Wilson Benesch The Full Circle review

For build, ease of use and sound it’s highly recommended Tested at £2150

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

This long-running design still delivers. If £2000 or so is your limit for a turntable, then look no further…

Pros

  • +

    An open and insightful presentation

  • +

    excellent build and finish

Cons

  • -

    No dust cover

  • -

    not the turntable to pick if you’re after a showy sound

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Wilson Benesch's The Full Circle is layered a bit like a sponge cake: the bottom slice carries the motor and power supply, leaving the next section to support the bearing and arm.

Set-up is straightforward though, as with its rivals, changing the speed means you have to manually move the drive belt from one motor pulley to the next. An electronic option would be handy, particularly for those who switch between singles and albums on a regular basis.

Wilson Benesch's Ply cartridge completes the Full Circle package. This moving coil cartridge doesn't have a body to cover its internals, so looks rather delicate – however, in use it's little different from the fully covered opposition.

Open and even-handed
Properly sited on a dedicated hi-fi table, the Full Circle shows its class: this is an open, even-handed record player that works well with all types of music. It digs up plenty of detail and arranges information into a cohesive and musical whole.

The presentation isn't flashy in any way, and won't grab the attention with seismic basslines or brain-pounding punch. What it will provide is a clear and insight view into the recording, so letting the music do the impressing.

The Full Circle is an elegant product: for its build, ease of use and sound it's highly recommended.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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