2014 Customer Reviews

2014 Customer reviews

Are you looking to indulge in some Hi-Fi equipment, but can’t decide which product to buy? To help you with your choice, maPlatine.com has collated testimonials from our customers on 2014’s standout products.

 

Turntables, Hi-Fi cartridges, cables, phono preamplifiers and accessories, you'll find the reviews on our product pages in this guide. Thanks to the feedback kindly left for us by our customers, you will hopefully get a clearer idea of the best choice of Hi-Fi equipment for you. 

 

Customer reviews of turntables

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable

 

'[…] A top quality and carefully prepared product. I couldn’t have hoped for a better product for my first venture into the world of vinyl! Thank you and good job to the whole team for the amazing work you do! Keep on making people happy ☺’ 

 Sara R.

 

‘FIRST RATE Beautiful finish, thank you to the team for the pre-setup before shipment - ordered the turntable on Wednesday and it was delivered on Friday morning, assembly was so easy and it sounds great! ' 

Daniel L.

 

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Special Edition 2M Red turntable

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Special Edition 2M Red turntable

 

'EXCELLENT! […] The sound quality of this turntable is spot on! Playback is precise and full of melody. Thanks maPlatine.com! '

Romain L.

 

'[…] It’s given my old '70-80s records a new lease of life! It was delivered within 48 hours, with complete setup and rock solid packaging. Thank you very much. '

Patrice P.

 

Rega RP1 Performance Pack turntable

Rega RP1 performance pack turntable

 

 

'VERY SATISFACTORY I really recommend maPlatine.com. It gives you a lot of information to help you make your choice, and the videos are really useful. […] I am very happy with this little Rega. It’s perfect for listening to records over and over again - the sound quality is perfect. ' 

Damien E.

 

Debut Esprit Carbon turntable

Pro-Ject Debut Esprit Carbon turntable

'GREAT GREAT GREAT! Flawless delivery in record time. […] Pure joy. The sound is really impressive: perfect left/right separation, the brass bursts out, the drums pound, the guitars sing. The detail and musicality of the playback are so incredible, they put MP3 and CDs to shame! […]  It should obviously only be used to play records that are in very good condition. Thank you to the whole team for your excellent service and incredible professional commitment to bringing our records to life! ' 

François G.

 

Pro-Ject RPM 1 Carbon turntable

Pro-Ject RPM 1 Carbon turntable

 

'PURE BLISS! It’s such a joy to be able to rediscover the records I grew up with. I spent a few weeks re-listening to them on an old PL 300 before deciding that I needed to invest. And I definitely haven’t been disappointed by the RPM 1 Carbon - the glossy finish, carbon fibre tonearm and cartridge all look great. Combined with my LX 87 and B&W 604 S3 speakers, my old Pink Floyd records (including a 1973 original) sound absolutely amazing. […] Thank you to the maPlatine.com team for the sturdy packaging and quick delivery. And I really appreciated the extra touch of the test report hand-signed by the technician - very professional. I'll be seeing you soon! '

Damien C.

 

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB turntable

 

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB turntable

 

'MY FIRST TURNTABLE. Great turntable! I love its understated, stripped back style, but what really gives it the edge is being able to change the speed with the single flick of a switch - it makes life so much easier and the price difference is minimal. I’m rediscovering all of my favourite music through my new turntable. […]  The team’s advice was also really helpful. They guided me to the perfect turntable for my budget and needs. They also gave me great advice on which Hi-Fi equipment would sound the best with it. […]  The turntable was all set up and tested when I received it, so all I had to do was assemble it (YouTube link), which was really easy, even for a novice like me. Thank you maPlatine.com for your professionalism, patience and friendliness! […]' 

Sylvain D.

 

Rega RP3 turntable

Rega RP3 turntable

‘This turntable is very easy to use and has a lot of musicality. Great combination with the Elys 2 cartridge. I was given flawless advice by Franck, as well as a meticulous setup and quick and secured delivery! Thanks maPlatine.com! ' 

Antoine C.

 

Pro-Ject 2-Xperience Acryl turntable

Pro-Ject 2 X-perience acryl turntable

 

'TOP SOUND AND TOP DESIGN! A turntable worthy of this accolade used to be the one thing missing from my phono equipment. But now all that has changed. […]I opted for a Stylus Blue instead of the 2M Red, connected Connect It cable and an Atoll preamp to go with my (old) IN100 of the same brand. Everything sounds great, from smooth jazz to anarchic funk. The bass is full-bodied, the mids are clear and distinct, the treble is balanced - I love it. […] Pure joy. ' 

Eric L.

