Making its debut at Milan Design Week, the place perform typically takes a again seat to type, Audio-Technica’s new Hotaru turntable manages to steadiness 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 mild present that responds to sounds from the document being performed, making the Hotaru itself a part of the vinyl expertise.
Floating turntables aren’t a wholly new concept. It’s one in every of many strategies for decreasing 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, your complete higher part of the Hotaru – together with the tonearm and DC motor that spins a document – levitates.
Made from translucent acrylic that hides a belt drive system, that higher part additionally options inner lighting with three totally different illumination modes. You can choose from 20 totally different static shade palettes, a Gradient Mode that lightly transitions between these shade palettes, or a Link Mode with lighting that reacts to the beat of the music you’re taking part in. Unlike many celebration audio system, the lighting here’s a delicate impact that’s going for a chill expertise as an alternative of a high-energy rave.
The base of the Hotaru turntable is produced from sturdy aluminum with strong brass toes 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.
