shop
The Soundburger was the perfect 1980s gift for fans of Meat Loaf, Bon Jovi, and Patti Smith: a bright red portable plastic record player with a clamshell design and a warning sticker that read, “Do not move while playing.”
Created in 1982 as an ill-fated attempt to stem the relentless proliferation of new CDs, the vinyl player was heralded as “today’s high-tech takeaway. Looks great… and sounds even better!” but was soon relegated to the “Where Now?” file.
A regular on HiFi Enthusiast’s weirdest products lists since then, the Soundburger has recently enjoyed something of a resurgence, with 3D printed templates available online and eBay sellers reselling the £89.95 (incl. VAT) original for more than £500.
Now its manufacturer, Japanese audio brand Audio-Technica, has re-released the Soundburger with updates including Bluetooth, a 21st century cartridge and stylus, and the addition of a rechargeable battery.
“With demand for record players on the rise, we thought now would be the perfect time to re-release it,” Audio-Technica product manager Yu Kambe told Esquire magazine. “It will bring back nostalgia for the older generation, and for the younger generation, it’s a product they can take to a friend’s house and enjoy streaming analog sound.”
Perhaps Burna Boy, Fred Again, or, for a totally retro experience, “Livin’ on a Prayer”?
audio-technica.com, £199
