Audio Technica AT LP140lXP Turntable

 I recently bought a new turntable, the AT LP140lXP, to replace my worthy AT120 USB, I was not expecting a huge improvement in sound quality and I only heard a marginal improvement. Both these turntables attract both love and hate from commentators on "HIFI" forums. I can't see how anyone could love or hate a turntable. 

I could afford to pay a lot more money for a Technics Direct Drive (DD) turntable which is the progenitor of Audio Technics DD models.  So why didn't I splash out? I do not have a big collection of pristine and completely analogue produced LPs. If I did I might have spent a small fortune on a high quality Technics turntable or even a Linn belt drive. Most of my playing is by digital records. I have a number of modern re-mastered LPs but these have all be remastered using digital methods so I nearly always play the digital version unless I feel in the mood for a little bit of analogue nostalgia. The ATLP140xp serves my purpose well, I can play 78rpm shellac recordings, 45 rpm vinyl records and vinyl LPs both old and modern. The direct drive gives me plenty of torque for 78 rpm records and the pitch sliders are useful to play back "78" records that were not recorded at standard speed.

The ATLP140xp runs silently and I can hear no motor noise either from cupping my ear next the platter or when the record is running through the amplifier. I can hear no appreciable hum from the turntable even when the amplifier is turned up to maximum when I am not playing a record. My amplifier produces white noise at high volumes which masks any noise from from the turntable. I hear plenty of noise from the records themselves if I turn up the volume high enough. I do not hear any wow or flutter and a RPM calculator  on my portable 'phone shows that the turntable performs much better than specified. The tone arm does not skip even though I do not use the anti-skate. I have set up my cartridges to 2 grams down force and they show no signs of mis-tracking. I  use both micro line and conical styluses and they both sound wonderful. All in all the turntable provides a stable platform for my needs and I am amazed at how good it sounds even though it cannot match the performance of a well mastered cd. A piano sounds like a piano and a violon sounds like a violin etc. The turntable performs well with all sorts of music especially jazz.  I saw no need to change the "RCA" provided connector cables as they perform so well. So there is not need to spend  a fortune on the doubtful benefits of different cables.

I run the audio signal through a budget pre-amplifier which performs equally as well as the turntable and my all analogue amplifier.

The turntable is really well built with a metal plinth, it is heavy and all the controls work well, there is nothing to complain about. It also looks impressive. A technics deck is much stronger and it is built to finer tolerances and it is admirable, so I am sure owners are proud of this renowned and famous brand. 

However, I can't justify spending hundreds or even thousands more for a machine that will not be used that often. I have reached my full understanding of the law of diminishing returns, so I am not prepared to pay a fortune for almost minuscule improvements. My turntable cost £389, it performs really well. If it lasts as long as the AT 120 USB then I shall be delighted and will have found a real bargain. The AT120 USB has gone to a good home. The AT LP140xp will be looked after well and I shall show a little bit of admiration for it.

WiiM Pro Streamer

 I  bought a WiiM pro streamer a few months ago and it is a mighty fine device for the money. It replaces a Teufel Raumfeld streamer which bit the dust some time ago. It is not just a streamer but it is also a DAC and it has very good connectivity. It will play music via WIFI from my network, from  local files on my my tablet computer and TV set. It has digital optical, analogue line and  digital co-axial electric connectivity. It will stream music directly to my amplifier or to my DAC which is marginally superior to the WIIM Dac. It will not only stream my digital music files but also internet radio and music services from Amazon and Tidal etc. I can even connect the WIIM to the line output from my phono-stage to stream music from an LP but of course it converts LP music from analogue to digital . It also connects  via Bluetooth. The quality of the streamed music is second to none, and the user interface is superb and it maintains its connectivity, ably. All this for about £150!

If you want to pay £350 quid for the more sophisticated Wiim Ultra you get a built in phono-stage which will convert the phono output from a turntable to line level RIAA  output, so no need to buy a separate phono-stage, but of course the LP music will then be digital rather analogue.  Some purist won't like this. 

 I am so impressed with the little device, even though the case is made of plastic, that I no longer play CDs and I am also less enamoured of playing LPs, but so what - digital music sounds better and cleaner than vinyl anyway. This little device is a bargain which can easily compete with DAC and streamer separates which cost hundreds if not thousands more. It is Chinese music technology at its best,try it if you are not already into streaming; you won't be disappointed.