Of all the products I’ve reviewed so far in 2020, the one that’s left the most lasting impression is the Model One Turntable Music System from Andover Audio.
It features a Pro-ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB turntable, a favorite of audiophiles. The Model One’s genuine walnut frame hides four aluminum diaphragm woofers and two air motion transformer tweeters, driven by a Class D amplifier. The drivers use Andover’s proprietary IsoGroove technology to protect the turntable from feedback or vibration generated by the speakers. The system can play music in mono, stereo, or a selection of panoramic modes that do a convincing job of sounding like a traditional stereo system setup with multiple speakers.
However, the Model one does so in a compact package with the same footprint as a turntable alone. No amplifier, no speakers to set up, and no wires to hide. A display on the front makes it easy to select sources (including Bluetooth) or adjust settings, and an RF remote is also included. The system is expandable with a wide range of inputs and outputs.
If $1,999 sounds expensive for an all-in-one audio system, it is. However, if there’s a music lover on your list — especially a record lover — it’s money well spent. When you start looking at the independent components and what they would cost individually, the price suddenly seems a lot more reasonable. For example, Pro-ject’s Debut Carbon Esprit SB turntable retails for $599 on its own. This is the ultimate all-in music system for vinyl fans.
Here is the link for the entire article with all of their picks - https://www.kiplinger.com/
