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DJ gets crowdfunders in a spin with cardboard-housed DIY turntable

DJ gets crowdfunders in a spin with cardboard-housed DIY turntable
Designed as an easy and fun intro into the world of vinyl, the Spinbox is a build-it-yourself, all-in-one turntable system
Designed as an easy and fun intro into the world of vinyl, the Spinbox is a build-it-yourself, all-in-one turntable system
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The cardboard housing of the Spinbox will initially come in black, natural and marble styles
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The cardboard housing of the Spinbox will initially come in black, natural and marble styles
Its maker reckons that the Spinbox can be assembled in as little as 30 minutes
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Its maker reckons that the Spinbox can be assembled in as little as 30 minutes
Designed as an easy and fun intro into the world of vinyl, the Spinbox is a build-it-yourself, all-in-one turntable system
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Designed as an easy and fun intro into the world of vinyl, the Spinbox is a build-it-yourself, all-in-one turntable system
Exploded view of the Spinbox all-in-one portable turntable system, which comes as a build-it-yourself kit
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Exploded view of the Spinbox all-in-one portable turntable system, which comes as a build-it-yourself kit
The Spinbox is reported sturdy enough to allow for DJs to get their scratch on
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The Spinbox is reported sturdy enough to allow for DJs to get their scratch on
The Spinbox can be packed away in a travel box between uses
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The Spinbox can be packed away in a travel box between uses
The Spinbox kit includes carry handles
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The Spinbox kit includes carry handles
The Spinbox can be packed away in a travel box between uses
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The Spinbox can be packed away in a travel box between uses
The Spinbox is reported sturdy enough to allow for DJs to get their scratch on
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The Spinbox is reported sturdy enough to allow for DJs to get their scratch on
The Spinbox comes as a built-it-yourself kit
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The Spinbox comes as a built-it-yourself kit
Spinbox components in the box include a pair of full range speakers, two circuit boards and a plastic core module that is home to the tonearm and belt-drive turntable
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Spinbox components in the box include a pair of full range speakers, two circuit boards and a plastic core module that is home to the tonearm and belt-drive turntable
The Spinbox is powered via micro-USB, from a wall socket if available or portable battery pack if not
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The Spinbox is powered via micro-USB, from a wall socket if available or portable battery pack if not
Spinbox components in the box include a pair of full range speakers, two circuit boards and a plastic core module that is home to the tonearm and belt-drive turntable
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Spinbox components in the box include a pair of full range speakers, two circuit boards and a plastic core module that is home to the tonearm and belt-drive turntable
The outer shell is made from water-repellent cardboard, which will come in black, natural or marble styles, but can also be personalized to suit a user's style using nothing more than a few Sharpies
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The outer shell is made from water-repellent cardboard, which will come in black, natural or marble styles, but can also be personalized to suit a user's style using nothing more than a few Sharpies
The Spinbox supports playback of 33.3, 45 and 78 rpm vinyl
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The Spinbox supports playback of 33.3, 45 and 78 rpm vinyl
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Stephen Ying – known professionally as DJ QuestionMark – has developed an all-in-one turntable system in a box that's designed to get those new to vinyl spinning and scratching in minutes. The Spinbox should also appeal to tinkering types, as it comes as a build-it-yourself kit. Following a successful crowdfunding effort in Taiwan last year, Ying has hit Kickstarter to help his project go global.

"I've been DJing and collecting records for over 10 years," said Ying. "When I spoke with people about vinyl, I found that many were interested but felt that setting up a turntable system was too complicated or expensive. I decided to create a more approachable way to experience vinyl – a turntable that's fun, affordable and easy for everyone to use."

Rather than having to buy a hi-fi amplifier, and possibly a phono preamp, a pair of speakers, cables and so on before spinning your first record, the Spinbox takes a Crosley-like all-in-one system approach, with the added draw that it also offers a chance to satisfy your inner tinkerer as it will come in the form of a kit that you put together yourself – in as little as 30 minutes.

The outer shell is made from water-repellent cardboard, which will come in black, natural or marble styles, but can also be personalized to suit a user's style using nothing more than a few Sharpies. Components in the box include a pair of full range speakers, two circuit boards and a plastic core module that is home to the tonearm and belt-drive turntable. The Spinbox supports playback of 33.3, 45 and 78 rpm vinyl, and is powered via micro-USB, from a wall socket if available or portable battery pack if not.

The Spinbox is reported sturdy enough to allow for DJs to get their scratch on
The Spinbox is reported sturdy enough to allow for DJs to get their scratch on

It's not meant to rival high end turntables like the Technics SL-1200 or the much cheaper AT-LP5 from Audio Technica, but as an easy and fun way to get into vinyl – though its maker does claim the Spinbox speakers are high fidelity. The use of a ceramic cartridge is a rather surprising choice though, given Ying's day job as a DJ, but maybe not so much given the entry level, portable nature of the turntable.

The Spinbox is reported sturdy enough to allow for DJs to get their scratch on, has a tonearm lifter for precise stylus placement, and users can opt to connect external speakers to the system via a line out port, and there's a line in jack for feeding in tunes from an external music source. There's a screwdriver supplied with the kit, and it can be put together without having to break out the soldering iron so is therefore a good fit for maker newbies.

The Spinbox Kickstarter has secured funding from more than 1,500 backers as of writing, with more than a week left to run. Pledges start at US$99, and if all goes to plan shipping is expected to start in November. The pitch video below has more on the project.

Sources: Spinbox, Kickstarter

Spinbox - A DIY Portable Turntable Kit

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1 comment
1 comment
chase
Aren't DJ's somewhat a thing of the past? Kinda like MTV playing music videos which I heard they did like umteen years ago. Going to a music event where it's DJ's on stage is like going with your parents or going to one of their parties. It's just... Old.