Sony has introduced a new turntable after years. A technology that has been increasingly popular again for years. But why?
This is what Sony has introduced: Sony is bringing two new turntables to the market after 7 years: an entry-level model (PS-LX3BT, $399.99) and a higher-end model (PS-LX5BT, $499.99). Sony last introduced a new turntable in 2019 (Sony PS-LX310BT).
The PS-LX3BT can be pre-ordered now and will be released in February, while the PS-LX5BT will be available in April. The announcement is surprising, but it fits the comeback that the turntable has been experiencing for years.
Turntables have been experiencing a renaissance in the music market for years
Why is the turntable making a comeback? In a time when almost the entire (music) world relies on streaming and music is digitally listened to and sold, it is quite surprising that turntables are making a comeback. But there are good reasons for this (via Netz-Blog.de):
Turntables are seen as a counterpoint to the fast, immaterial streaming world: They offer tactile collecting, ritualized listening, and a sound perceived as “warmer”, often associated with nostalgia and retro trends.
Additionally, vinyl records, as they are called, have become a collector’s hobby: Colored vinyl, special editions, signed releases, and reissues increase the appeal of owning something rare and lasting.
Moreover, one is purchasing a physical object here: In a world where much is becoming digital, this is an appealing thought for some people, to be able to own something again. Because companies like Ubisoft often remind us that we don’t really own digital content.
But there is also a lot of movement in the digital world of music: An activist group has created a backup of the Spotify library. They want to offer millions of songs for free. How exactly this is supposed to work, you can read directly on MeinMMO: Hackers steal 256 million songs from Spotify, want to make all the knowledge of humanity freely accessible
