A 2018 NYCxDESIGN Awards Finalist, the Modern Record Player is sure to remind design-versed minds of Dieter Rams’ iconic Braun SK55, especially in its all-white iteration. Sharing a vented speaker front design with controls filtered of excess ornamentation, Symbol Audio’s modern day version houses a custom-built class AB amplifier powering custom-engineered speakers and crossovers, each developed in partnership with Morel, a company with a storied history of its own. The turntable itself offers an acrylic platter floating upon a three-phase isolation system engineered to prevent unwanted vibration.
I looked at this for a few minutes before deciding if I liked it or not. I do.
Handsome. I suppose for someone who can afford that price, it’s a great way to ritualize playing vinyl. 😉
Vinyl is garbage.
Looks like WAAAAAAAAYYYYY too much form over function.
I’m not sure if it’s brilliant or stupid to make an “audiophile-grade” record player with built in speakers that you have to take extra effort to keep from vibrating the platter.
Actually, I am sure – it’s ludicrous.
Looks pretty, though.
(Audiophiles? Pretty sure they want either discrete speakers/amp or headphones, guys.)
(My record player is an ancient Technics direct drive, connected to a $50 Chinese class-D amp*, driving two giant 4-way cabinets older than I am**.
It sounds great.
* Turns out even a “low-power” 50Wx2 amp can drive them as loud as I ever actually want, which is pretty loud. Digital is the future.
** Replaced the 12″ drivers from age; everything else is fine.
Also, Jim’s actually right – vinyl is ludicrous. The only reason I have this setup is everything but the new amp and a new phono cartridge and preamp was free … and I use the amp and speakers for playing music from my computer most of the time.
The cart and preamp were maybe $40 all together, and I view it as pure funtimes nostalgia, nothing serious.)