This Swedish Audio Brand Is Transparent In Nostalgic Appeal to Gen Z

With a name like Transparent it’s no surprise the Swedish audio maker has continued to sound off about the appeal of their see-through speakers since we first marked them as a minimalist’s favorite back in 2019 (though, our favorite is their non-transparent organically abstract sound sculpture). Their speakers remain the epitome of a conversation piece, paradoxically near-invisible while also screaming for attention. So what better to pair with the brand’s see-through speaker than an equally minimalistic Transparent Turntable to keep things clearly unified in aesthetics?

You might remember we recently reviewed a similarly minimalist turntable, praising the Marantz TT-15S1 Turntable’s acrylic plinth design equally for its audio acuity as for its aesthetic acumen. Unlike that turntable design, Transparent plays up the “nearly not there” approach to a higher degree visually.

Crucial to the Transparent Turntable’s design are two planes of tempered glass, one stationed upon four feet as the record player’s plinth and the other assigned as an open-side cover. The rest of the build comprises solid aluminum – for its lightweight strength and a clean modern design – complemented by white or black component details.

Both versions look absolutely striking, each concealing the player’s built-in phono stage (a vital component if you want plug-and-play simplicity without the need for a separate turntable amp) and a Qualcomm Bluetooth chip for wireless streaming, as well as input ports on the underside of the glass plinth. The platter is belt-driven with a budget-oriented Ortofon OM5E cartridge at the end of its aluminum tonearm.

The Transparent Turntable is also designed as a modular component, with all detailing custom and secured using screws, allowing for easy disassembly when repairs, component replacement, or upgrades are required.

We’re unsure whether the Transparent Turntable is an audio component under the guise of a design object, or vice versa. What we do know is the Swedish audio brand is framing the design as a response to Gen Z’s affinity for nostalgic times and technologies. Either way, it’s clearly one of the most minimalist and modular home audio components available today, regardless of generation.

The Transparent Turntable is available in stores like MoMA, Bloomingdales, MR Porter, and their own shop at www.transpa.rent retailing for $1,300.

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Source: design-milk