More turntables spun out to meet vinyl interest
LAS VEGAS — Want to join -- or rejoin -- the vinyl movement? A wave of new turntables were on display at the Consumer Electronics Show here, all part of the resurgent interest in long-playing records.
Various spins on the record player — starting from under $100 to more than $15,000 — could be found at the four-day technology trade show, which ended Sunday. The growing number of models reflects consumers' burgeoning affection for the seven decade-old format, which Nielsen says has seen sales rise for 10 straight years.
Nostalgia for the format is what is driving some to give vinyl LPs another spin. But young music lovers, too, who grew up in the CD era are embracing records, too.
2017 International Consumer Electronics Show
"It’s the warmth and even the noise, crackle, pop and hiss that have been filtered out of all the digital and streaming music. And it’s that opening up a beautiful album of art to look at and read while you are listening and having to be actively involved with flipping the album over," said Josh Poulsen, director of product development, House of Marley, which is bringing its first turntable, the Stir It Up ($199), to market in the U.S. in the next two months.
The turntable, which has a base made with sustainable bamboo and has other materials made from recycled material, can be connected directly to a Bluetooth speaker via audio cable or connected to a stereo system. It also has a USB output so that albums can be converted into digital files, too.
Elsewhere, the Crosley Radio booth had dozens of turntable models -- everything from an $89.95 Cruiser Deluxe portable player to a $12,000 jukebox that plays vinyl singles.
Audio Technica USA's lineup includes the $279 AT-LP3 fully automatic belt-drive turntable coming this spring. The electronics company has expanded its lineup beyond models aimed at disc jockeys. "Kids have discovered these big CDs up in the attic that belong to Mom and Dad," said the company's director of educational services Steve Savanyu.
High-end turntables never went away, but some new ones are on the way to capitalize on the recent vinyl resurgence among well-heeled music aficionados. Technics, a favorite brand of DJs for years, displayed a new Grand Class audiophile turntable, expected to sell for about $2,000.
And even higher-end brand Mark Levinson by Harman introduced its first turntable, the No. 515, made with renowned turntable maker VPI Industries. With a 20-pound platter and a 3-D-printed tonearm, the turntable is priced starting at $10,000 and is due this summer.
With more vinyl being released and new record players on the way, the movement could wax on.
"We continue to see the trend of vinyl expanding," House of Marley's Poulsen said. "Talking to some of our retail partners, the volumes and number of turntables they were selling during the holiday season was unreal."
Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.