It may surprise you, as it did me, that Ikea hasn’t made a record player since 1973. Luckily for us, that changes now. In partnership with Swedish House Mafia, these two Nordic giants have teamed up on the Obegransad record player. At its core, the Obegransad is a standard record player for everyday use. But, design-wise, it’s packing a lot of punch. An austere black box silhouette, it’s a minimalist’s dream and would sit comfortably on your MALM desk or coffee table. Small improvements have been made to the design for an enhanced experience, including inlaying the platter (where the record sits) slightly into the body of the Obegransad to avoid additional vibrations. Plus, you’ll find a built-in pre-amp, a replaceable needle and cartridge, and 33- and 45-RPM speeds. There’s also USB power, a 3.5mm output, and RCA outputs.
However, most impressive is the price tag. At $150, the Obegransad is a seriously affordable budget turntable option. It’ll be available worldwide in October.
