Reflex C review

Reflex C update

My new Reflex C has been in place for about three weeks now and I am thoroughly happy with it. I was warned that it would not sound too good out of the box, but in fact it still sounded good and then just got better with running in. I was a little concerned that I had to do without the PSU1 on cost grounds, but to be honest I need not have worried. I will not be thanked for this, but the Reflex C with green supply unit sounded just as good (possibly better) than the C I had borrowed with a PSU1 power supply. This may be a quirk of my system, but I also run power through a fair amount of mains conditioning equipment which may have offset the PSU1 advantages.

A while ago, I would have thought £500 excessive for a phono stage. The reality is that it is very good value. Since moving from an LP12 to a Gyrodec, I have been plagued by that thing that no one mentions – surface noise. I was no longer enjoying records; I was just waiting for that click or pop. Internet forums are no use in this respect. People talk earnestly about cleaning their records 37 on both sides with a magic formula that can only be administered at full moon (I may exaggerate, but you get the picture). I bought a record cleaning machine and various potions that made very little difference to the sound. In fact the record cleaner cost as much as the Reflex C. I have mentioned earlier my other upgrades which cost far more than the C, without significant improvement to sound quality; arms, cartridges, powers supplies. At least now with the Reflex, they can be used to full advantage.

My old phono stage with power supply currently costs about £280 in its current form. Generally well regarded but in no way a patch on the Reflex C. I have to say again that the loan scheme is brilliant and I wish I had discovered it earlier.