Are you looking to get started in the world of audiophilia? Are you sick and tired of the over-saturation of the audiophile market and just want something simple to create and have fun with? Want to know more about the Ikea turntable?
Then you are in the right place, for today we will be taking a long hard look at the Ikea OBEGRÄNSAD turntable in all its glory.
Table of Contents
The Story
So, while this turntable and other items in the Obegränsad collection might appear like a bit of an outlier in their larger range of products, the history of it all goes a little further back than you might think. Yes, the idea of an Ikea turntable is likely older than you, or at least your kids.
Despite what many believe to be their own common knowledge on the subject, Ikea has been around for a good while and, indeed, the Ikea story goes back a long way. Way before acts like the Swedish House Mafia wanted to collaborate with them on constructing a record player that doubles as a DJ console, Ikea already had an ear to the audiophile community.
In fact, they release their first turntable in 1973, perhaps at a time before Ikea had the same ubiquitous sway in the Western world. This was not just a product for the use of decorating record shelves – rather, they had a whole range of audio products available for public consumption throughout the 1970s and 80s, including several audio and video products.
This included but was not limited to:
- a series of televisions (Renn TV Teak & Renn TV Blalack)
- headphones (Renn Hörtelefon)
- home entertainment speakers (Renn Akustic 15 Högtalare)
- a stereo system (Renn Stereofonic)
- a turntable (Renn Professional Skivspelare)
- a shelf for records (Renn Skivpack LP)
- a series of pianos and keyboard instruments (Renn Electronic, Renn Classic Valnöt, Renn Bambino Elorgel, and the Renn Colour Vitlack)
- and even the stool upon which to sit while playing these instruments (Allegro).
It’s a miracle these things didn’t take off really, though you would most certainly need a power adapter to use them in the Western world. Power is, after all, rather strange over there…
The IKEA Obegränsad
Flash forward to today and Ikea is now manufacturing and releasing its first turntable in many decades. A central part of the Obegränsad Collection, this turntable is a collaboration between Ikea and the national pride of Sweden at the moment, the Swedish House Mafia.
This USB-C powered Obegränsad record player occupies the central position amongst the rest of the collection, which will include other audio products, a music production desk, and a listening chair, alongside more things yet to be revealed.
Audiophiles will be pleased to hear that Ikea has got seasoned professionals Audio-Technica on board to do the job properly with regard to the technical details. For this, they have opted to use a moving magnet cartridge to Audio-Technica’s own specifications, giving the lack of built-in speakers a big boost.
In line with more modern turntables, this new turntable from Ikea will no doubt please music lovers who prefer the choice between analog and USB outputs at the flick of a switch. If you love vinyl and USB, then your desire for flexible connections will be sated with this record player.
With a capable built-in preamp, this all-black record player is fit for the job of providing an easy connection between your precious records and the stereo receivers that you might choose to send them forth through. Though there is no ground loop visible on the outside, there must surely be a solution within.
Despite the lack of built-in speakers, this record player is still well-connected. It is belt-driven and sends its signal through the RCA ports and USB, even offering Bluetooth connectivity to those who are a little more technologically savvy. At around $159.99 and with two-speed functionality, you can’t really go wrong, right?
The Specs
This is a relatively minimalist affair – and this is precisely the point. The Swedish House Mafia have themselves said:
‘We wanted to simplify the process for people to create music. Hopefully, our collection inspires and enables more people to be more creative within their home, and it does not have to be restricted to only music making. It can be so much more.’
For this reason, the specs for this turntable are relatively limited, though, again, this is the point. Following an unsuccessful attempt to release a turntable in collaboration with Teenage Engineering, Ikea decided to do things a little differently.
Product Design Engineer Carmen Stoicescu said that ‘In the previous project, we tried giving a specific design to all parts, but with OBEGRÄNSAD, we tried to limit the molds. We wanted to make it simple, mechanical.’
In Ikea’s own words:
You can enjoy good sound thanks to a high-quality pick-up with a conical diamond stylus tip that is gentle on the record.
‘Easy to start – you just connect the RCA cable to a speaker with a built-in amplifier and the USB cable to the power outlet via a USB charger. Both cables are included, but USB charger is sold separately
‘To prevent accidental damage to the record, the tonearm rest has a safety latch.’
All in all, this seems like an elegant and simple alternative to the intensely over-saturated hi-fi market these days since the second vinyl era began with the vinyl boom in the early 2000s.
Final Tones
So, there you have it! Hopefully, you have learned something new today. Perhaps you have even found your next purchase! ‘Til next time Folks!
FAQs Ikea Turntable
How much is the turntable at IKEA?
The Ikea OBEGRÄNSAD record player will cost a different price depending on where you are buying from. In the US, this turntable is priced at around $159.99, though this will be equivalent to around £140 in the UK or $240 in Australia.
Who makes IKEA turntables?
The clue is very much in the name. Ikea is the manufacturer of their very own turntables, though they were designed in collaboration with the Swedish House Mafia, so the confusion here is somewhat sensical.
How much is the IKEA Obegransad turntable?
Though this turntable will cost a different price depending on where in the world you are buying it from ($159.99 in the US, £140 in the UK, or $240 in Australia), these currency conversions are more or less equivalent and aligned with actual exchange rates. Thus, none of the countries is getting much of a better deal than the others.
Do I really need a turntable?
No one needs anything except water, food, shelter, and a little companionship. You may, however, very well want a turntable and feel the desire to own one and collect a whole bunch of records. That, though, is for you to decide on your own.
