Tom Fletcher of Nottingham Analogue Studios has likened most modern audio products to a brass violin. “Pretty to look at, but not something you’d want to try to play music on! We won’t make a brass violin, no matter how many we could sell.” In this simple phrase so much of the Nottingham philosophy of music and design is made clear. Since the 1960’s Tom Fletcher and his small but dedicated team have hand built fine instruments for the playback of recorded music. Never interested in the quick and easy answer, the folks at Nottingham Analogue Studios still believe that some things simply should not be short cut.

First and foremost Nottingham never forgets that what they are after is the music. If there is no music, there is no purpose. If there is no purpose, they’ll make something else. Music gives them their purpose. Everything from the size and shape of the parts to the materials they are made from is purely subservient to the music. Even the finish that is put on the various parts is carefully considered with respect to the effect it would have on the music. If making something shinier results in poorer sound, Nottingham will use a different finish. Every last detail, down to the type of rubber used in the feet on the plinths, has been tested for resonance characteristics and is then listened to by trained ears. Nothing is left to whim.

The key, Tom says, “Is the magnificent marriage of materials.” Each material on its own may be common and unremarkable but the way they perform together to maintain the proper phase of energy throughout the system is where the magic takes place. No frequency is overly diminished or amplified. No frequency is overly damped or allowed to sustain. Every bit of energy is carefully managed across the spectrum, whether from the motor itself, or as generated through the tonearm by the stylus as it is driven by the grooves on the record.