Setting up a record player may seem like it takes a lot of know-how, but new advancements in the turntable market are making it easier than ever to get into the hobby yourself. Just recently, a new turntable made its way to Kickstarter which should have just about everyone turning their heads: the DUO.
At just nine days into a 60-day campaign, the DUO turntable has already made over 50% more than its initial goal of $20,000, and it's clear to see why. The DUO combines an extremely compact turntable with a detachable Bluetooth speaker for a minuscule setup that's unlike nearly every other record player on the market; its platter is just 1/4th the size of those found on standard turntables.
Past its size though is its ease of setup. You won't need to purchase and connect an amplifier as it features integrated phono and power amplifiers. You won't have to wire up speakers either, as its included detachable speaker connects wirelessly for playback. You can even take it with you on-the-go and begin streaming from other devices such as your phone. It's equipped with two full-range drivers along with two low-frequency passive radiators. Two DUO speakers can be combined and configure themselves into left and right channels automatically with the press of a button.
The makers of DUO didn't stop there though. It also features built-in Amazon Alexa so you can even voice control your music, ask questions, set reminders, and more. It's fitted with an Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge and a tonearm featuring a spring on the end, instead of a counterweight, and is capable of playing common record sizes at 33⅓ rpm and 45 rpm.
You can place your order for the DUO turntable in either vibrant orange, neon yellow, or jet black now via Kickstarter, though it's not set to ship until this December. Getting your order in early can save you some cash too, so you may want to head over now and consider pre-ordering one. Early birds can get in at $229 currently, while it's said to have a future retail price of $369.
