It is already seen within the turntable class this 12 months as duos of decks from Rega and Professional-Ject, plus Technics and Vertere fashions, maintain onto their What Hello-Fi? Awards crowns from final season (and, usually, some seasons earlier than that too). Certainly, a What Hello-Fi? Awards ceremony with out at the least two of these iconic turntable manufacturers could be as acquainted as a Ballon d’Or pink carpet with out Lionel Messi and David Beckham.
Final 12 months we witnessed a shake-up within the camp as Professional-Ject’s Debut Professional ended the long-time reign of Rega’s Planar 3 (like when Ronaldo ended Messi’s successive haul in 2013), however there is not any such tussle this time, with each 2022 winner standing sturdy for an additional 12 months. In actual fact, the one motion within the class has been in its pricing parameters to accommodate a few fashions’ elevated asking costs, such is the present local weather of the market right this moment.
Surprises in a class could also be extra fascinating than stagnancy, however on a optimistic word, repeat wins simply go to point out how good (and compelling) these document gamers actually are. In case you purchased considered one of final 12 months’s winners, congratulations – you continue to personal a veritable class chief.
It is not just like the six gamers went unchallenged, both. Turntables from the likes of Cambridge Audio, Audio Technica, Lenco and Home of Marley have taken the combat to those established victors over the previous twelve months, however none was capable of delight our ears practically as a lot because the established class leaders when in comparison with them. That is the great thing about comparative testing, in fact – a testing course of the What Hello-Fi? opinions group prides itself on.
So, the winners in a nutshell…
First up we now have the Professional-Ject Major E, winner of the ‘Greatest turntable underneath £200’ Greatest Purchase award for the sixth – sixth! – consecutive 12 months. Heading up our greatest finances turntable shopping for information and costing little greater than a handful of vinyl information, the Major E is a performance-first, no-nonsense deck with a penchant for musicality. Plug it right into a phono-stage-toting amplifier, itself related to audio system, and first-time document spinners are away.
In case your finances can stretch a good bit additional, the Rega Planar 1 will provide you a similar phono-stage-less set-up however a markedly extra mature efficiency. The very best purchase ‘underneath £500’ picks up its eighth successive win this 12 months, no much less, so is about as recommendable as a roast dinner on a wet Sunday afternoon.
The aforementioned shock of final 12 months, the arrival (and calibre) of the Professional-Ject Debut Professional hasn’t seen Rega rush out a next-gen Planar 3 in an try and win again the mid-price gong. But, anyway. It stays “probably the most formidable and complicated Debut mannequin we’ve heard” and the benchmark-setter at this in style ‘£500-750’ worth level.
Now for a turntable with an built-in phono stage: the Technics SL-1500C. The delicate spinner could have gained just a few kilos(/{dollars}) over the previous twelve months, however although its asking worth is now 4 figures (simply), it could nonetheless be thought-about improbable worth – that is how good it’s. Potential consumers can count on a crisp, detailed and musically cohesive presentation, a spec sheet as stable as its design, and a heat internal glow that comes from understanding you personal a Technics deck.
Your internal glow ought to be blazing in case you’re fortunate sufficient to have the ability to afford the Rega Planar 6, one other document participant with a full trophy cupboard (six What Hello-Fi? Greatest Purchase Awards) and an excellent fuller sonic presentation. An important all-rounder, as refined as it’s dynamic, this Planar heavyweight is the one to purchase in case your finances can stretch to £1600/$2600/AU$3300.
Final however under no circumstances least (fairly the alternative, in actual fact!) is the Vertere DG-1 S (pictured prime in an alternate white end), the most recent iteration of a mannequin that has impressed us for plenty of years now. The high-end British model has widened its viewers by redefining a brand new ‘entry-level’ for itself (take that with a pinch of salt; the DG-1 S nonetheless prices simply shy of £4k after a small worth improve), and such an viewers could be fortunate to personal it. Exuding class, from its distinct-shaped platter to its crystal-clear, dynamic and thrilling presentation, the DG-1 S flies the flag for high-end engineering.
The Professional-Ject Debut Professional gained the class’s most esteemed Product of the 12 months gong final 12 months, however a brand new 12 months may imply a brand new class king. Tune into whathifi.com on Wednesday fifteenth November to search out out which of the six takes house the final word 2023 prize.
MORE:
See all What Hello-Fi? Award 2023 winners
Learn our all-new Rega Naia/Aphelion 2 turntable evaluation
Or see our knowledgeable decide of the finest turntables for each finances
