Page 115 - Hi-Fi World (January 2020)

VINYL SECTION

Blue Vinyl

Blue Aura add vinyl to their neat budget system. Noel Keywood comes away impressed.

e’ve reviewed Blue Unusually, there’s a digital output withstand such heavy use – and that
Aura’s lovely little in the form of Bluetooth wireless is what Blue Aura fit to the PG-1.
system before, with transmission, but only Bluetooth Yep – it’s a workhorse that tracks at
cute little V40 ampli- and nothing else – there’s no S/PDIF 3.5gm but the use of carbon fibre in
fier (£469) and small digital output in optical or electrical the cantilever gives it a wonderfully
Wps40 loudspeakers form. The Bluetooth stream is 16bit smooth and deep sound that is
(£179). Now the company have come / 44.1kHz – CD quality. entirely in-character with LP – and
up with a matching turntable, the PG- The PG-1 is fairly basic: there are preferable I feel to the brighter
1 (£259) that I’m reviewing here. I’ll no auto mechanisms. I had to hand sound of metal cantilevers, which
also quickly cover the system again, cue the arm onto a disc, using either most are. Ironic that a workhorse
to get the PG-1 into context, as well the damped cue platform and lever, construction gives best sound – but
as using it in an alternative reference or the headshell finger lift. I prefer to that’s a neat touch with this low
system – because at the price this is use my fingers and here the simple, cost cartridge, making it my budget
as a neat way to bolt LP replay onto flat headshell grip was difficult to favourite.
any system. grasp – as they always are. Headshell The arm has a fixed headshell
The PG-1 is a two speed (33, finger lifts need to be curved upward and comes with cartridge attached –
45rpm) belt drive design that, judging but – hey-ho – this is a minor point and changing the cartridge isn’t easy I
by its arm, comes from Pro-Ject of since most people will likely use found. It can be done if you have the
Austria. Pro-Ject are adept at fitting the damped platform and it worked tools, steady hands and good eyesight
extra bits into turntables, such as smoothly. Also, the finger lift can be but realistically it’s a dealer job for
phono stages and digital outputs, to replaced for a better one. anyone wanting to upgrade. Tracking
make them more adaptable – and Bouncing cartridge onto LP force is set by rotating the counter-
that’s what you get here. The PG-1 always was a big problem with vinyl, weight on the rear stub, a common
has a simple internal phono stage resulting in bent cantilever and the method – but in our review sample
(MM only) so will feed any amplifier cost of a replacement stylus. Audio the weight was loose due to a small
direct, but it can be switched out if Technica have a good remedy in internal friction pad disintegrating.
an external stage or amplifier with its their AT-3600 MM cartridge; it has a Quoted cartridge weight range
own phono input is used. carbon composite cantilever able to is a limited 3gm-6gm, suggesting

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