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Knock on wood: Minfort kickstarts multi-function retro-modern turntable

Knock on wood: Minfort kickstarts multi-function retro-modern turntable
The full TT8 setup includes a belt-drive turntable rocking its own amflifier, a pair of speakers and a subwoofer
The full TT8 setup includes a belt-drive turntable rocking its own amflifier, a pair of speakers and a subwoofer
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The stylish TT8 turntable can be connected to any passive speakers, including Minfort's own FS8 tower throwers
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The stylish TT8 turntable can be connected to any passive speakers, including Minfort's own FS8 tower throwers
The TT8 turntable has its own hi-fi amplifier and DAC, meaning it can connect direct to speakers and receive cabled input from other music sources, like a CD player or USB thumbdrive
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The TT8 turntable has its own hi-fi amplifier and DAC, meaning it can connect direct to speakers and receive cabled input from other music sources, like a CD player or USB thumbdrive
The full TT8 setup includes a belt-drive turntable rocking its own amflifier, a pair of speakers and a subwoofer
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The full TT8 setup includes a belt-drive turntable rocking its own amflifier, a pair of speakers and a subwoofer
The TT8 turntable is available is teak, walnut or oak
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The TT8 turntable is available is teak, walnut or oak
The TT8 is a two speed belt-drive turntable
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The TT8 is a two speed belt-drive turntable
The TT8 turntable, Passiv8 speakers and subwoofer
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The TT8 turntable, Passiv8 speakers and subwoofer
The TT8 is a retro-modern turntable with a built-in amplifier and wireless connectivity
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The TT8 is a retro-modern turntable with a built-in amplifier and wireless connectivity
The TT9 turntable connected to a pair of Passiv8 speakers
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The TT9 turntable connected to a pair of Passiv8 speakers
View gallery - 8 images

The rise of digital format convenience once threatened to finish off music on vinyl, but the platter-friendly groovy disc has been making something of a comeback in recent years. More records in circulation means more manufacturers making turntables. Taiwan's Minfort Audio has gone for a distinctly retro look for its new TT8 turntable, but like Sony and Akai, has also crammed in a healthy dose of modern technology – including a built-in amplifier and wireless streaming capabilities.

The two-speed TT8 belt-drive turntable is being made available in teak, walnut or oak, with an aluminum platter and AT3600L phono cartridge. Though you can use your own hi-fi amplifier courtesy of RCA outputs around back, the stylish retro-modern turntable rocks two Class D amplifiers of its own – a dual 50 W TDA7492 for the main speaker output channels and a 100 W TDA7498 for the sub output – and a CS4398 DAC.

It also has RCA inputs for cabled connection to a CD player, and music lovers can feed in MP3, WAV or FLAC files by plugging a thumbrive into the USB port. And there's an optical input too, so that gamers can hook up a console such as the PS4 or Xbox. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless connectivity means that streamers can send their digital music over to the TT8 from a variety of smart devices, at up to 24-bit/192 kHz resolution.

The TT8 turntable is available is teak, walnut or oak
The TT8 turntable is available is teak, walnut or oak

Minfort has knocked up a pair of wood-enclosed speakers with 1-inch dome tweeter and 4-inch woofer to match the TT8, and a 5.25-inch subwoofer. Tower speakers with a 1-inch tweeter and two 4-inch woofers are also available.

Minfort is raising production funds for the TT8 turntable on Kickstarter, where pledges start at US$599. Backers wanting to add a pair of Passiv8 speakers and a PS525 subwoofer will need to stump up at least $939, and the turntable plus FS8 tower speakers is pitched at $1,299.

If all goes to plan, shipping is expected to start in March 2018. The pitch video below has more on the project.

Sources: Minfort Audio, Kickstarter

TT8 - The Best Wooden Multi-Functional Turntable

View gallery - 8 images
3 comments
3 comments
tacheonabike
My father had on of these it was called a musicentre les plus de choses changent plus elles restent les mêmes
MerlinGuy
I had a wonderful turntable when I was a teenager. When all the record stores closed because of digital music became popular I ended up getting rid of it like so many others have. I feel insulted whenever I see a article about how great analog music is coming from the generation that basically destroyed it.
JimFox
In my youth the vinyl LP was such a source of tactile & visual pleasure, besides the musical enjoyment. There was something about putting on an LP that CD's never provided... plus, to me, the sound was harsh & clinical- "chrome plated " I called it. Now with downloaded MP4's it seems like you don't own anything!
My hearing has degenerated so that I can no longer appreciate the nerve- tingling sensations of good hi-fi. Getting old is over-rated!