Each September, US magazine The Absolute Sound’s Golden Ear Awards are bestowed on “the pieces of gear that stand out from the competition”, spanning both longstanding references and newfound favourites. Aesthetix’ ABCD-2 MC Cartridge Demagnetizer could be viewed as both, being a newly-enhanced update of a firm favourite: the earlier ABCD-1.

“Jim White’s ingenious ABCD-2 is a smaller, simplified, less expensive but still as effective, version of his original design, with easier to change batteries as well as an upgradeable demagnetization algorithm for future refinements,” write the magazine’s reviewers.

“Over time, even the most meticulously designed moving coil cartridges accumulate a magnetic field that dulls their musical nuance. This buildup occurs as the coil’s copper impurities gradually absorb charge from the powerful magnets used in modern cartridges—reducing the coil’s freedom of movement,” explains Aesthetix.  “The result is a growing reduction in clarity, sound which is murky and less defined that you might not notice until it is removed. A quick, periodic demagnetization is all it takes to hear the difference in transparency and liveliness.”

The ABCD-2 is a simple, affordable solution: a small, handy box that plugs into the RCA connectors on your tonearm and, with a push of a button, runs a 30 second series of frequencies through the cartridge’s coils, eliminating the Gaussian buildup and restoring the cartridge to its natural state. If you’ve never degaussed your MC cartridge before, prepare to be amazed!

“Plugging your turntable leads into the ABCD-2 every two-to-four weeks and pressing the on-button (it stops automatically when the degaussing process is complete), restores the clarity, dynamics, and detail your (likely pricey) mc is capable of,” note reviewers.

To find out more and locate your nearest UK dealer visit www.aesthetix.net

Discover the full list of The Absolute Sound’s Golden Ear Award winners 2026 in the magazine’s September issue.