You’ve probably seen a lot of turntables in your day, but have you ever seen one levitate while glowing like a nightclub centerpiece? That’s the idea behind Audio-Technica’s new Hotaru turntable. It’s a $10,000 vinyl spinner that floats using magnets, lights up in 20 colors, and plays music through built-in speakers—all in one futuristic-looking package.

Unveiled at Milan Design Week 2025, the Hotaru is part turntable, part art piece, and fully designed to turn heads. Only 1,000 units will be made, so if you’re thinking of adding one to your setup, you’ll need to act fast (and probably clear some space on your credit card).

The big showstopper is the levitating platter. Thanks to magnets built into both the upper and lower halves of the Hotaru, the turntable section hovers above the speaker base. It’s not just for visual flair—this setup helps reduce vibrations that can interfere with record playback. By separating the stylus and cartridge from the speakers, Audio-Technica aims to create a cleaner, more accurate sound.

Underneath, there’s a belt-driven system powered by a DC servo motor, which supports both 33⅓ and 45 rpm speeds. The tonearm is made of carbon fiber and uses a special VM stereo cartridge and headshell—drawing on Audio-Technica’s long history with analog gear.

"Hotaru" means firefly in Japanese, and the name fits once you see it glow. The turntable includes an internal lighting system with 20 different colors and three modes to choose from:

• Basic Mode: pick one static color
• Gradation Mode: slow transitions between hues
• Link Mode: lighting reacts in real time to your music

So depending on your vibe, it can either add some subtle ambience or pulse along with your playlist like a tiny, personal light show. It's a unique way to make your music feel more immersive—even if you're just spinning a classic jazz record in the background.

Despite looking like a sculpture, the Hotaru is also a fully self-contained music system. The base holds two 2.5-inch full-range speakers and two 0.75-inch tweeters, giving it a frequency range from 60 Hz to 20 kHz and a sensitivity of 82 dB. That’s enough to fill a room comfortably—though you won’t be rattling any windows.

And if you want to pair it with a bigger setup, the Hotaru includes RCA line-out and subwoofer outputs, so you’re not stuck with just the built-in speakers. It runs on a 12V power supply and sits on solid brass feet, which also help with stability and vibration control.

This isn’t a product you’ll find at your local electronics store. Audio-Technica is taking reservations through its website until May 30, 2025, with units expected to ship starting in October. Given the price and limited run, it’s clearly aimed at collectors, audiophiles, or anyone who wants to turn their record player into a conversation piece.

Let’s be real—this isn’t a turntable you buy on a whim. With only 1,000 being made and at this price, the Hotaru is clearly aimed at collectors and enthusiasts who want something rare and conversation-worthy. It plays records, sure, but it also fills a room with light and curiosity.

Not looking to drop ten grand on a turntable? Totally fair. Audio-Technica has plenty of great options on Amazon that won’t make your wallet cry.