 

Clearaudio Concept turntable – MM Pack

Clearaudio Concept Turntable MM Pack

'[…] After I set it up, which really was child’s play because everything had been prepared and set up for me, I took a step back just to take in the flawless finish of the thing - it had all the craftsmanship of a fine, luxury watch. […] I put a record on and was immediately struck by the clarity, without any of the harshness or listener fatigue you get with CDs, or even with some of the more expensive turntables. Now I can finally spend some quality time with records I’ve been missing for years. Thank you again for your service, [...] I am extremely happy with my purchase. ' 

Alain V.

 

Pro-Ject X-Tension 10 Evo turntable

Pro-Ject X-Tension 10 Evo turntable

'THANK YOU! A beautiful specimen – paired with a Cadenza Blue, I’m hearing my LPs in a whole new light: definition, dynamics, full bass… it’s a great investment I don't regret. Thank you to the whole team, and especially to Franck for his outstanding professionalism and availability. […]' 

Bertrand L.

 

VPI Classic 2 turntable

VPI Classic 2 turntable
 

 'One of the best turntables in the segment; a true benchmark!'. My God! The maPlatine.com recommendation sets expectations very high.  But does it live up to the hype? Choosing a new turntable is never an easy choice, and especially for an out-and-out muso. […] The result? This Classic 2 has exceeded my expectations. First of all, it’s an imposing machine, very solidly built, with a vast, heavy platter and the fantastic JMW Classic 10.5 VTA unipivot tonearm. […] And as for the sound (the most important thing!) its fantastic cartridge gets out of those grooves? Simply put, it’s clean, clear and authentic. It’s got the full range. The bass is deep, the dynamic range is very authentic. It has the ability to retrieve low level information, and is able to recreate the authentic sound of live music, particularly for live recordings of concerts. You really feel like the musicians are in the room. The VPI Classic 2 doesn’t just play music. It lets you live it, fully, completely. ' 

Jean-Louis R.

 
 

Customer reviews of cartridges

Ortofon 2M Red cartridge

Ortofon 2M Red cartridge

'IT'S GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY. I’ve had this cartridge for 3 months now and I am very happy with it. I was hesitating between the Goldring Elektra and the Grado Blue, and as advised by the site technicians, they recommended this amazing cartridge for my old Technics SL22. It’s great value for money. […]' 

Anthony H.

 

Soundsmith Zephyr MKII HO VPI cartridge

Soundsmith zephyr MKII H0 VPI cartridge
 
 

'As appropriate, my Zephyr MKII has a 10" VPI tonearm. It also runs through an MM phono preamp,, no need for fuss with anything else. I haven’t had it for long, but it’s already become an important part of my musical life. It’s hard to explain why... I’ve never got so much out of my records, and most of them aren’t new by any means! I’m seeing a whole new side to these old recordings. The sound stage is deep, clear and precise. Hardly any surface noise. Individual instruments sound distinct and in exactly the right place. You can hear everything. The transparency and depth are incredible. The sound is very natural and authentic. When it’s a good recording, it’s like you’re right there at the gig, next to the stage. Quite frankly, apart from longer playback times, how can CDs even compete? ' 

Jean-Louis R.

 

Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge

Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge
 
 

'THIS CARTRIDGE IS IN LINE WITH THE MOST FAMOUS MODELS ON THE MARKET! The sound quality produced by the Ortofon Cadenza Black is so good that you can barely hear any flaws or imbalance. Its neutrality, as well as its talent, common among the ‘big name’ cartridges, for separating individual instruments well makes for vibrant, authentic listening. Thank you to maPlatine.com for the recommendation - it was well worth it! ' 

Alain M.

 

Benz Micro Reference S cartridge

Benz Micro Reference S cartridge
 

'FABULOUS! I bought this cartridge to replace the Ply on my Wilson Benesch Circle […]. Such a step up in quality! It’s got it all: musicality, precision, the full range. The only thing to watch out for is the low output level. It’s not a problem, it just needs to be taken into consideration when choosing a phono preamp. Thanks a million for your sound advice! ' 

BOST J.

