Don’t Call It A Comeback
It’s a fact: Vinyl will not die. Manufacturers like Crosley and TEAC are churning out new turntables for the home user, a demographic that includes baby boomers rediscovering their old records and newbies finding out what the analog fuss is all about. Our annual Record Collecting Spotlight edition of “Gear” takes a look at new equipment for vinyl fans looking to record onto CD as well as download their dusties to their iPods.
TEAC
GF-350
TEAC‘s GF-350 vintage-style stereo system includes an all-in-one design that contains a three-speed (33, 45, and 78 rpm) turntable, a CD recorder/player (that records directly from the turntable), and a standard “gotta have-it” AM/FM tuner. Its classic 1950s black woodgrain cabinet is highlighted by a very 1980s faceplate that includes an LCD display – a cheesy, yet appropriate design considering vinyl’s last gasp before the CD took over as a buyer preference was circa 1988. List price is $499. For more details, visit www.teac.com.
CROSLEY
Stack-O-Matic
If TEAC’s turntable is a little too modern for you, Crosley‘s Stack-O-Matic will surely bring back a few good memories, or laughs. Crosley’s old school technology lets you individually stack up to six records at a time because it includes “a fully automatic swinging motion, as the arm reaches the stack, your next favorite album or 45 drops on the platter,” according the company. This player also includes six plastic inserts (spindle adapters) to play 45s. Crosley is arguably the leader in vintage-style record players (the original company was founded in 1920), and the Stack-O-Matic raises the bar even further for vinyl junkies. Suggested retail price is $179. Visit www.crosleyradio.com for more information.
L’ART DU SON
Record Cleaning Solution
German analog lobbyist Martina Schoener’s L’Art du Son record cleaning solution was developed after three years of trial-and-error research. This acclaimed concentrate makes up to four quarts of vinyl-cleaning fluid when added to ordinary store-bought distilled water. The fluid contains no alcohol, is non-toxic, and its anti-static formula is also biodegradable. The company claims after one application, users will hear a dramatic increase in bass response and dynamic range during LP playback. Its $45 tag is a bit pricier than a bottle of your ’70s standard-grade Discwasher solution, yet should last through thousands of cleanings when properly diluted. L’Art du Son also offers the solution as a DVD/CD cleaner. For more information, check out www.needle doctor.com
GEMINI
iKEY Plus USB Recorder
Gemini‘s updated iKEY Plus Portable USB Recorder is designed to record directly to any external USB storage device, including Apple’s iPod. iKEY can record audio from any audio device and write it directly to MP3 or WAV format in real time. iKEY’s updated Plus version now offers mic input, phono preamp, VU meter display, and headphone output. One important feature for vinyl fans is the recorder’s ability to transfer songs from LPs to an MP3 Player or CD player. Performers can also transfer live performances to an iPod from a mixing console via RCA outputs. iKEY Plus records audio to an uncompressed WAV format or MP3 format with a selectable bit rate, up to 256kbps. It also contains a DC charger input with DC adapter included for use with rechargeable batteries. Gemini recommends you take “iKey on the road.” Sounds like a plan. List price is $149; for more info visit www.ikey-audio.com
– David Gedge
