Analog Gear News

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Hands On With the Cometa M2 Mixing Preamp
Julie Mullins  |  Aug 22, 2025

Today, we herald the official launch of a relatively new audio design company’s inaugural product — the Cometa M2 mixing preamp. This new analog component with some old-school attributes lent itself quite well to communal music listening, especially during its recent demo sessions at Common Wave Hi-Fi, an L.A.-area hi-fi dealership. Read Julie Mullins’ firsthand account of how the Cometa M2 appeals to audiophiles and DJs alike, especially when it’s connected to a pair of classic Technics turntables. . .

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Analog Gear News
Hegel Music Systems Debuts V10— Its First Ever MM/MC Phono Preamplifier
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 13, 2021
Norway-based Hegel Music Systems just announced the February 2021 release of the V10, the company's first MM/MC phono preamplifier, though chief designer Bent Holter says he's been "tinkering" with phono preamp designs since the mid 1990s.

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Analog Gear News
HiFiction Introduces Innovative X-quisite Cartridge Line
Michael Fremer  |  Jul 26, 2020
Switzerland-based HiFiction, best known for its line of Thales tangential tracking pivoted tonearms and high-performance compact turntables recently announced a new, high technology cartridge line called X-quisite (in July of 2018 HiFiction announced its acquisition of EMT’s cartridge assets).

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Analog Gear News
High End Munich 2023 Preview: Goldring E4 Moving Magnet Cartridge
Mike Mettler  |  May 16, 2023

With High End Munich 2023 right around the corner, we’re already getting word about some of the cool new analog gear debuting at the show. One such item that’s caught our eye is Goldring’s new E4 moving magnet cartridge. Read on to see what you can expect to get with the flagship E4 MMC. . .

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Analog Gear NewsMunich 2024
High End Munich 2024 Postscript, Part 1: New Gear From Wilson Benesch, Rui Borges, Kronos Audio, Dual, and Silence
Julie Mullins  |  Jun 17, 2024

We still have some more to say about what we saw and heard at Munich 2024. Read on to see the first of two postscript show reports from Julie Mullins, who fills us on cool new gear from the likes of Wilson Benesch, Rui Borges, Kronos Audio, Dual, and Silence. . .

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Analog Gear NewsMunich 2024
High End Munich 2024 Postscript, Part 2: Great New Gear Options From Benny Audio, Supatrac, Levin Design, Vertere, EAT, Vinyl Acoustic Laboratories, Acoustic Signature, AMG, and Nagra
Julie Mullins  |  Jun 18, 2024

We’re officially wrapping up our Munich 2024 coverage today with the second installment of Julie Mullins’ show report postscript. Read on to see what she found out firsthand about cool new gear from the likes of Benny Audio, Supatrac, Levin Design, Vertere, EAT, Vinyl Acoustic Laboratories, Acoustic Signature, AMG, and Nagra. . .

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Analog Gear NewsMunich 2024
High End Munich 2024 Preview: Origin Live Demo System and Renown Tonearm
Mike Mettler  |  Apr 29, 2024

Origin Live has given the green light to discuss their plans for what they’ll be showing at High End Munich 2024, and we’re more than happy to share what will be what with the internationally renowned turntable and tonearm company. Read on to see what comprises their Munich system and where it will be located, as well as all the details about the “first European sighting” of their Renown tonearm. . .

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Analog Gear News
Holiday Gift Ideas: Technics Grand Class Master Edition SL-1200GME & 1210GME Turntables
Mike Mettler  |  Dec 01, 2025

Welcome to December, fellow analog-o-philes! Since we are now also in the prime of the holiday season, we here at AP felt it would be a good idea to begin sharing a number of analog-related gift-giving suggestions for the most deserving and discerning listeners on your list. First up is a pair of limited-edition turntables from Technics — namely, their Master Edition SL-1200GME and SL-1210GME models. Read on to see why both of Technics’ GME tables are worthy of your gift-oriented attention and/or personal interest. . .

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Analog Gear NewsNews
How Audio-Technica Builds the ART1000 MC Phono Cartridge (price and tech correction)
Michael Fremer  |  Jul 16, 2016
During my visit to Audio-Technica in Machida City, Tokyo, Japan, I was I given a tour of the factory, which mostly produces microphones along with some headphone components. Other than the new ART1000, all of the cartridge manufacturing and assembly takes place either at another factory in Fukui, Japan or at an Audio-Technica owned factory in China.

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Analog Gear News
HRS’s Next-Gen E1X Isolation Base Minimizes Noise-Related Complications for Turntables & Amplifiers
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 31, 2023

You can have the best gear in the world in your system ready to play all those new and/or vintage LPs in your collection, but if any piece of equipment in the playback chain is not properly stabilized — especially when it comes to fortifying your turntable and/or amplifier(s), for example — then you’re just asking for unnecessary noise-related complications. With that in mind, the E1X Isolation Base from HRS might make for quite the good, stable option. Read on to get all the E1X base details. . .

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Analog Gear News
HumminGuru EZ Vinyl Record Washer
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 05, 2026

Happy 2026, everyone! We hope the holidays treated you well, and that you got all the cool new analog gear and LPs on your respective wishlists, and then some! Seeing how we’re all about how to best spin that precious vinyl of ours, what better way to start the new year than by looking at a great way to clean those new — and used! — LPs before that very first needle drop (not to mention all those repeated playbacks that will surely follow, for that matter). And thus, we give you HumminGuru’s EZ vinyl record washer, which is a logical, and quite affordable, entry point for anyone just getting into the art of LP cleaning. . .

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Analog Gear News
HumminGuru LUMI Record Stabilizer
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 15, 2025

We’ve long been fans of Hong Kong-based accessories manufacturer HumminGuru — especially when it comes to their ultrasonic record cleaning machines (RCMs) — and now they’re ready to add the all-caps LUMI record stabilizer to their top-shelf product offerings. Read on to see all we know about the LUMI, and all that it can do for you. . .

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Analog Gear News
I Have a +1 to the Third Man Records Pressing Plant Opening Party. Want to Go?
Michael Fremer  |  Feb 17, 2017
I have a +1 invitation to the grand opening party at Third Man Records' Detroit pressing plant for Friday February 24th at 8 PM. Want to join me?

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Analog Gear News
In The Record Cleaning Machine Wars VPI Comes Out Vacuuming
Michael Fremer  |  Sep 20, 2013
VPI just announced a new record cleaning machine, the MW-1 Cyclone. The new $1000 record cleaning machine shares the 16.5's shape but is of aluminum and has a removable lid rather than one that's hinged. Its bi-directional platter functions with the vacuum off or on.

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Analog Gear News
Insider Report: Acoustic Signature NEO Series Turntables
Mike Mettler  |  Oct 12, 2022

Yesterday, I spoke at length on the phone with Robert Hagemann of Acoustic Signature, the notable German manufacturer of top-tier turntables, tonearms, cartridges, phono preamps, record clamps, and other related accessories. Read on to learn more about the ins and outs regarding the scope of and philosophy behind all the NEO series entries in Acoustic Signature’s turntable and tonearm product offerings, and which of the company’s ’tables we’re likely to review next. . .

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