In 2017, a Dutch family business launched a successful Kickstarter for a minimalist turntable that plays the underside of records via a linear tonearm. Miniot has released a limited audiophile version called the Black Wheel.
Developing the Wheel turntable took considerably longer than expected and the original product is now superseded by a second generation build. Each unit is handcrafted by a small team at the company’s Schagen facility, and quite a few backers report that they have yet to receive their new disc spinners.
However, those who received the turntables seemed satisfied despite the long wait, and the company chose to sell consumer order forms to the general public. A small production run of a special edition called Black Wheel has been announced.
The standard turntable’s wooden enclosure has been replaced with a brushed aluminum chassis with black accents and the team’s signature laser-etched on the bottom.
Miniot
Vinyl enthusiasts pop a record onto the unit’s mini platter and it spins counter-clockwise at a speed of their choice, playing the face down. Miniot reports that the record does not need to be clamped if the turntable is laid horizontally, but if the unit is to be wall-mounted or mounted on the included vertical stand, the magnetic disc clamp is recommended. must be used. It also works as an adapter for a popped out 7 inch single.
The upward-pointing, digitally controlled linear tonearm rocks a high-end Audio Technica Nude Shibata cartridge and features a built-in audiophile-grade phono pre-map to deliver a “pure RIAA equalized signal to your amplifier, headphones, active speakers, or wireless Delivers directly to your settings.”
The system auto-detects 7″, 10″ or 12″ records, and the device’s three closed-loop motors ensure the stylus follows the groove precisely. Called Constant Groove Speed, the technology uses “data gathered from tonearm, stylus and drive positions” to provide on-the-fly 33.3/45 rpm playback speed corrections for optimal listening.
Miniot
Track selection, volume control, stylus weight, and more can all be controlled via a smart slide track on the side that provides visual feedback via a simple line display.
Black Wheels are handcrafted in the company’s labs in Schagen, North Holland, with a limited production run of 5 units per month. It comes with a stand for vertical playback and costs him €3,799 (approximately US$4,000). The retail price for the standard Wheel 2 model is €1,999.
Product page: Black wheel
