Howard Popeck writes: The Synchro was mid-priced turntable inspired by the original GyroDec, but with an inverted-pendulum suspension and a glass platter. It looked dazzling 20 years ago, and it still does today. In the John Michell tradition, all the working parts are exposed, superbly engineered and impeccably cosmetically finished. It has a cast-ring sub […]
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I was reading your observations on The Michell Synchro. Did you ever hear the Mycro? How was it by comparison? At one time Subjective Audio stocked the entire range of Michell Engineering turntables including the Prisma and the twin-platter Prisma. Sonically we heard little difference between the Mycro and the Synchro. This was pretty much […]
Howard Popeck: Certainly. Now forgive me for saying this, but it is possible to over-analyse the wonder of music, the magic and the emotion. It’s a danger, but somehow I sense you aren’t going to fall into the trap. The most wonderful book on the sheer unadulterated joy of classical music without the usual patronising […]
Howard Popeck … The Synchro was mid-priced turntable inspired by the original GyroDec, but with an inverted-pendulum suspension and a glass platter. It looked dazzling 20 years ago, and it still does today. In the John Michell tradition, all the working parts are exposed, superbly engineered and impeccably cosmetically finished. It has a cast-ring sub […]
Contents: Comparative pricing Buying advice Minimalist power cord The tone balance control Headphone jack FM section Amplification section Suitable partners For and against Should YOU buy? Where to buy
Q: Gentlemen, whatever happened to the Boothroyd-Stewart ‘Orpheus’ pre and power amp? Did they ever make into production? The preamp was a gorgeous looking precursor to the ‘rainbow’ Lecson pre. Very ’70s (should suit André) with a Nextel suede finish. Can’t find an image, but it had the sort of design aesthetics that would, I’m […]
My opinion is consistent and contrary to the prevailing view. These days I use long speakers cables and short interconnects. This is because as far as I can tell, based on my own experiences and the writings of others with genuine expertise most modern power amps have a better ability to drive a complex load […]
Howard Popeck … It’s with considerable embarrassment that I recall both my musical ignorance and my inverse snobbery about musical styles. Styles that I neither understood nor wanted to understand, for no good reason at all in the early days of Subjective Audio. I call those days my irrational time. They’ve been a recurring event […]
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Out of my thousands of vinyl pressings the thought struck me that it might be interest, for me and perhaps for some of you to try and list my favourite 100. A big task, but not an unpleasant one. But for sanity’s sake I have to set a few limits. First, an era restriction. So, […]
Out of my thousands of vinyl pressings the thought struck me that it might be interest, for me and perhaps for some of you to try and list my favourite 100. A big task, but not an unpleasant one. But for sanity’s sake I have to set a few limits. First, an era restriction. So, […]
Out of my thousands of vinyl pressings the thought struck me that it might be interest, for me and perhaps for some of you to try and list my favourite 100. A big task, but not an unpleasant one. But for sanity’s sake I have to set a few limits. First, an era […]
Out of my thousands of vinyl pressings the thought struck me that it might be interest, for me and perhaps for some of you to try and list my favourite 100. A big task, but not an unpleasant one. But for sanity’s sake I have to set a few limits. First, an era […]
Out of my thousands of vinyl pressings the thought struck me that it might be interest, for me and perhaps for some of you to try and list my favourite 100. A big task, but not an unpleasant one. But for sanity’s sake I have to set a few limits. First, an era restriction. So, […]
Out of my thousands of vinyl pressings the thought struck me that it might be interest, for me and perhaps for some of you to try and list my favourite 100. A big task, but not an unpleasant one. But for sanity’s sake I have to set a few limits. First, an era restriction. So, […]
In your experience, do mains leads really make a difference, and are the expensive ones really capable of offering value? Mains cables do change the sound of audio equipment. Unfortunately there’s a lot claims made about mains cables that are exaggerated. I suggest that the effect of a mains cable is not as important as […]
Hello Howard. I have been meaning to ask you for some time what has happened with your association with the Funk firm products. I was also particularly looking forward to your proposed interview with Arthur. In my opinion Funk remain one of the most musically credible and musically convincing turntable designs of all time. However […]
At the time that the Trio LO7D arrived (I was their most successful retailer at that time) TRIO released the LO7C preamp and the LO7 and LO5 mono power amps. These were a very fine combination and as is typically of those times with so many of the great and legendary Japanese makers, it seemed […]
“Blown away” for a 3.27% investment: A cursory look at some audio forums will show that a great number of contributors don’t buy the idea that power cables make a difference in a high end audio system. Some of them claim to be engineers and a proportion of them might be. Some write with what […]
Try as I might, and frankly I don’t try all that hard that often, I’m rather taken with the look of an audiophile item to the extent that I’ll buy, or covet it. Yes, it’s sad. But … Or put differently, the sound quality takes second place – sometimes. My Yamaha C1 pre amp […]
Howard Popeck writes: Only a mini test for this one I’m afraid. My notes from that time are not very comprehensive. Anyway … Built in 1978, the Gamma V is a very sensitive and selective rack-mount style digital tuner. It cost around £400 when new, as best I can recall. Construction is all frame and […]
Howard Popeck writes: First things first, try and get hold of the biography of this tragic man, called “The Mighty Shadow” ISBN 0851125832. It is invaluable if you are a novice about this man and/or that era’s R&B. Yes, unappreciated seems to be appropriate here. I had a CD of “Live at Klooks Kleek”. This […]
From and including the 1970s, Linn popularised the concept of the A-B demonstration. It was, on the face of it, a faultlessly logical ethos. It was adopted by reviewers and dealers alike, myself included. It was rumoured they had mystery shoppers in circulation, prepared to report back any deviation from the dogma. For a while […]
Do you like the music of Elvis Costello? Hmm. Visualise me stroking my chin please. Okay – got that? Good. I’ll begin. But I haven’t met him! I’ve been thinking long and hard about the question you posed, do I like Elvis Costello? Try as I may, no simple answer emerges and I can only […]