Hi-Fi Corner: Onkyo waxes nostalgic with the CP-1050 turntable

By Ryan Waniata March 22, 2015

onkyo cp 1050 500 direct drive turntable cp1050 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

While much of the music industry is flailing, vinyl is back in a big way. And that’s just fine by us, because along with a tidal wave of new wax to spin, some of the top electronics companies in the business are going back to the well and crafting brand new turntables that are better than ever before. One of the latest new creations comes in the form of Onkyo’s gorgeous CP-1050.

A beautiful direct drive turntable that runs without a belt for a quieter spin, the CP-1050 is loaded with sparkling aluminum components, coraled by a sleek MDF cabinet enclosure. The aluminum tonearm is loaded with a quality Moving Magnet cartridge, designed to trace every groove with brilliant precision and very little force to keep your new records sounding that way, and the arm will also support multiple aftermarket cartridges should you need to trade yours out down the road.

Related: Old school meets new with Project’s Element turntable

The player spins both 33s and 45s, and also comes with an adaptor for 7-inch discs, and a plastic dust cover. Other features include a whisper-quiet Brushless DC motor, a quartz-lock control system for high precision spins, and height adjustable feet on the bottom designed to quell vibration to keep your hi-fi experience clean and pure. Really, the only noise you should hear from this table is whatever your vintage records bring with them.

At $500, the CP-1050 isn’t exactly cheap, but it runs in line with other mid-tier turntables currently popping up on the market. You’ll also have to make sure your receiver is equipped with a quality phono input, or purchase yourself a decent outboard phono preamplifier as the gold RCA outputs send a straight turntable signal.

There’s no USB on board for digitizing your collection, either — the CP-1050 is old school. But then again, what would you expect from a company that dropped its first turntable right after World War II?

Onkyo’s new CP-1050 turntable is available now

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Waniata is an audio engineer, musician, composer, and all-around lover of all things tech, audio, and cinema. Hailing…

Culture

The 10 best Dominican cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024

Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Every seasoned cigar lover has a preference for where their cigars come from. Cuban and Cuban cigars are the more obvious choices, but there is also Nicaraguan tobacco, Central African, Indonesian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Dominican. Some tobacco is even grown in the United States. Each region has a distinct flavor profile that adds a little something extra to the tobacco grown locally, as well as the cigars made there. The Dominican Republic is prized by many connoisseurs because of exactly this -- a rich, unique profile that enhances Dominican-grown cigars. That's in no small part due to the fertile soil and thriving climate of the region, which is ideal for tobacco growth and cultivation. If you've never tried a Dominican cigar, you're in for a real treat, there are some fantastic options out there.
The best Dominican cigars I've tried

Out of all the cigar guides I've put together so far, this one was one of the more interesting experiences for me. I had a great time trying out Dominican cigars, and I've definitely come away with an appreciation for blends made in the region. I'd also like to point out that Corey Suarez helped recommend some of these. If you haven't tried the JR Cigars or Cigars.com concierge service yet, you really should. Here's a little more about all of the best Dominican cigars I've tried:
Ashton Symmetry

Culture

The 12 best Connecticut cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024

Best Connecticut cigars up close and personal

Connecticut cigars are the clear winner for smoking on a hot summer day, in the morning with some coffee, or when you just don't want a swift kick in the teeth (of pepper). There's no shortage of options, either. Connecticut shade wrappers are one of the most prevalent in the world of cigars, and it's certainly the most common natural shade. Maduro is also popular, but the two wrapper types couldn't be any more different. Connecticut wrappers, and by proxy Connecticut cigars, are typically mild to medium in strength and brimming with creamy, smooth flavors. They're composed of tobacco leaves grown in the Connecticut River Valley in the United States -- which is where the name Connecticut comes from. Consistent and flavorful, some of the best beginner-friendly cigars are Connecticut-wrapped, but you should never sell them short. A Connecticut shade cigar can be just as refined, elegant, and premium as any other. If you know where to look, you may even find some of your favorite blends in the category across a wide range of brands and cigar makers.

I'm about to take you on a magical, doughy, and delicious trek through the broad range of Connecticut cigars. In short, here are the best Connecticut cigars tried and tested by a genuine enthusiast of the craft: yours truly.
The best Connecticut cigars I've tried and tested
While the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is considered a Connecticut shade, I did my best to steer clear of recommending them for this list. They're better classified as a Maduro shade or darker cigar. That doesn't mean you should avoid them, quite the contrary. But for this list, I wanted to stick to smooth, relaxing smokes that are strong on flavor but not quite so strong on pepper and spice. I also tried not to choose a lot of repeats. If you see your favorite cigar missing, that might be because it was recommended on another list or it just didn't make the cut. If you have any recommendations of your own, I'm always available through social media or email. Without further ado, let's get this thing started.
Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut

Culture

This is when the Hulu, ESPN+, Disney+ password sharing crackdown starts

The Disney Plus sign-up menu is displayed

The era of password sharing is slowly but surely coming to an end. Netflix has already begun cracking down on people sharing passwords across households, and now, other streaming services are following suit. Before 2024 is over, Disney Plus password sharing will be a thing of the past.

Disney's streaming services are now preparing to crack down on those who are sharing passwords, and the consequences for doing so could be severe. Users across Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus will be warned about password sharing, and if they don't Disney CEO Bob Iger even laid out a timeline for when the crackdown will start, although he didn't get into too many specifics.
Bob Iger says Disney will start its password-sharing crackdown over the summer