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Nottingham Analogue Ace Spacedeck

Nottingham Analogue

Nottingham Ace Spacedeck

Nottingham Analogue Studio might not be the best known name for turntables, but its followers are very, very loyal! It's a testament to how good their turntables are that you rarely see them second-hand. In part, this is due to the availability of an upgrade path. By buying the "heavy platter kit" you can elevate the Ace Spacedeck part of the way to a Hyperspace, a popular option after some years of ownership. But, let's not jump ahead - in standard form the Ace Spacedeck is a superb turntable capable of taking on anything, and usually beating it, at the price.

The design is deceptively simple, but many years research went into the choice of materials, the exact details of which are very hard to come by! Nottingham have always used AC motors, unusual nowadays, and there are benefits such as speed stability and low noise. Something which always raises eyebrows is the need to start the turntable with a gentle push. The motor, which is left powered even when not used, is deliberately low torque, hence the need for help. Owners soon get used to this; it becomes second nature. There is an upgrade path here too - a power supply can be added, such as the excellent Martin Bastin Wave Mechanic, instead of connecting direct to the mains.

Numerous pickup arms can be mounted. The Ace Spacearm is shown above, but other popular choices range from the humble Rega up to the mighty SME.

We have been selling the Spacedeck, latterly the Ace Spacedeck, for many years and recommend it with absolute confidence. Its closest competitor is the Michell Engineering Gyro SE, and the two are very close in performance, if very different sounding and looking. The Ace Spacedeck is a very neutral turntable, it's very hard to detect an emphasis in any one area, and as such suits a wide range of music. It's also got an uncanny knack of disappearing and just leaving the music for you to enjoy. To be controversial, we think the Ace Spacedeck is for music enthusiasts rather than hi-fi enthusiasts!



Nottingham Hyperspace

(or Hyper Spacedeck - take your pick!)
Nottingham Hyperspace

The Hyperspace, although similar to the Ace Spacedeck in a lot of areas, is actually considerably different under the skin. Such as a superior platter - double the weight and including a 25mm thick graphite section underneath the record - bearings virtually identical to the more expensive Mentor model including an oil pumping device for better lubrication, and a better isolated motor.

Sonically, it's like the Ace Spacedeck except with a bit more of everything, especially detail retrieval and soundstage capability. It's also capable of the same "disappearing act" leaving just the music behind. Similarly priced to, competitive with, yet very different from the Michell Orbe, and the two are often compared side by side in our studio.

Often fitted with an SME Series 4 or 5, shown above with the elusive Morch arm. Nottingham's own Ace Spacearm is obviously a very good choice too.