Output is 2.5mV and its preferred input impedance is 47kohms, which means that it works with MM inputs. This turntable would benefit from something more aspirational, but the BPS does not seem to stand in its way.

Audio credentials

Give it a well-isolated support and the Heliosphere delivers an entertaining result with the arm and cartridge supplied. You can hear the large slab of acetal in a slight midrange coloration that accentuates instruments like pianos and brass, but given how much of the stuff there is, it's well controlled and does not get in the way of the musical message.

Thanks to a good sense of timing the Heliosphere is a fine communicator that quickly wraps you up in the groove, especially if its one that has been created by a musician like Keith Jarrett and his cohorts. His album Changes retains all of its nimble and beguiling rhythmic subtleties in the context of good three-dimensional imaging.

The double bass, in particular, seems to come out best in this respect, something that suggests a slight emphasis on the upper bass perhaps. Energy is never in short supply, especially when you play some Muddy Waters, his I'm Ready album positively bursting with the stuff on this turntable. At one point we forgot to put the big clamp on and were gratified to hear the increase in solidity that bringing it back in made. But stare at the rubber feet for too long and they appear to go backwards, so best close your eyes and let the music transport you.

Despite its extra motor this is an appealingly quiet turntable, it won't suppress the shortcomings of the vinyl, but that's more a reflection of the cartridge we suspect, it's more that the noise floor is nice and low so that quieter musical elements are easy to follow.

Steel guitar strings have a little more zing than usual but this just gives a sense of crispness that's really quite appealing with a good record such as John Fahey Visits Washington DC. You can fully appreciate the attack of the picked strings, but that does not mask the decay of the notes, thanks to a cohesive and tidy presentation.

Nice cartridge

The Sumiko BPS III is a remarkable cartridge for the price. You can hear its limitations on more sumptuous recordings like Rickie Lee Jones' Flying Cowboys, where the polish is not quite as high as it could be, but there's plenty of it, nonetheless. More importantly, the turntable reveals the hand of producer Walter Becker (Steely Dan) rather more clearly than usual, the recording's sound being highly reminiscent of the last decent 'Dan album Gaucho.

Surmounting the production, of course, is the material – this is superbly played and thanks to Ms Jones' delivery, emotionally charged to a degree that you don't expect of something so slick.

Jeff Buckley's Mojo Pin delivers a wealth of detail in the Heliosphere's arms, a dynamic recording for its type, it combines quiet and intense sections, both of which are well served. Less sophisticated records also fair well, frank Zappa's 1969 album Hot Rats is not the slickest-sounding record, but it's got plenty going on in tracks like Peaches En Regalia. This has remarkably cheesy organ and grungy guitar, but there is plenty of body to the sound and no shortage of energy.

The turntable also digs out the bass pedals to trouser flapping effect which is most gratifying, it probably helps to have big active ATC speakers to appreciate this but it's not essential. The following track, Willie the Pimp, has a pulsating groove and the distinctive vocals of Don van Vliet (AKA captain Beefheart), a contribution that in these circumstances makes it all the more difficult to get on with the reviewing job in hand.

While the experienced ear can detect the character of the platter material on the Heliosphere, its effects are like those of a valve amplifier, largely euphonic. This is not the most neutral turntable, but neither is it obviously coloured, it has wide bandwidth, good dynamics and great timing and these are the key factors one wants from a record player.

We found the Heliosphere both highly entertaining and engaging and considering the great build quality and tidy design, it's hard for us not to recommend it.