Netherlands-based Miniot has debuted the third iteration of its Wheel turntable, and the company claims that this version takes the vertical player’s concept and pushes it to its limits. It’s easy to see why, as the Wheel 3’s minimalist design is taken to the extreme, with a tonearm that sits inside the platter for unobscured viewing of the chosen vinyl record.
A new addition to the Wheel 3 is an optical pickup, replacing the traditional magnetic design. A diamond stylus tracks the grooves on the record, while the optical pickup measures the amount of light and shadow to track the position of the stylus.
“Unlike magnetic pickups, which measure acceleration, an optical pickup measures position, allowing it to ‘see’ sound all the way down to 0 Hz,” says Miniot. “Because it also continuously compares stylus and arm position measurements, it is pitch perfect from the first note.”
The company says that the pickup is complimented by a “bespoke, high-end preamplifier,” while the direct-drive motor features 24 neodymium magnets and five optical sensors. The Wheel 3 can be operated on its table stand or wall-mounted via a recessed slot on the back.
The Wheel 3 is available now for $3,458, though shipping times may vary.
See also: Audio-Technica launches fully-transparent turntable
