TONE Factory Turntable Project
TONE Factory has a new turntable project - or should we say Pro-Ject?
TONE Factory is planning to release its minimalist and affordable turntable in June 2020. The brainchild of three young designers in Vienna TONE Factory worked with Austrian neighbours, Pro-Ject Audio Systems in creating a user-friendly and sleek-looking vinyl playback system.
The TONE Factory Bluetooth, belt-drive turntable, has doubled its funding target on Kickstarter with Early Bird prices starting at €229 - and so proves that there's definitely a market for it.
What makes this turntable so attractive to so many? Firstly, it has been designed to be easy to set-up and use. Not only does the vinyl spinner pack a built-in phono stage, but you also get a Bluetooth transmitter. This means you have the option to either plug it into your amp or pair it with a Bluetooth speaker.
Granted, there are already turntables with such features. However, where the TONE Factory turntable looks to differentiate itself from the others is with its flat, compact design. The streamlined aesthetic is achieved by storing the motor, phono stage and Bluetooth module in the circular aluminium base. Furthermore, the base also forms the structural foundation of the turntable with the chassis sitting atop. This design also means that the TONE turntable can sport its uncommonly flat look - any flatter and you'd be laying your LPs directly on the plinth.
Good looking? Well, the innovative design gained the Austrian Design Prize 2019 and was part of the exhibition "Best of Austrian Design" in Vienna.
As well as tapping Pro-Ject's substantial turntable knowledge, TONE Factory has also produced a cartridge with "close cooperation with Ortofon", too. The result of Ortofon's input is found at the end of a one-piece light-weight tonearm. The integrated counterweight is as thick as the tonearm but made from a higher density material to ensure the perfect balance and tracking weight.
With the partnerships mentioned, keen price point, clean lines and fuss-free operation, the TONE Factory turntable could well be a winner.
The turntable will start shipping to backers in June 2020 and then will appear in TONE Factory's online store in July. This could be a great starter deck or a way to add vinyl playback to an office or second room.
Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Hi-Fi
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
1Audio-Technica’s Hotaru Levitates Analog Listening to New Heights
2Vertere DG-X Turntable Spins Simplicity into High-End Sound
3Stratton Shrinks the Form Not the Fidelity with Element 6 and 8
4Noise-Free Networking with SilentPower OMNI LAN
5Careful What Music You W(ai)sh For As Deezer Sounds Alarm
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.