Onkyo is leaping on the vinyl renaissance with the announcement of a new direct-drive turntable that they claim punches well above its weight in terms of sound quality and build.



Aimed at music lovers looking to discover - or rediscover - the magic of analogue sound, the CP-1050 attempts to hit the cost-to-performance sweet spot with clear, rich, and detailed sound quality without an outrageous price tag or complicated setup.



Onkyo’s first ever product was a crystal turntable pickup released in 1946, and the company went on to release a slew of record players in the 1970s and 1980s that earned cult status among Japanese audiophiles.







Continuing this tradition of Hi-Fi sound, the CP-1050 turntable features a super-smooth low-torque direct-drive motor that reduces low-frequency cogging noise. Another advantage of a direct drive is less of the high-frequency noise produced by some belt-driven designs, which use a fast-spinning electric motor.



The body is constructed from thick, vibration-damping MDF and the quartz-lock-controlled platter is die-cast aluminum for smooth, precise, and stable rotation. Together with the low-noise motor and rubber slipmat, the excellent solidity and weight of the deck combine to effectively reduce vibration for clear and open analogue sound.



An aluminum S-shaped tonearm with detachable headshell and flexible counterweight system enables compatibility with a wide range of aftermarket cartridges between 5–10 g. As sold, the turntable includes a quality MM cartridge that contributes to an impressive signal-to-noise ratio of over 60 dB and wow and flutter of just 0.15% at 331/3 rpm.



A button on the top left of the deck changes rotation speeds to accommodate playback of both LPs and 45s (an adapter is included for 7-inch records), while four anti-vibration feet are height-adjustable to ensure stability on a variety of surfaces.

