New Products

Andover, the Massachusetts audio company behind the innovative Spin System we reviewed a couple of years ago, has announced an updated version of its original SpinDeck turntable.

Slated to ship in March, the belt-driven SpinDeck 2 ($299) features a built-in phono preamp and is described as easy to operate and built to deliver “better sound quality than you would expect at its modest price.” The new model adds electronic speed control to ensure unwavering speed and the convenience of automatic start and shut-off. Lifting the tonearm starts the platter and when an album side is over, the tonearm returns and the turntable turns off.

The preamp can be bypassed for use with systems like Andover’s all-in-one Spinbase ($299) and SpinBase Max ($499) powered speaker systems that already have an onboard phono preamp.

The SpinDeck 2 is equipped with an 8.5-inch aluminum tonearm pre-fitted with an Audio-Technica moving-magnet phono cartridge, which replaces the Ortofon OM5E cartridge used on the original SpinDeck. Other highlights include a belt-drive mechanism designed to isolate vibration, a black or white MDF base with soft rubber isolating feet, removable dustcover, and a cast-aluminum platter with a silicone record mat.

Records can be played at 33 1/3 or 45 rpm, the latter with an adapter. For more information, visit andoveraudio.com.