"If a motor can start the platter from standstill, it's too powerful to play music" all the turntables are started by giving the platter a firm push. To stop, stop it with your hand. No need to disconnect the power when static "the motor will last 30 years".

Nottingham Analogue decks have almost no suspension. Just a series of slightly decoupled layers. Despite (or more likely, because of) this they are remarkably immune to vibrational feedback. The noise floor is incredibly low too.

All models can be upgraded with the Wave Mechanic power supply which gives electronic speed control and reduces the motors minuscule effect on the proceedings to an even lower level.

You can download the current Nottingham Analogue prce list here.

Interspace Junior

This is the new 'entry' Nottingham turntable. It is only available as a package with the Interspace arm, although if you want to pay the difference, it can be supplied with the 'full' Ace Space arm. Structurally, it comprises the Spacedeck bearing and platter mounted in a more basic and conventional base within which the motor is fixed, on rubber mounts, rather than situated in a separate 'pod'. The arm board is actually very adjustable, and a subsequent change of tone-arm would be easy to manage.

It can be used with a 'middling' moving magnet cartridge but it is more than capable of exploiting a far more sophisticated moving coil, such as the (inevitable, in these parts) Lyra Dorian or Argo i. We are currently trying out a few alternative configurations, so this will be updated soon.

The basic character is more laid back and warm than with the more expensive siblings, but it has the trademark NA resolution and solidity.

Spacedeck

This is the classic Nottingham turntable..

Compared with the Interspace Junior you can hear the deck disappear further from the sound. More neutral but, as with a high quality camera lens, the tonal colours are actually more intense. It resolves textures at all levels (but the bass quality is especially welcome) and sound stage, dynamics, sheer effortless vibrancy is magical.

You can understand Tom Fletcher's unwillingness to talk in hi-fi terms because the biggest draw here is the way musical insight overtakes everything else.

Good arms? Well the Rega RB250 can sound teriffic. Adding the incognito rewire and maybe the Michell techno weight moves it forward. The Sumiko Blue Point Special is very happy in this context. Moving on to SME's lovely M2 arm opens doors and windows but the (cheaper) £650 Nottingham Space arm knocks it into a cocked hat (in this environment). Spend the savings on a Ringmat and consider moving up to the £800 Lyra Argo i. This brings a level of ability that I personaly could live with very happily. At least until we tried . . .

Ace Spacedeck

It looks almost identical to the standard Spacedeck (above) but costs about £110 more.

Under the skin, there are substantial differences : oil pumping bearing and lead loaded steel for various parts of the assembly, including the motor housing. Tom Fletcher's design makes much of the effects of energy dissipation through layers of decoupled mass on one hand and the bearing quality on the other. The Ace Spacedeck moves forward in both of these areas and the changes are bewilderingly large.

This is a MUCH better deck than the standard model. Even after the 2007 price rise, it is ridiculously good value compaired to its cheaper sibling.

The heavy kit is an absolute "no brainer" on this, by the away.

Spacedeck 294

Essentially an Ace Spacedeck with a 14" platter. This deck needs a 12" (294 mm) arm.

Feedback from buyers has been very possitive but the 12" arm requirement does rather close down the options. We have been keen to experiment with alternative tone-arms and the standard sized decks are rather more universal.

There is now a 14" heavy kit for this model at £450.

Hyperspace

Mr Fletcher used to describe this as being "where the majesty begins". His new products (above) now bring this joyful quality at lower prices. Getting Tom to explain the differences was quite fun. He described it in terms of how much you would enjoy a concert having driven from Ipswich to Leeds. In the case of the Spacedeck we had travelled in an Austin 1100 for the Hyperspace its a nice new Mercedes. Note the "how you would feel about the concert having travelled in" bit.

Playing the Hyperspace (same arm, same cartridge) straight after the Spacedeck made us disbelieve that two such similar looking products could sound so different.

Description? Well imagine you had driven to Leeds . . .

