Welcome to the 15th edition of Record Roundup, my semi-regular feature covering notable news in the world of turntables. We may be in the dog days of summer, but there has been plenty happening in this area as manufacturers continue to cater to the growing number of music lovers who prefer records over other formats. Today I am spotlighting four releases that will be of interest to fans of listening to their music on vinyl.
This white model is the first in a series of limited editions of the +RECORD PLAYER SPECIAL EDITION
All-in-one audio systems that include an integrated turntable are very popular. They allow you to listen to records in a small space and without the hassle of having to buy and connect a series of components. It’s especially exciting to see (and hear) the versions that are aimed at a more musically discerning crowd. One of the first of these I reviewed was the +RECORD PLAYER, a system I described as having “killer sound” with its Pro-Ject turntable, four drivers, 100W amplification, Bluetooth streaming, and multiple listening modes.
PLUS AUDIO has announced that its upgraded +RECORD PLAYER SPECIAL EDITION will be offered in a series of limited editions featuring modern colors and fabrics like the white shown here (coming in October but available now for pre-order). Same great design and highly capable sound output, limited edition color schemes, and the SPECIAL EDITION version offers two key upgrades to its integrated Pro-Ject turntable: a carbon fiber tonearm, and an Ortofon 2M Red MM cartridge.
SPECIAL EDITION versions carry a $200 premium over the base model, listing at $1,999.
The new Technics SL-100C looks very much like the more expensive SL-1500C.
Earlier in August, Technics announced an affordable version of its iconic direct drive turntables. The new Technics SL-100C offers the look and key features of the company’s more expensive models (the award-winning SL-1500C and the popular since the 1970s SL-1200 series), including a core-less direct drive motor and an S-shaped tonearm. The $999.99 SL-100C comes equipped with an Audio-Technica VM95C moving magnet cartridge with a conical stylus.
The T160 is one of two new T-series shelf audio systems from Crosley.
Lost in all the announcements coming out of January’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2022) were a pair of new audio systems from Crosley. I missed these in the wave of new product releases, but that oversight has now been corrected.
The T160 and T-170 both carry a $189.95 MSRP. Both are retro-inspired shelf systems consisting of a turntable and a pair of matching stereo speakers. The two-speed turntables feature an aluminum tonearm with a pre-mounted MM cartridge, an aluminum platter, and automatic operation. Besides spinning vinyl, the Crosley systems can also be used to stream Bluetooth audio.
Fluance delivers room-filling sound without an amplifier with its new Ai81 Elite powered … [+]
Canada’s Fluance is one of my favorite audio brands these days. The company offers a compelling lineup of turntables covering everyone from the beginner to audiophiles. Before it entered the turntable market, Fluance was known primarily for speakers, and it has continued to excel here as well. Of particular interest to new turntable buyers are the Fluance powered bookshelf speakers. With a pair of these, any turntable with a built-in preamplifier could be directly plugged in, creating a compact audio system with true stereo sound.
The idea of skipping the space requirements and cost of a separate amplifier or receiver is popular among turntable owners in general. The challenge is that powered speakers are almost always bookshelf speakers. Some listeners are looking for a little more “oomph.”
If you’re in this camp, you are going to be very happy to hear about the latest release from Fluance: the Ai81 Elite powered floor-standing tower speakers. These offer all the traditional advantages of powered speakers. They are equipped with a powerful 150W amplifier and support Bluetooth streaming. As floor-standing speakers, the MDF cabinets have the space for dual 6.5-inch woven glass fiber drivers, plus neodymium tweeters and down-firing bass ports. The driver and amp configuration is designed to deliver plenty of volume, powerful bass, and accurate imaging. If you want even more low end, there is a subwoofer output. You can also connect additional audio sources with dual RCA jacks and optical input.
The Fluance Ai81 Elite powered floor-standing tower speakers may just be the ultimate powered speaker option for vinyl enthusiasts. They are priced at $499 for a pair on their own, or you can buy them in packages including a $1,096.99 version that’s built around the flagship RT85N turntable equipped with a Nagaoka cartridge (reviewed here) plus a phono pre-amp.
Missed the last edition of Record Roundup? You can read it here, featuring IKEA’s new turntable and the reason why record prices are skyrocketing.
