Audio Technica 'Hotaru', the multi-sensory turntable is born

To admire it live, we entered a sort of 'igloo' built inside an exhibition space on Corso Garibaldi in Milan, during the recent Design Week. Here, Audio-Technica, the historic Japanese brand founded in 1962 as a manufacturer of high-quality handcrafted phonographic cartridges, presented its latest creature, the 'Hotaru' turntable, an extension of its 'analog ~ naturally' programme launched in March by the company with the intention of exploring new analogue experiences in the field of music, interpreting these experiences as an expression of human sensitivity.

The whole idea, in fact, stems from the conviction that listening to a vinyl is a ritual that rewards those who take the time to immerse themselves and fully enjoy the quality of the sound. The 'wow' effect that this device (produced in a limited edition) elicits is guaranteed and is due to its original floating structure and, above all, to the exclusive play of light that it produces while in operation. In order to eliminate external vibrations as much as possible and guarantee the perfect conversion of electrical signals through the cartridge stylus, a series of magnets on the top and bottom of the turntable come into play, causing it to float in order to isolate it from interference that could sully the audio quality. The most creative and aesthetically satisfying component of 'Hotaru' (Japanese for firefly), on the other hand, is provided by a lighting system that combines sound with light: the music reproduced by the record triggers reactions that give rise to harmonious colour transitions from a palette of 20 different shades, and one can choose from three different lighting modes, from constant light to one in which the light changes colour in response to the rhythm of the song being played. The objective, as explained by the Audio-Technica managers met in Milan, is to create a multi-sensorial involvement with music, giving the user a physical (or rather analogue) listening experience and at the same time seductive from a visual point of view, merging these two components in a device that also wants to be an interior design element capable of creating truly unique atmospheres. The market launch of 'Hotaru' in various regions of the world is scheduled for autumn, with pre-orders already open on thecompany's web page, and its list price is in line with its aura as an exclusive device: 9,999 euros.