By Phyllis Pan

When I first saw Hotaru, I wasn’t looking at the music. I was looking at the turntable itself. Audio-Technica’s latest creation, which has officially landed in Singapore, feels less like a record player and more like something between a statement piece and an art installation. It is an intriguing move from a company whose roots date back to 1962, when Audio-Technica first began producing phono cartridges in Japan. While sound remains at the heart of the brand, Hotaru seems designed to appeal to the eyes as much as the ears.

The name Hotaru means “firefly” in Japanese, and once switched on, it is easy to see why. The turntable glows softly, cycling through colours while the platter appears to hover above its base through magnetic repulsion. Even before a record starts spinning, it is difficult not to notice.

Interestingly, Hotaru is also designed as an all-in-one system, integrating the turntable, amplifier and speakers into a single unit. The result is a cleaner, more self-contained piece that seems intended to fit naturally into contemporary living spaces rather than requiring a complex audio setup.

What I found particularly interesting was the emphasis on the visual experience. While most turntables are designed primarily for listening, Hotaru appears to place equal emphasis on aesthetics.

The launch took place at Appetite, the experimental culinary and research space founded by Chef Ivan Brehm, who is also the chef-owner of Michelin-starred Nouri, a restaurant known for exploring the connections between cultures, ingredients and culinary traditions.

I had the opportunity to experience the specially curated menu, which included dishes playfully named “Not A Tom Yum”, “Corn Custard – resident dish” and “Not A Fish Sando”. The dinner was excellent and kept me curious about what was coming next.

It was about more than just food. Guests were encouraged to pay attention to flavours, textures and aromas throughout the meal. As the meal progressed, the pairing started to make more sense. Hotaru takes a similar approach to music, adding a visual element to something we would normally experience only through sound.

What I enjoyed most was being able to watch the chefs at work. Seated around the counter, guests had a front-row view of the action as dishes were plated and served. It added another dimension to the meal and made the experience feel more personal.

In many ways, Hotaru appears to be aimed at more than just vinyl collectors. It is easy to imagine it finding a home in boutique hotels, cocktail lounges or design-led restaurants, where the turntable becomes part of the atmosphere rather than simply a source of music.

Originally unveiled at Milan Design Week 2025, Hotaru combines music, design and lighting in a single piece. The lighting system offers twenty colours and several display modes, including one that responds dynamically to the music, further reinforcing Hotaru’s blend of sound and design.

That said, Hotaru is not merely a design object. Audio-Technica has incorporated a number of features aimed at serious vinyl enthusiasts, including a carbon fibre tonearm and a specially developed cartridge. While many people may be drawn to its appearance first, there is clearly plenty going on beneath the surface as well.

Hotaru is limited to just 1,000 units worldwide. Each unit arrives wrapped in traditional Kyoto furoshiki cloth, adding another distinctly Japanese touch to the overall presentation.

Of all the details about Hotaru, it was the floating platter that stayed with me.

Perhaps that says more about me than the turntable itself. I may not know much about cartridges, tonearms or frequency response charts, but I do know when something catches my attention.

Will most people need a levitating turntable? Probably not.

But after seeing Hotaru showcased at Appetite, I suspect that was never the point. It is certainly not an ordinary turntable, and I found myself appreciating it far more than I expected to.

For one evening at Appetite, it certainly left an impression.

The Audio-Technica Hotaru retails at $13,188 and is available in Singapore through Audio-Technica’s online store and showroom at Ubi. It will also be on display at the inaugural StereoNet Asia Hi-Fi & AV Expo 2026, which takes place at Marina Bay Sands from 10 to 12 July.