Is This the Ultimate Hi-Fi Speaker for Your Turntable?

Andover Audio is a Boston-based audio company specializing in speakers designed for turntables. More specifically, their speakers are designed to be placed directly under the turntable, allowing the complete system to look great and take up less tabletop space.

Normally, this is frowned upon. As the speaker vibrates and, being directly under the turntable, it causes playback issues and degrades sound quality. However, Andover Audio’s speakers are specifically designed to counteract that and dampen the unwanted vibrations.

And now the company has just announced its most premium speaker to date.

Andover-One SB

Andover Audio

Choose your own turntable

The Andover One is the company’s flagship all-in-one turntable (and it has been around for years). It combines a premium speaker by Andover Audio and a turntable by Pro-Ject — and it sells for $2,499.

Now, for the first time, you can buy the Andover-One SB (which stands for “speaker base”). It’s the same high-end powered speaker as in the Andover One, but it has a tempered-glass top instead of a turntable.

The idea is that you get the same great sound and mid-century design as before (which can also be expanded via the company’s Andover-One System), but now you have the flexibility to choose your own turntable.

Andover Audio

Same speaker, mid-century design

Just like Andover One, the Andover-One SB is built with the brand’s patented “IsoGroove” technology. This combines a proprietary speaker design, optimized bracing and advanced DSP, all of which is meant to reduce feedback and minimize vibrations.

The powered speaker features front- and side-firing speaker arrays featuring six precision drivers: four 3.5-inch ultralinear woofers and two folded-ribbon tweeters. The speaker is capable of outputting 200 watts of power and delivering 270 degrees of “room-filling” sound.

Andover Audio

Designed for audiophiles

Inside, the Andover-One SB has a built-in MM phono preamplifier, so you don’t need a turntable with one. If you’re turntable is integrated with one or comes with an MC cartridge, you can just use the analog inputs instead.

The speaker supports Bluetooth streaming (with support for AAC, aptX, and aptX HD), for times when you don’t want a record playing. There’s also a Class A headphone amplifier, so you can enjoy a more private listening session.

According to the brand, all the interior components have been selected “to satisfy the discerning audiophile.”

Andover Audio

Price and availability

The Andover-One SB is a high-end powered speaker designed for people who already have a turntable and don’t want to splurge even more on the Andover One.

It costs $1,999, making it $500 less than the Andover One. It’s available now from the company’s website or Amazon.

If that’s too rich for your blood, Andover Audio’s SpinBase 2 ($369) and SpinBase Max ($549) are both more affordable alternatives.

Andover Audio

Andover One Speaker Base

• $1,999 at Andover Audio
• $1,999 at Amazon

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