Analog Source of 1993
Basis Ovation turntable ($4395; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.16 No.7, July 1993 Review)
If you don't live in New York or Los Angeles and you've mislaid the July '93 Stereophile, which featured Guy Lemcoe's survey of mail-order LP sources, vinyl must have been pretty thin on the ground in 1993. Yet Stereophile ended up reviewing more LP playback components this year than we'd ever expected. The Basis Ovation turntable may have got the lion's share of the writers' votes, but the other analog nominees were close on its heels. Nevertheless, with the Ovation fitted with a Graham tonearm carrying the Symphonic-Line RG-8 cartridge, Dick Olsher got LP sound that was "sensational": tight, punchy, and dynamic bass, a believable soundstage, a lower midrange that "was fleshed out with [such] startling clarity...that recordings projected a potent 'you are there' feeling." Which, of course, is why the LP stills wins out over CD. It's ironic that, in this tenth year of digital acceptance, LP playback, as typified by the Basis Ovation and the other analog nominees, has risen to heights undreamed of when LP was all we had to play.
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Marigo Well-Tempered Arm & Turntable Modifications ($179–$279; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.16 No.4, April 1993)
Naim ARO tonearm ($1695; reviewed by Markus Sauer, Vol.16 No.6, June 1993 Review)
SOTA Comet integrated turntable ($500 with tonearm, $650 with tonearm and Reflex Clamp; reviewed by Guy Lemcoe, Vol.16 No.8, August 1993)
Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge ($295; reviewed by Corey Greenberg, Vol.16 Nos.4 & 12, April & December 1993)
Symphonic-Line RG-8 cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.16 No.2, February 1993)
The Well-Tempered Classic Turntable ($2225; reviewed by Arnis Balgalvis, Vol.11 No.3, March 1988; and Robert Harley, Vol.16 No.4, April 1993)
Naim ARO tonearm ($1695; reviewed by Markus Sauer, Vol.16 No.6, June 1993 Review)
SOTA Comet integrated turntable ($500 with tonearm, $650 with tonearm and Reflex Clamp; reviewed by Guy Lemcoe, Vol.16 No.8, August 1993)
Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge ($295; reviewed by Corey Greenberg, Vol.16 Nos.4 & 12, April & December 1993)
Symphonic-Line RG-8 cartridge ($5000; reviewed by Dick Olsher, Vol.16 No.2, February 1993)
The Well-Tempered Classic Turntable ($2225; reviewed by Arnis Balgalvis, Vol.11 No.3, March 1988; and Robert Harley, Vol.16 No.4, April 1993)
