Audio-Technica is reimagining the vinyl experience with Hotaru, a $9,999 floating turntable that fuses light, levitation, and high-fidelity sound into a single analogue machine.
Unveiled recently at Milan Design Week as the second installment of Audio-Technica’s “analog ~ naturally” program, the Hotaru turntable (Japanese for “firefly”) is designed to deliver more than sound. With its unique floating structure and lighting display, the deck adds a striking visual element to analogue audio, creating a unique ambience where sound and light intertwine.
At the core of Hotaru’s appeal is its floating structure. Magnets in both the upper turntable and lower speaker sections of Hotaru repel one another, causing the turntable section to levitate – physically separating it from the sound system and eliminating vibrations that can degrade sound. This dramatically reduces resonance and increases the playback accuracy of the cartridge.
The platter is powered by a concealed belt-drive system with a DC servo motor and supports both 33⅓ and 45 rpm speeds. Playback is handled by a specially designed VM stereo cartridge mounted on a statically balanced carbon tonearm.
That said, it’s the light-reactive element that truly sets Hotaru apart. As records spin, a custom lighting system interprets and reacts with your music and projects colour accordingly. Users can select from three lighting modes: Basic Mode, where the colour of the light remains unchanged; Gradation Mode, where light smoothly transitions from one color to the next; and Link Mode, where the light’s color changes in response to the character of the music.
The light show spans a palette of twenty colours and adds a meditative or energetic glow depending on the selected mode and music playing. “This multisensory design allows listeners to engage with the music – and the space – more deeply to form lasting memories of the entire environment,” says Audio-Technica.
Complementing the light and levitation is a built-in speaker system housed in the aluminum case. The setup includes two 2.5-inch full-range speakers and two 0.75-inch tweeters, delivering a frequency response of 60Hz to 20kHz and a sensitivity of 82 dB. Thanks to its floating isolation and high-end materials, like the brass feet and “precision-crafted acrylic”, the speaker system stays free from unwanted resonance and maintains remarkable clarity and dynamic range.
In terms of connectivity, Hotaru features a line-out, a subwoofer output, and a power connector for its 12V supply, making it flexible for use in standalone setups or integrated systems.
Priced at $9,999, Hotaru is firmly in luxury territory – but for vinyl aficionados and audiophiles seeking a unique fusion of form, function, and sensory delight, it may well be worth the splurge. Pre-orders are now open, with an official release expected this fall.
Learn more at Audio-Technica.
