Skip to main content

Think Turntables Have Gotten Boring? This One Will Change Your Mind

Looking at the Wheel turntable from Miniot, you’ll almost immediately notice something strange. Yes, it does resemble a flying saucer, but that is not what we’re talking about. Where is the tonearm?

Instead of using the standard layout used by the vast majority of turntables, with the tonearm mounted in the top right corner, the Wheel uses a tonearm hidden within the platter, playing the record from below instead of from above. This has practical advantages — you don’t have to worry about dropping the needle on the record improperly, for example — but it also results in one of the coolest-looking turntables we’ve seen in some time.

Recommended Videos

The placement isn’t the only unique thing about the tonearm used in the Wheel. Machined out of a single piece of laminated mahogany, the tonearm features a built-in infrared sensor for accurate movement and placement. The tonearm is fine-tuned for damping, resonance, and weight distribution, which Miniot says makes for excellent sound but does have a downside in that the modified AT95E cartridge isn’t user-replaceable. Fortunately, the stylus used can be replaced by the user, with replacements being made available when the Wheel finally ships. Miniot says that all fragile moving parts being built in help prevent scratching your records or destroying the stylus, so hopefully, replacements won’t be as necessary as with some other turntables.

The unique build also adds another curious feature to the Wheel: It can be placed as you would any other turntable, but it can also be hung on the wall like a clock. Control is provided via a center stick — right in the middle of the record — that handles turning the Wheel on and off, playing and pausing, volume, and even skipping to the next or previous track, while turning the stick adjusts the volume of the built-in headphone jack.

The Wheel turntable is currently in pre-production and has turned to Kickstarter for funding. Early-bird pricing has already come and gone, so if you’re interested in getting your hands on one, you will need to pledge the full amount, roughly $600. This gets you a single turntable, available in walnut, cherry, or mahogany varieties.

Miniot initially set out seeking roughly $53,000 in funding and has already blown past that, raising more than $250,000 at the time of this writing. The campaign comes to an end on March 17, so there is still plenty of time if you want to order one of the remaining models — just be aware of the usual risks associated with Kickstarter campaigns. If everything goes according to plan, the Wheel should begin shipping in November. For more information, see the campaign page.

A version of this article originally appeared at our “brother site,” Digital Trends.

Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
The writer of one of Netflix’s biggest drama is taking on James Bond next
We still don't know who will star in this new installment.
James Bond at a casino

The news that Denis Villeneuve would be taking on the next James Bond film was certainly exciting for many, and as we continue to speculate about who might take over as 007, we're also learning more about who else will be working behind the scenes on the film.

We now know that Steven Knight, the writer behind Peaky Blinders, will be writing the next Bond movie. While Knight is best known for his work on TV, which includes Peaky Blinders and the recent Stephen Graham series A Thousand Blows, he's also the writer behind Spencer and Maria.

Read more
Every new Game of Thrones spinoff explained
George R.R. Martin's television world continues to grow
Matt Smith starring in House of the Dragon

When it first aired on HBO in the early 2010s, Game of Thrones dazzled audiences with revolutionary special effects and terrific acting in a unique fantasy world. Based on author George R.R. Martin's series of novels, the universe depicts the battles between several different noble families as they try to climb to the top of the continent of Westeros, both politically and figuratively. The war scenes, family drama, and massive number of characters helped make the story feel fresh and new every time a new episode aired.

As Martin's attention shifted to television and away from his books, fans have looked to the TV series to finish some of the stories he couldn't finish on the page. Game of Thrones left fans wanting more, despite its poorly received finale, and a plethora of spinoffs are on the way. House of the Dragon already has two seasons completed, and there are several others in the coming years to look forward to.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon finished its second season in 2024. The show chronicles the heated family dynamics of the Targaryen empire almost two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones. The third season should pick up the civil war between Queen Rhaenyra's forces and King Aegon's after a slow-building conflict throughout the second act.

Read more
The ultimate guide to cigar terminology: Speak like a true aficionado
The ‘I definitely know my cigars’ cheat sheet. You're welcome.
Man wearing top hat lighting a cigar in a bar

You're not the only one who has felt out of your league talking cigars with someone who obviously knows his stuff, trust me. To everyone else, the cigar world is a secret society with its own language—a mix of tradition, craftsmanship, and ritual that may as well be code to the onlooker. But here’s the secret–you don’t need years of puffing to sound like an aficionado.

This guide explains cigar jargon in the most approachable way possible. No BS, no elitism, no jargon— just straight talk in plain, everyday words. You’ll learn the basic structure of cigars, how to describe what you’re tasting, and how to talk shop without sounding like a rookie. Whether you’re sparking up at a lounge, perusing a humidor, or just kicking back, having the lingo effortlessly rolling off your tongue will elevate your cigar game instantly.

Read more