The 1980s portable Sound Burger record player returns via Audio Technica, the perfect accessory for scouring the charity shops for vinyl.
And let’s be honest, that’s what a lot of us tend to do in our spare time. The price of new vinyl is bordering on the ridiculous right now, and the discovery of something affordable, playable and appealing in a secondhand shop or market is pretty much the dream. Especially if it happens to have some rarity value.
You can look at it, but I suspect you might want to give it a spin to make sure. Especially if the title is new to you. Enter the Sound Burger from Audio Technica.
Back in the mid-1980s (around 1983, I think), Audio Technical decided that we didn’t really want to take cassettes around with us. No, we wanted 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl discs. Slip one into this gadget, attach your headphones, and you get to hear your vinyl on the go. Of course, battery use was heavy at the time, but it did the job.
Fast forward a few years, and these went from obsolete technology to a crate digger’s favourite tool. Yes, you could rummage around for vinyl and listen to it on the go. As a result, they became quite collectable and pricey.
Back in 2022, Audio Technical brought it back in limited numbers, tweaking the design to add Bluetooth and a rechargeable battery, but nothing really beyond that. It sold out instantly. But it was then brought back into production as a more mass edition – and you can get one of those now.
Available in black, white or yellow, the Sound Burger promises ‘high-quality sound reproduction’ with a belt-drive system that plays 33 and 45 RPM records. To achieve both portability and stability, the tonearm uses a dynamic balance system in which stylus pressure is applied via a spring. In addition, a high-precision DC motor maintains stable rotation.
The Sound Burger also comes with an audio cable for those who prefer an analogue, wired listening experience, but there is now Bluetooth connectivity as well, plus USB charging for up to 12 hours of spinning.
If you want to add one to your Christmas list, they retail for £199.
