STACK #213 July 2022

continued FOR THE RECORDD

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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House of Marley Stir It Up Turntable and Get Together Duo Bluetooth-powered Bookshelf Speakers This stylish combo matches form with functionality and is a good place to start for every vinyl novice. House of Marley products are built using responsibly sourced materials with a keen eye on sustainability. The Stir It Up turntable is belt-driven and features a built-in pre-amp and a USB port for recording directly to a PC, so you can upload your rare vinyl to take on the road. Bluetooth connectivity allows speakers to be wirelessly connected, and there are RCA outputs on the rear of will feature a turntable with an internal pre amp and two powered bookshelf speakers. Combos for your consideration For beginners, one of the easiest ways to embark on a vinyl odyssey is to buy a turntable and speaker combination. You essentially get two components that have been designed to not only work in complete unity and take up very little space, but also look good. A combo the unit if you opt to wire the speakers. An Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge is fitted as standard and can be upgraded if required. The Duo speakers are big on bass, as you’d expect coming from the House of Marley, and, despite the diminutive dimensions, there’s plenty of grunt on hand. The right speaker is rechargeable with 20 hours of playback, so you can throw it in the back for away days. Cost-effective and eye catching, this combo delivers on quality and sound. Monster MT-TT03 Bluetooth Turntable and Bookshelf Speakers Another good budget-conscious option is the Monster combo. The belt-driven turntable comes complete with a built-in pre-amp and is finished in a stunning piano black gloss. Rather than struggling with volume controls on the rear of the powered speakers, the volume here is positioned on the turntable itself for easy access. Like the House of Marley, the Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge is fitted as standard, and a lightweight carbon fibre tone arm reduces damage to your precious vinyl and protects the cartridge. Speakers can be wirelessly connected via Bluetooth 5.0, and the 10 RMS watt speakers in this combo pack a punch. Overall, the Monster turntable and speaker package is easy to use, set up, and great bang for your buck.

Turntables for your consideration It all starts with the humble turntable, and Audio Technica are right up there with the best.

Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT This entry-level turntable boasts performance comparable with mid-range models, and is perfect for beginners. Complete with a built-in pre-amp, the belt-driven turntable is fully automatic, so literally, anyone can play a record on it. It’s also Bluetooth-enabled for easy syncing with speakers.

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XBT

An update of the acclaimed LP120, this direct drive turntable’s big tech upgrade is Bluetooth support and a USB input, making it the perfect modern player. A quality turntable, it has an in-built pre-amp, a high-quality cartridge, and three speed options. It can even play the old 78RPM records.

Powered bookshelf speakers for your consideration

Wharfedale DS-2 Powered

Audioengine HD4 The excellent HD4s are the Swiss Army knife of powered bookshelf speakers, with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, AUX, MicroUSB, and RCA inputs offering complete versatility. The build quality is exceptional, with volume controls and a headphone port situated in the front of the unit. Finished in black satin, they don’t just look good, they sound good too, and boy, for the size, they’re loud! A four-inch aramid fibre woofer and ¾-inch silk dome tweeter are to thank for that, with a maximum power rating of 120W. The HD4s are exceptional performers for their size, producing an impressive soundstage. Your neighbours will hate them.

Bookshelf Speakers Wharfedale, the progenitors of the modern two-way speaker, have used their wealth of experience to produce these high-quality powered bookshelf stereo speakers. Clad in leatherette, they can sit either side of a turntable or extend up to 1.5m with the cable provided, and are connected via Bluetooth. Volume and pairing controls and a 3.5mm jack are easily accessible on the side of the powered cabinet. Inside, a three-inch bass driver gives plenty of kick, while a ¾-inch tweeter provides a warm and detailed treble. If space is at a premium, but you want a premium sound, the DS-2s are just what you need.

32 JULY 2022

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