Apple’s former chief design officer, Jony Ive, is getting in on the vinyl growth along with his newest undertaking, a $60,000 turntable.
Ive’s design agency, LoveFrom, collaborated with Linn, an audio firm, to create a new model of the Sondek LP12 turntable for its 50th anniversary. The agency will solely be producing 250 fashions of the Linn Sondek LP12-50 that will probably be obtainable whereas provides final from August 2023 to March 2024.
With at the moment’s common turntable costing anyplace from $150 to $1,000, the worth tag hooked up to the anniversary version of the LP12 raises the query of what’s so particular about this product to make it value the associated fee.
On the entire, not a lot concerning the much-beloved turntable has modified – its look has largely stayed the identical aside from barely rounded corners and an aluminum energy button took the place of the plastic rocker. Except for a further change of the hinge which extra simply retains the mud cowl open at any angle, Ive didn’t change a lot else, owing to the worry that it will have an effect on the sound high quality.
Ive advised FastCompany that LoveFrom “noticed various areas the place there may very well be small enhancements and delicate evolutions of the present design.” He added, “When it’s such a broadly acknowledged and revered icon, and parts of the design are acquainted, it doesn’t essentially imply they’re optimum. Notably when you may have merchandise that do assume that standing of turning into iconic, and have that type of cultural resonance, it’s simple to imagine that they’re past enchancment. And this can be a notably difficult design downside to respectfully consider the product.”
Ive clarified that the worth was set by Linn, telling the outlet that LoveFrom created the LP12-50 professional bono and didn’t signal a contract or monetary settlement with Linn.
“You may think about the passion,” Linn’s CEO Gilad Tiefenbrun advised FastCompany in reference to his preliminary dialog with Ive.
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