 

Transfiguration Axia MK3 cartridge

Transfiguration Axia MK3 cartridge
 
 

'MAGICAL! I’ve had this magic cartridge for a few months now. I’ve used it for a total of around 150 hours, so it’s properly broken in. ‘Magic’ is definitely the word for it: there is so much subtlety to the sound, it’s soft when it needs to be soft but with the full dynamic range and impact as well. The textures are incredible - so sweet and rich. This cartridge gets it just right - no one register comes out stronger than another. I can't get enough, I could spend hours listening to it - not to the cartridge itself, but to the music it plays. […] I was able to try other cartridges in different price ranges (Benz Micro Glider, Sumiko Blue Point Evolution 3 for example), the Axia is far superior (used with a Linn LP12 turntable with Ittok LVII tonearm). […]' 

Sylvain R.

 

Customer reviews of accessories

 

Clearaudio Smart Matrix Pro record cleaning machine

Clearaudio Smart Matrix Pro record cleaning machine
 

'A GENUINE RESURRECTION! I am by nature a sceptical person. I usually clean my records very methodically by hand with a specialised cleaning product, and I would never have thought that a machine could do a better job. But that’s exactly what happened with the SMART MATRIX! It made records I thought were a complete lost cause sound good again! It really reduced breath, background noise and loud crackling, letting the music take centre stage again in all its clarity and joy. […]'

Alain M.

 

'EXCELLENCE. […] Highly effective at getting rid of all imperfections from my records, even new ones, and they don’t gather dust again even after several plays. It got rid of crackling completely on some records, and reduced them significantly on others that had a lot of scratches. […]. Thank you to the maPlatine.com team for letting me try out this machine. ' 

Jean-Jacques M.

 

‘VERY EFFECTIVE I was able to try out this record cleaning machine on some old records (mostly bought second hand) as well as some new ones. It is very effective: it got rid of all electrostatic charge and cleaned off the dirt and stains (dust from paper, residue from the manufacturing process, etc.) from the new records, and the old records came out very clean, regardless of their previous condition. […] And you can really hear the difference - it was like a veil had been lifted. The sound was altogether more smooth. Thank you to the maPlatine.com team for letting me try it out. ' Sylvain R.

 

Rega 24V Motor Upgrade Kit

Rega 24V Motor Upgrade Kit
 

'NO IFS AND BUTS First of all, I'd like to stress the speed of delivery […] and the professionalism of maPlatine.com. My Rega Planar 3 is 28 years old, hence my decision to give it a facelift and a new belt. […] The difference in sound has been seismic: the dynamic range is on point, and the brass crescendo at the end of ‘Amsterdam’ builds up seamlessly. It’s a great way to rediscover your old records - I would definitely recommend it. ' 

Jacques B.

 

Rega RP1 turntable performance pack

Rega RP1 turntable performance pack
 

'A REVELATION! Incredible! My RP2 (which I thought was an RP1) has been completely transformed. It's more precise, more natural, more dynamic, with glorious bass (and my system needs a lot of bass!), the stereo is unbelievably natural - I’m blown away! A special thank you to the maPlatine.com team for being so friendly and patient, and for setting up my RP2 so thoroughly! […]'

Stephane L.

 

Spin Clean Record Washer System

 Spin clean record washer system
 

'TOP! Like a lot of people, I used to be confused by the idea of record cleaning. But I’m bowled over! Records that I thought were too scratched and completely written off have completely come back to life after just one go on this yellow contraption. Incredible - just great. And I don't see how the process could be more simple or effective! Thank you for your sage advice. ' 

Frédéric B.

 

Furutech FI-E-11 CU Shuko copper connector

 Furutech FI-E-11 CU Shuko copper connector
 
 

'Quite paradoxically, it's the silence that struck me the most. It cuts record surface noise in half, letting the music and the music alone come through. With headphones on it’s really something else! Thank you to maPlatine.com for nuggets of wisdom like this! '

 Michel T.

 
 

Our customer reviews of phono stages

 

Pro-Ject Box S phono preamp

Pro-Ject Box S phono preamp

'PERFECT! I bought a full Pro-Ject combo: Carbon Esprit, Phono Box S and Connect It CC cables. Everything works really well and absolutely kills through my Naim setup (amp + HiCap + Credo), which makes everything sound perfectly in line and consistent/ [...]. It’s useful to be able to upgrade my MM or MC cartridges and manually adjust the gain levels on this small, discreet box. '
Frédéric C.

