DIRECT-DRIVE turntables are making a comeback into audiophile territory, thanks largely to Technics, a pioneer in the field since the 1970s. Joining the gradually growing DD ranks is USA’s Music Hall Audio, which has introduced the Stealth, the company’s first ever such model.
It won’t cost you an arm and a leg, either – the retail is US$1,495, and there’s a cartridge on it as well. And, thankfully, none of the USB/onboard preamp nonsense that you can see on some of the cheaper DD models in the market these days that are aimed at vinyl newbies.
“Stealth is a true high-end turntable that combines rugged construction, superb audio performance, and unique design features with the ease of use generally associated with throw-away entry-level turntables,” the press release boasts.
“Music Hall has offered good-quality, high-value turntables since 1998, way before the vinyl revival,” adds Roy Hall, the company’s president for life.
“Stealth provides really good sound quality and performance without the hair-shirt bullshit that scares off a lot of vinyl newbies. There’s no reason to make record-playing any fucking harder than it has to be.”
The Stealth’s features are:
- Ultra quiet direct drive with brushless motor; no belt to slip or replace.
- A four-pound aluminium platter, rubber-damped on its underside and topped with vibration-damping rubber mat.
- High-performance aluminium tonearm with on-the-fly adjustment of VTA.
- Multi-layer plinth and adjustable vibration-damping feet for effective isolation from airborne and structure-borne vibration and feedback.
- Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge (US$230 value), mounted and precisely-aligned.
- Auto shut-off and automatic standby mode.
- Touch-activated electronic speed control of all three speeds (33⅓/45/78) and removable headshell.
- Cloth dust cover for protection against dust.
This direct-drive turntable is designed for decades of trouble-free enjoyment and pride of ownership, says Hall.
The Music Hall Stealth is available directly from Music Hall and their dealers.
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