We pay tribute to some of our favourite homegrown turntables
Vinyl is the music format that just won’t go away. In fact, did you know that in 2022 vinyl sales beat CD sales for the first time since 1987? Well, now you do.
We are thrilled by the vinyl revival, but what good is loving vinyl if you don’t have a decent turntable to play it on?
As we recently celebrated British Hi-Fi Week, we took a trip down memory lane to admire some of the best record players from British audio companies that have passed through our test rooms.
We have been reviewing audio kit for the past 47 years, so while some companies are still going strong, others are sadly no longer with us. Regardless, all of these record players are brilliant examples of British audio engineering that well and truly stand the test of time.
Linn LP12 (1973)
We are starting with one of the best, bar none. Linn’s LP12 turntable was first introduced in 1972 and immediately proved popular with audiophiles. The range of compatible arms and cartridges the company made meant keeping this vinyl player up-to-date was satisfyingly easy.
Almost every aspect of the design has been revised over the years, and while the early breed of the LP12s had a round and rich balance, modern incarnations have moved towards a more neutral, even-handed sound. All of them have been firm What Hi-Fi? favourites.
Rega Planar 3 (1978)
Since its introduction in 1978, the Rega Planar 3 has been a go-to turntable (and its latest incarnation stalked off with successive What Hi-Fi? Awards in 2019, 2020 and 2021). A respectable mid-market record player, the Planar 3 remains an easy-going, low-cost piece of kit that continues to keep our vinyl spinning – and since the company keeps refining the product, we imagine it will stay that way for a while yet.
Michell Gyrodec (1982)
In 1982 the Gyrodec was a combination of great sound quality and artistic design. Bring the clock up to date and this player is still available – it’s a testament to its quality that it is essentially the same machine.
When it’s up and running it sounds detailed, expressive and graceful, ready to put down other products costing plenty more. It’s not plug-and-play – some assembly is required – but the instructions are clear, and there is a logic to its design that means it will be spinning your discs in no time. And when it’s spinning, there is nothing that looks quite like it.
Ariston Q-Deck (1990)
Ariston perhaps became best known for the patent case, Ariston vs. Linn, over the thorny
