Buying guides that name the trade-off
Turntables, speakers and stereo systems — specifications read closely, prices checked against live retailer listings, and the compromises product pages leave out written down plainly.
Marantz CINEMA 70s Series 2 Review: Is It Worth $200 More?
✓Reviewed by David Chen Marantz’s slimline CINEMA 70s Series 2 AV receiver goes on sale in the United States today,…
Best Turntable Cartridge Upgrades for 2026: The Stylus Guide That Works
✓Reviewed by David Chen If your records sound thin, harsh, or oddly distant even on a turntable you like, the…
Sonos Ace Ultra vs Beam Ultra: Best Wireless Home Audio 2026
✓Reviewed by David Chen Sonos closed out its biggest product cycle of the year this September, opening preorders on two…
✓Reviewed by David Chen Marantz’s slimline CINEMA 70s Series 2 AV receiver goes on sale in the United States today,…
Latest guides
Marantz CINEMA 70s Series 2 Review: Is It Worth $200 More?
✓Reviewed by David Chen Marantz’s slimline CINEMA 70s Series 2 AV receiver goes on sale in the United States today,…
Best Turntable Cartridge Upgrades for 2026: The Stylus Guide That Works
✓Reviewed by David Chen If your records sound thin, harsh, or oddly distant even on a turntable you like, the…
Sonos Ace Ultra vs Beam Ultra: Best Wireless Home Audio 2026
✓Reviewed by David Chen Sonos closed out its biggest product cycle of the year this September, opening preorders on two…
Turntable Setup Guide: Six Steps to Do It Properly
This turntable setup guide starts with the thing nobody tells you: a turntable that arrives in a box is not…
DJ Setup for Beginners: Three Routes and What They Cost
The question every DJ setup for beginners starts with is which gear to buy. The more useful question is which…
Best DJ Turntables for Beginners: Why Direct Drive Only
The best DJ turntables for beginners are a different machine from a listening turntable, though they look alike. Buying the…
Turntables
Decks, cartridges and setup.
Speakers & systems
Active, passive and complete systems.
More guides
Marantz CINEMA 70s Series 2 Review: Is It Worth $200 More?
✓Reviewed by David Chen Marantz’s slimline CINEMA 70s Series 2 AV receiver goes on sale in the United States today,…
Best Turntable Cartridge Upgrades for 2026: The Stylus Guide That Works
✓Reviewed by David Chen If your records sound thin, harsh, or oddly distant even on a turntable you like, the…
Sonos Ace Ultra vs Beam Ultra: Best Wireless Home Audio 2026
✓Reviewed by David Chen Sonos closed out its biggest product cycle of the year this September, opening preorders on two…
Best Phono Preamps for 2026: Spec-Led Picks From $99 to $499
✓Reviewed by David Chen A phono preamp is the single most impactful upgrade you can make to a vinyl system,…
Best Bookshelf Speakers for Vinyl in 2026: Spec-Led Picks for Every Budget
✓Reviewed by David Chen The right pair of bookshelf speakers turns a turntable from a novelty into a genuine hi-fi…
Best Bluetooth Turntables for 2026: Wireless Vinyl Without the Compromise
✓Reviewed by David Chen Bluetooth turntables have quietly become the fastest-growing segment of the vinyl hardware market. With U.S. vinyl…
Does it protect your records?
For turntables this is the first test. A sealed cartridge tracking at 5g wears your collection, whatever else it does well.
Can it be repaired?
Equipment that becomes scrap when one component fails is worse value than its price suggests.
Is the price current?
Every price is checked against live retailer listings and dated in the article. Year-old prices are not a buying guide.
Is the trade-off stated?
Most equipment is good at something and poor at something else. A guide that only lists strengths is advertising.
New guides, and price checks when they change
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