Audiophilepure

https://www.whathifi.com/hi-fi/turntables/audio-technica-at-lp8x

Ultimately, judged purely on sound, both the Technics and Rega packages still sit higher in the pecking order, thanks to their greater dynamic punch and rhythmic prowess. Both of these players, but the Rega in particular, are great at pulling the listener into the music. They deliver a more emotional musical experience, and ultimately, that matters most to us.

That said, by general price standards, this Audio-Technica record player does well enough to earn a recommendation.

https://www.hifinews.com/content/transrotor-massimo-nero-turntable

Back in the 1990s, when big idler drive turntables like the Garrard 301 experienced a resurgence, it was common to read of listeners getting up to check they weren’t ‘running fast’, such was their dynamic delivery. The magnetic/belt-drive Massimo Nero has the opposite effect. There’s no faulting its pitch stability [see PM’s Lab Report], but its delivery can sometimes feel a little sedate. Jah Wobble’s bassline on ‘The Sun Does Rise’, from the EP of the same name [Island Records 42285 40371], had all the clarity, eyeball-rattling depth and impact I could have hoped for, but seemed to be picking its way carefully and thoughtfully in rhythmic terms, rather than romping along joyously.

Equally, the synthesised bassline and drums on the ‘Club’ remix of Fragma’s ‘Toca Me’ single [Positiva 12TIV-120] were deep-reaching, tight and impactful, but had my feet twitching, if not fully committed to tapping. Of course, if bangin’ club tunes are not ‘your thing’ then this is unlikely to be a problem! So, unless you’re a flat-earth 1980s audiophile who still values the notion of ‘Pace, Rhythm and Timing’ to the utter exclusion of all else, I would wager that for you, like me, it will be merely a passing observation.

The stylus illuminator light is a high-brightness and long-life white LED for improved visibility of the stylus tip even in a dark environment. The torque/brake speed adjustment can be adjusted individually in four steps. This, along with the rotation speed switch, and reverse play can be adjusted by switches on the main unit, under the platter.

With the platter off, you can also change the strobe LED color from the standard red to blue.

The audiophile features are a Coreless Direct Drive motor with an updated version of Technics’ Static Balance S-Shaped Tonearm. The new Coreless Direct Drive Motor is said to be better and achieves the higher torque of the SL-1210MK5 table.

https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2025/3/3/perpetuum-ebner-pe-6060-turntable

To get a sense of speed stability, I broke out an old TAS Superdisc, Ikuyo Kamiya performing Beethoven’s Appassionata (RCA Japan RDC-4). I hadn’t heard this in years, and not only was there rock-solid speed stability with no wow or flutter detectable, but the powerful performance had shocking dynamic shifts that made your hair stand on end. Rich, warm, and resonant with gorgeous sparkle and clarity on top. Not a hint of distortion, and Kamiya is punishing this Bosendorfer! While there are better performances, this record is a sonic masterpiece. It shows that vinyl is capable of much more than we imagine.

Breaking out the MOFI One Step pressing of Donald Fagen’s Nightfly, the track “The Goodbye Look” had a huge, expansive sound with excellent layering and space. The tonality was spot on, and the groove intoxicating. The bell trees used at the conclusion were distinct, with no smearing, and Fagan’s voice came through without a hint of glare. I was able to turn this up to the maximum my amp will allow and had no acoustic feedback due to the excellent isolation built into the Perpetuum Ebner PE 6060.

You might be wondering how the PE 6060 deals with rock music. To test this out, I chose Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys [sic] (Classic Records ST 472.) Even though this is not an audiophile recording, the Perpetuum / Ortofon combo made it sound like one! It locked right into the soulful groove of “Who Knows” and gave a great showing of the brilliant “Machine Gun.” I’ve been a little hesitant about tracing back to the rock records of my youth, fearing that they just won’t sound that great, but the performance of the PE-6060 has me rethinking that. The table can rock in a way that’s addictive.

https://www.hifinews.com/content/eat-fortissimof-note-turntablearm

If anyone understands that high-end audio is (or should be) considered part of the ‘luxury’ universe, it’s EAT. The Fortissimo is far from being as costly as the dearest decks on the market, yet it ranks with the classiest. Fortunately, the sound matches this turntable’s sheer presence, and the F-Note is an ideal arm choice for neurotic cartridge fetishists. At the price, and by today’s measures? A bargain.

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/pro-ject-debut-evo-2

The new cartridge is a considerable step forward too. Ortofon’s 2M Red was one of the weaker aspects of the original EVO and I found that it truly gave its best when I moved to a 2M Blue (HFC 375). The bundled Pick It MM EVO is closer in performance to the Blue and, given that the cost of that stylus upgrade largely covers the cost between the EVO 1 and EVO 2, it has to be seen as great value.

This is because those other upgrades all make a difference too. Playing the demanding but sublime Origins by Skalpel, the Pro-Ject combines that gratifying level of detail retrieval with a general togetherness that can elude relatively affordable decks. At a point where some rival models can begin to sound fractionally disjointed and congested, the EVO 2 still generates a genuinely impressive soundstage that places material in a way that feels completely self-explanatory. It is tonally believable and manages the neat trick of flattering less than stellar pressings while also delivering the goods with truly excellent ones.

https://pt.audio/2025/03/28/technics-sl-1300g-turntable-review/#google_vignette

Through all of my listening sessions, I was reminded of one of the main reasons why I respect Technics turntables such as the 1200G and now the 1300G–and that’s the simple, precise way everything works. The Technics SL-1300G is a fantastic turntable for those vinyl lovers who find themselves clumsy and nervous around something like the J. Sikora, which requires that you be incredibly mindful about it whenever you’re within a couple of feet from your equipment rack. One careless swipe of the hand and that free-floating unipivot arm is going to start bouncing all over the place. Cueing with the Technics, however, is almost fool-proof in comparison–the movement of the level corresponds exactly with the lowering of the stylus and the positioning of the arm is low enough to plinth to eradicate any feelings that the cantilever of the cartridge, the Aidas in particular, is just way too far out in free space.