2026 Awards – Accessories

The Sound Wings from HIFISTAY feature three circular ‘swing’ bases, each separated by three ceramic balls to serve as vibration control. The top ring has two threaded holes for holding metal

uprights, a long pole, and a shorter one with insets carved into it for the silicone bands. These uprights have a small, removable threaded insert; nearly any configuration is possible for the listener. The Sound Wings+ differs from the ‘+’-less version by featuring a new Soundrest that adds extra mass to the standard silicone band, and a stainless steel Hybrid Mass Damper for additional resonance dampening. It also offers even better vibration control for heavier, stiffer cables.

Maximising cable potential

Cable risers don’t have specific performance parameters. Instead, by preventing stray interaction with the floor, they work to accurately reflect the cables they support. “Use it with Cardas Clear [cables], and it accentuates more of those Cardas qualities – effortless balance and clarity without harshness,” reads Alan Sircom’s review. “Swap it for Oephi and you experience a bit more Oephiness; increased detail and precision, along with greater musical insight.” What’s more, in addition to being excellent resonance dampers, the Sound Wings+ also offer excellent cable management and help reduce static build-up.

Reviewed in Issue 249

HIFISTAY • hifistay.com

Origin Live’s Strata record mat comprises a three-layer matrix with a proprietary cork/rubber top layer and an inner sandwich with carefully cut gaps. This is the result of extensive listening and over 1,000 prototypes.

At 5mm thick – around 2-3mm thicker than most mats – you may need to adjust your turntable’s vertical tracking angle.

Universal solution

Origin Live states that the Strata is a fairly universal solution, except on its own turntables whose platter designs already incorporate the same approach, making it unlikely that the not-insigifcant investment will be recouped through increased performance. Used with an Linn LP12, the Origin Live mat makes a clear, consistent sonic improvement, with Steve Dickinson noticing a “much more even, broadband stability and neutrality, regardless of the type of music being played” during his testing.

Steve describes the Strata’s effect while playing Camel’s Snowgoose: “There’s more subtlety and shape to what is usually quite a formless opening; it all helps evoke a mood and set the tone for what follows.” With a regular felt mat, “everything is comparatively mundane and somewhat less evocative”.

Reviewed in Issue 244

Origin Live • originlive.com

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The Pro-Ject VC-S3 is a sturdy, well-constructed and wonderfully effective record cleaner. Simply place an LP on the Pro-Ject machine’s turntable, apply the supplied cleaning fluid, and then use the provided brush to spread the liquid evenly over the surface. A powerful suction pump vacuums the entire surface dry in three or four revolutions. Both sides of an LP can be cleaned in under four minutes.

A new lease of life

The process can be deemed effective. “The sound typically becomes fresher, offering improved low-level detail and greater clarity,” Jimmy notes in his review. “Once you experience this for yourself, you’ll likely want to clean almost every LP you own.” Jimmy is adamant that even new or relatively recent LPs will benefit from a wash, and also finds himself impressed by the effect the Pro-Ject has on his well-worn, groove-damaged records that are beyond saving; “The surface ticks and pops were less irksome, and the music seemed to stand out from the noise with greater clarity and solidity.” 

For the price, you won’t find a better cleaner.

Reviewed in Issue 242

Pro-Ject • project-audio.com

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The UK’s ‘G-Type’ plugs (also used in other countries, such as Ireland, Dubai and Singapore) emphasise safety, but their fuse can be a pinch point for sound quality plugs. The result: Russ Andrews’ UltraFuse, which is helpfully available in 3A, 5A,10A and 13A amperages.

The UltraFuse, which has a ceramic body with nickel-plated caps, with silver-plated copper fuse wire inside, comes in a small grey box along with a DeoxITGold wipe for treating the fuse’s ends. 

Irrfusable

A 13A UltraFuse was used to replace a fuse in an older Nordost Blue Heaven G-Type plug, with a second, identical Blue Heaven cable, without the UltraFuse, but with its standard fuse’s contact points also wiped clean, made for swift and effective A/B comparisons.

The UltraFuse difference is clear. “There was a greater sense of focus and snap to the sound – a more direct connection between you and the music,” reports Alan Sircom. “The change was on par with a jump up in power cord performance, adding weight and body to the sound without fattening it up or slowing it down.” For good-quality UK-based power cords, the UltraFuse is the best sonic upgrade you can make.

Reviewed in Issue 242

Russ Andrews • russandrews.com

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Stack Audio’s Serene is a record dampener, which at first glance looks like a record weight but only weighs 95g and therefore cannot exert much pressure.

While the Serene’s bottom surface is made of a soft silicone membrane that enables gentle contact with the record label (and zero contact with the spindle), the other side is filled with lightweight rubber particles that can move around inside the Serene. The energy transferred to the device is dissipated as heat rather than trying to squash it out of existence. Clever.

Effective approach

A benefit of its lightweight nature is that it puts less strain on the bearing itself and therefore performs better on suspended decks compared to heavier alternatives. Just be aware that, unlike traditional record weights, it isn’t heavy enough to flatten warped records.

Used with AVID, Rega and Vertere turntables, the Serene proves a success, drawing out more depth while keeping the decks’ tonal balance intact. It “enhances the ability to refine fine detail,” notes Alan Sircom in his review. “From the midrange upwards, there is more information to discern and greater context to understand how it fits within the music.”

Reviewed in Issue 246

Stack Audio • stackaudio.co.uk

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The Newton Clamp is Titanic Audio’s take on a non-threaded record weight, designed to improve the coupling between a record and the turntable platter to reduce unwanted vibrations and resonance. This 383g, exquisitely made device is an aluminium monocoque with carbon fibre inserts, and key to how it works is the presence of no less than ten spring-loaded ball bearings on the underside of the body. These are the points of contact between the clamp and the record itself, and focus the weight at these points. This is supposedly the perfect amount of force, perfectly distributed.

A sharp instrument

“There is actually a very fractional reduction in bass extension,” says Ed Selley, “but the trade-off is an airiness to the midrange and treble that was more profound than I was expecting from a weight. The delicacy it possesses is particularly notable; there were points where it made the Gyro’s screw clamp feel like a blunt instrument.” The improvements are slightly less clear-cut when subbing in a Rega Planar 10 – a turntable from a manufacturer at the fundamentalist end of the ‘no mass on the bearing’ argument – but on decks that do benefit from a bit of mass on the bearing, the Newton is undoubtedly a deeply impressive bit of kit, well worth seeking out.

Reviewed in Issue 244

Titanic Audio • titanicaudio.co.uk

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