All right then I'll try: It's like listening to better musicians playing with more commitment through better instruments in a bigger nicer place! Sure, it resolves more information, it conveys more ambience, it is even charitable to technically poor recordings - although commercial overproduced compressed stuff is revealed to be exactly what it is.

Quite simply, there is even less of the turntable in the sound and yet again the better lens analogy holds with respect to tonal colour and textures.

Dais

The Dais is a little different in structure from the Spacedeck and Hyperspace, and it includes a version (quite specific to the Dais) of the Wave Mechanic power supply. Thankfully the sound, or more accurately, its lack of sound is recognisably from the same stable.

Tom claims that this one does the Spacedeck to Hyperspace upgrade all over again. We were sceptical. And we were wrong.

It only takes a few seconds of listening to notice the increased scale, further lowering of the noise floor, increased focus and an increased resolution of perspectives in all directions, including height. It offers a weightier bass yet a lighter, more agile handling of it. It controls the raucous yet allows it to fly.

To give an example, a particular record, Ricky Lee Jones' "The Magazine" has always seemed a little 'shouty' in parts, even though the other Nottingham decks have opened it up further than anything else. On the Dais (same Space arm, same Lyra Argo cartridge) it simply sounds organic, dynamic, just plain dramatic. Resolution is up, tonal colour even more vibrant. Music is even easier to follow and even more compelling. The expression in her voice is captivating. Yet when the horns blast, they truly blast. Utterly free of compression or constriction. It makes you feel good. You might even consider prancing around the room. Not that grown-ups do this, of course.

Again, Mr Fletcher is right to avoid talking about the fluid, beguiling mid, the extended bass, or the crystalline, natural treble. Yet again, the overall coherence, honesty and infectious musicality is the real story. NVA used to have the by line "clearly hear more". Nottingham Analogue should nick it. Who could argue?

Negatives? Chuffing heavy, not cheap. Unfortunately, once tried, it actually sounds like a bargain!

Wave Mechanic

Priced at £499, complete with 50 Hz strobe light and card. This unassuming black box, designed and built by Martin Bastin, makes a surprisingly large difference to all Nottingham decks up to and including the Hyperspace. The Wave Mechanic power supply remanufactures a 230v 50 Hz supply. It offers pitch control together with the benefits of a much cleaner signal, reducing motor noise.

The effect on our Hyperspace is quite striking. Instantly, things seem calmer, even more secure. Image placement even more incontrovertible, the leading edges of guitars, the "bounce" on bowed instruments better defined. The noise floor is pushed down, leading to better resolution of distant (or just quiet) sounds. Musical flow gets even better. Albums get played to their conclusion and you start listening to the lead out groove just in case there is anything new in there. OK I lied about the last bit, but you get the picture. It starts off as a subtle gain and very rapidly becomes an absolute requirement.

Be warned! Only try one if you are ready to buy it. Withdrawal symptoms are likely to be severe.

Spacedeck "heavy" kit

We have had more questions about this than just about anything else. The heavy kit allows the Spacedeck to be upgraded. It comprises a graphite platter, spindle extender and a large spacer to bring the arm board up to the newly required operating height. It is easy to fit and just a little reminiscent of leggo. On the face of it, it's a cheap route to a Hyperspace.

What does it sound like? With e Spacedeck, all rather predictable, I'm afraid! A significant step forward in clarity, scale dynamics and bass grip. Just a shade 'cooler' tonally but overall a very worthwhile improvement. Switch immediately to the Hyperspace proper and you realise that this is actually just a halfway house. The bearing and heavier duty construction of the Hyperspace are there for very good reasons and give it greater warmth, refinement and 'ease'.

The new "Ace" Spacedeck is far closer to the Hyperspace in structure and bearing and the heavy kit brings it very close to Hyperspace ability.

The next big question is which of the two (wave mechanic or heavy kit) represent better buys. There is no simple answer since they work in different areas and are hardly mutually exclusive. It's like choosing between water or air. The heavy kit is cheaper and, in a way, more obvious. The Wave Mechanic's gains are more subtle but probably more significant in the long term. Ultimately, if the upgrade bug bites, you will want both! As ever, we are happy to demonstrate.