8 OF THE WORLD'S TOP TURNTABLE DESIGNERS reveal their favourite records

Great-sounding vinyl pressings and how a song or an album had a huge impact on hi-fi experts' lives

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What do the designers of your favourite turntable love listening to? What are the vinyl records that they cherish or recommend for their great-quality pressing? We spoke to some of today's most respected turntable designers and manufacturers to find out their favourite vinyl discs for testing and pure enjoyment, and ask why they have chosen each pick. We were treated to some wonderful personal stories of how a specific album or a track had a huge impact on their lives - from kickstarting a “lifelong affair with vinyl” to leading them to “look into record player design” in the first place. Best of all, we now have an armful of new vinyl recommendations to go hunt for on Discogs - so we can enjoy exactly what the makers of some of the best turntables in the world are listening to.

Heinz Lichtenegger

CEO, Pro-Ject Audio Systems

Throughout my life Ihave listened to many, many types of music. My audiophile career began with the unbelievably good (and expensive) UHQR version of The Dark Side Of The Moon, then later I got into jazz, including artists like Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz, Dave Brubeck, and then of course Miles Davis and Archie Shepp. Today my life is more focused on classical music and operas, and less focused on absolute audiophile records. Instead, I care more about the individual interpretation of a piece of music - though of course I still want it to be a good recording. I especially love old, true analogue records that may have some noise, but that also hold more warmth and colour.

Puccini, Leontyne Price, Di Stefano, Taddei / Vienna Philharmonic with Herbert von Karajan: Tosca (Decca)

My favourite opera record. This recording is unbelievably dramatic and super powerful, yet there is also incredible timbre in the voices. This one is only for bigger systems, so you can really experience the big dynamic shifts that show how amazing Tosca is.