Audio-Technica’s new $9,999 turntable levitates and glows

Audio-Technica’s Hotaru turntable glowing blue against a black background. — The Hotaru turntable glows in a number of totally different modes and coloration palettes. | Image: Audio-Technica

Making its debut at Milan Design Week, the place perform typically takes a again seat to kind, Audio-Technica’s new Hotaru turntable manages to stability each. The higher part not solely floats above the bottom utilizing a sequence of magnets that assist dampen vibrations, it additionally glows from inside with a color-changing gentle present that responds to sounds from the document being performed, making the Hotaru itself a part of the vinyl expertise.

Audio-Technica plans to make simply 1,000 models priced at $9,999 every, however transport isn’t anticipated till October 2025. Reservations at the moment are open on the corporate’s web site, and you’ve got till May thirtieth, 2025, to resolve if the Hotaru is in your price range.

Audio-Technica’s new Hotaru turntable that includes a translucent acrylic higher part that glows in several coloration palettes.

Floating turntables aren’t a completely new thought. It’s considered one of many strategies for lowering vibrations, stopping skipping, and enhancing playback accuracy on document gamers. But not like earlier designs such because the MAG-LEV that floats simply the spinning turntable, all the higher part of the Hotaru – together with the tonearm and DC motor that spins a document – levitates.

A close-up of the Hotaru turntable’s tonearm and glowing upper section.

Made from translucent acrylic that hides a belt drive system, that higher part additionally options inside lighting with three totally different illumination modes. You can choose from 20 totally different static coloration palettes, a Gradient Mode that lightly transitions between these coloration palettes, or a Link Mode with lighting that reacts to the beat of the music you’re enjoying. Unlike many get together audio system, the lighting here’s a delicate impact that’s going for a chill expertise as a substitute of a high-energy rave.

The base of the Hotaru turntable is produced from sturdy aluminum with stable brass ft and homes an built-in speaker system that includes two 63.5-millimeter full-range audio system and a pair of tweeters. It additionally contains a line out port for connecting it to an exterior sound system, and a devoted subwoofer output for those who’re solely seeking to enhance low-end frequencies.

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April 17, 2025 at 04:13PM