player that does justice to the music (and perhaps some vinyl storage too). We've selected three new decks that offer a range of options from high-quality streaming to traditional analogue outputs.
Record players for your vinyl revival
Victrola Hi-Res Carbon
First up is the elegant new model from Victrola, a company that makes a huge range of turntables, from the gimmicky to the great. The Hi-Res Carbon falls into the latter category, with onboard aptX Adaptive Bluetooth connectivity (as long as you have supported headphones and speakers) designed for extremely easy set-up and for the highest quality of Bluetooth audio – dynamically adjusted on the fly.
The new model is reassuring weighty, with an aluminium tonearm, adjustable counterweight and supplied Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. As well as wireless connectivity, the Carbon can also be wired into an existing set-up, and a switchable preamp allows you to connect to a powered speaker system.
Victrola Hi-Res Carbon Turntable, $599, Victrola.com
Pro-Ject Perspective Final Edition
Pro-Ject Audio Systems have released a limited-edition version of their acclaimed Perspective deck. Just 400 examples of the Final Edition will be built, with a thick transparent acrylic plinth and some selected upgrades. Based on the original 1990s Pro-Ject 6.9 Perspective, the model that marked the company’s elevation into a serious audio player, the Final Edition is a masterful slice of engineering.
The plinth is finely balanced on three adjustable springs to cut down vibrations, which are further deflected by the aluminium spiked legs.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems Perspective Final Edition, £1,299, Project-Audio.com, available via HenleyAudio.co.uk
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Fluance RT81+ Elite High Fidelity
The Fluance RT81+ Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable is the newest model from the Canadian-based audio brand. Following in the footsteps of the acclaimed RT85N, the new model has a solid 1.4kg MDF plinth finished in real walnut veneer and a straightforward, no-nonsense analogue signal path. Elegant and affordable, it joins a product line-up that includes powered speakers and home theatre systems.
Fluance RT81+ Elite High Fidelity Vinyl Turntable, $299, Fluance.com
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
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