 

Pro-Ject Tube Box S phono preamp

Pro-Ject Tube box S phono preamp
 

'AMAZINGLY EFFICIENT AND NATURAL! Thank you for setting it up for the MOJO! This little preamp really does the job perfectly, regardless of the style of music. I'll say it as it is: I'm rediscovering my records, hearing that many details is just amazing (they were hidden so far) without exaggerating and being too clinical, it's beautiful, natural and always excellent musically speaking! '

Alexandre S.

 

Clearaudio Basic Plus phono preamp

Clearaudio Basic Plus phono preamp
 

'First, thanks to maPlatine.com for their professionalism ☺ From the opening bars, you're struck by clear sound, the dynamics and the details. I was about to sell my P3 and replace it with this Elys II that I eventually found too confusing. I now realise that my Fono did the job but was a bit lazy. Let's say it was doing the strict minimum. Having said that, for €295 (in 2005), you can't expect to get a top preamp. The Basic Plus sheds new light on my records. More details, as I've already pointed out. Well! For €700, it's perfect. The difference with a preamp at €300 is fully justified. ' 

Jean Daniel K.

 

Jolida JD9 SE1 phono preamp

 Jolida JD9 se1 phono preamp
 
 

'WONDERFUL. It was a good idea to follow Franck's advice. I'm really glad I bought it. Clear, fast with a really precise sound. Though the bass sometimes lacks a bit of precision, this preamp is pure bliss! ' 

Daniel S.

 

Moon 310 LP phono stage

Moon 310 LP phono preamp

'EXCELLENT! Excellent product, flawless finish. The components take some time to break in, but the music is clearly open. maPlatine.com service always at its best. […].' 

Alexis R.

 

Benz Micro PP-1 phono preamp

 
Benz Micro PP-1 phono preamp

'THE BENZ SOUND! After maPlatine.com's sound advice (as always!), I paired this PP-1 to my Benz Micro Wood cartridge! What sound, what dynamics! What transparency! What silence! Music, music, great music! It gives my LPs a whole new meaning! Thanks a lot! I'll be seeing you soon! ' 

Jean-Claude G.

 

Sutherland 20/20 phono preamp

 
Sutherland 20/20 phono preamp
 

'NOTHING BUT MUSIC! I opted for this preamplifier on the recommendations of the maPlatine.com team, as I wanted to fully enjoy my Dynavector cartridge. It just blew my mind straight away! This machine allows the music to express itself fully. I haven't looked back on this purchase since! '

Jerome T.

 

Our customer reviews of Hi-Fi cables

 

Pro-Ject Connect It RCA CC phono cable

Pro-Ject Connect it rca cc phono cable
 

'GREAT COMBO. Because my turntable is distant from my amp, I upgraded my system with this 258 cm cable... I was truly amazed by the clear sound and the presence/stage it added to my records. Recommended to boost your system without blowing your budget! (Thanks maPlatine.com for the sound advice). ' 

Frédéric C.

 

VPI JMW Phono cable MK2

 VPI JMW phono cable mk2 phono cable
 

'Bought directly with a VPI Classic 2 turntable. Unless you can afford very high-end equipment (and endless hours for comparative testing), this cable is ideal, well crafted and makes a perfect addition to a VPI turntable. It doesn't interfere with the source's sound quality at all and creates genuine consistency of the analogue source within a Hi-Fi stereo system. […] Very satisfied with the great value for money. And it's not even fully broken in yet… '

Jean-Louis R

 

Transparent The MusicLink Super phono cable

Transparent The Musiclink Super phono cable
 

'SURPRISING. I've always found buying cables a difficult task. Too expensive […] but Franck has been a great help and he was right once again: optimising the source is better that adding unnecessary elements such as woofer and so on. This cable is fabulous and it's not even broken in yet! I did a blind test, my wife thought that I'd fiddled with the speed box because the dynamics were so much vibrant ;)! But there's more to it...the bass is very deep and the sound stage is clearer, the mids are also more balanced…[…] not to mention the Ultra range… The cables are obviously a major part of the system, but you have to choose them properly. […]' 

Alexandre T.

 

QED Performance Audio 2 interconnect cable

QED performance audio 2 interconnect cable
 

'THE BEST! Great audio cable, actually my first audiophile cables and I never thought the difference would be so great in terms of clarity and additional details! Really a great bargain at an affordable price to upgrade a Hi-Fi system. […]' 

Fabien D.

Please feel free to leave a review of your favourite products and help fellow music lovers in need of assistance!