14 techie turntables that any geek DJ would kill to scratch on
Just as every bartender has his or her favorite cocktail mixer, a DJ must wield his turntable. DJs are the kings of virtually every major party. They set the mood and keep the fun times thumpin'. Without DJs, parties would be as slow as your mom and dad's prom date. Collected below are 14 of the most out-of-this-world turntables that would have any DJ waiting in line to spin an LP on.
Do you have your own awesome turntable? Share yours with us in the comments below!
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1. Steampunk True to its Victorian stylings, this record player created by New Zealand artist Asciimation is actually steam powered, whistling and a hootin' as its Arduino processor controls its servomotors spin vinyls. [SOURCE]
2. R2-D2 You'd think in the futuristic world of Star Wars they'd have iPods and digital music, right? Nah, in the deep confines of outer space, everybody's tunes are spun on an R2-D2 astromech turntable. Dweep derp dooo, indeed. [SOURCE]
3. Lego Is there nothing that can't be built from Lego bricks? Designed for Pioneer's DJ Art Mix project, the Lego turntable is 100 percent functional. And no, you can't buy one. Odds are, if you're creative enough, you can probably figure out how to build your own. [SOURCE]
4. Barebones How far can you strip a record player down while still maintaining its functional purpose? Believe it or not, this wireframe is it. It's designed with only the essentials in mind: motor, needle, speakers, control buttons. It's brilliant! [SOURCE]
5. Optical Turntable You know something is from the future when it uses light in a cunning way. Soundmachines' optical turntable doesn't have a needle. Instead, it uses "light cartridges" that read optical "records." It might seem a bit like overkill, but this turntable is actually 3-in-1; each turntable controlling either the bass, percussion or rhythm of the tune. [SOURCE]
6. USS Enterprise If there ever was record player that would get geeks together in circle, this Star Trek USS Enterprise one would be just the thing. We'd even pop on a Star Wars album and watch the fanboys go wild. It's too bad it's only a concept. Somebody really ought to make this. It'd sell millions, maybe even, billions! [SOURCE]
3. Piano Didn't your mother ever tell you that looks can deceive? The Horo WJE168 turntable looks like a mini grand piano with a violin bow for a tone-arm, only it's not one. Created by Luigi Pasqualini, this piano-shaped turntable's bent arm is meant to reduce cartridge distortion. Yours for about $41,000. Yowza. [SOURCE]
8. Paper Just because we're a tech and gadget blog doesn't mean we don't appreciate a good papercraft. Created as an invitation for a friend's wedding, designer Kelli Anderson's paper record player won't drop the latest Lady Gaga beats, but it still manages a heartwarming 45 RPM spin. [SOURCE]
9. Porsche DesignHad the iPod never come along, we're convinced that this gorgeous Apple-esque record player designed by Ahmad Bittar for the Porsche Next Challenge contest would have taken the world by storm. No, for reals, Bittar's design is elegant enough to get the nod from Jony Ives. [SOURCE]
10. Wooden Stump A perfect match for a wooden cabin or home from the '60s, this wooden record player from Audiowood is just a slice of a tree stump and a glass plate slapped together. Treehuggers, this one is for you! [SOURCE]
11. Cat Scratch Alright, this isn't a real turntable, but it's perfect for your pretty little feline. Made from cardboard, your cat can finally becoming the DJ Scratchy it's always dreamed of becoming. [SOURCE]
12. Portable Crosley It's kind of silly to even think about carrying a record player around, but should the occasion arise, this is exactly what you need. It can read 7-inch and 12-inch discs, has a wireless FM transmitter, USB connectivity and runs on six AA batteries. The price is right for $150. [SOURCE]
13. Onedof What the heck is a Onedof? It's short for "One Degree of Freedom." It's only reason for being on this list? It's crazy expensive. The 50-pound clunker sells for $150,000, and that's not even including the $9,750 for the Tri-Planar tonearm and Benz LP cartridge. You better be sure you really love records before dropping your savings on one of these. [SOURCE]
14. Turntable Rider Technically not a turntable, the Turntable Rider is a box kit that attaches to your bike and turns it into a DJ scratching machine. Handlebars can be converted into faders, jog wheels attached to your wheels, and sound pads hooked up to your brake handles. The musical end product? Check it out for yourself. [SOURCE]
