Audio-Technica has launched Hotaru in Singapore, a limited-edition all-in-one record player that combines a turntable, amplifier, and speakers in a single unit. The premium turntable is limited to 1,000 units worldwide and retails here at S$13,188.
The main highlight is its levitating platter, made possible by magnetic repulsion. This gives Hotaru its floating look while also helping to isolate the playback mechanics from internal and external vibrations. Hotaru, which means “firefly” in Japanese, also comes with an integrated light display. It offers a 20-shade colour palette and three lighting modes: Basic Mode, Gradient Mode and Link Mode. Link Mode analyses the music in real time and adjusts the lighting in response to the sound.
For the Singapore launch, Audio-Technica S.E.A partnered with Appetite, the local multi-sensory research space and culinary-art lounge founded by Chef Ivan Brehm. The collaboration places Hotaru in a setting where music, food, art and design come together. Hotaru is not just a record player. It is also a visual centrepiece, with its floating platter and light display adding atmosphere to the room.
Displayed at Appetite, Hotaru shows how high-fidelity audio can go beyond sound. It becomes part of the interior, especially for homes, lounges, hotels and hospitality spaces where design matters as much as the listening experience.
Chef Ivan Brehm described food, music and art as “part of the same conversation”, while Audio-Technica S.E.A Managing Director Shaokai Teng said the partnership allowed Hotaru to be shown as it was intended, as an avant-garde interior piece.
Audio-Technica Hotaru Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Product | Audio-Technica Hotaru |
| Price | S$13,188 |
| Limited edition | 1,000 units worldwide |
| Type | All-in-one turntable, amplifier and speakers |
| Platter | Magnetic repulsion-based floating platter |
| Lighting | 20-shade colour palette |
| Modes | Basic, Gradient and Link |
| Tonearm | Straight carbon fibre tonearm |
| Cartridge | Limited edition black AT-VM740xML microlinear stereo cartridge |
| Drive method | Belt drive |
| Speeds | 33-1/3 RPM and 45 RPM |
| Dimensions | 430 mm x 430 mm x 235 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 13.6 kg |
| Speaker output | 50 W, 25 W + 25 W |
Audio-Technica has also fitted Hotaru with a straight, high-rigidity carbon fibre tonearm and a special-specification limited edition black AT-VM740xML microlinear stereo cartridge. A hidden switch beneath the platter lets users toggle between MM and MC phono pre-amp gains for cartridge flexibility.
The unit is available in Singapore online and at the Audio-Technica showroom at 11 Ubi Road 1, #06-01, Meiban Industrial Building, Singapore 408723. Hotaru will also be showcased at StereoNet Asia Hi-Fi & AV Expo 2026 at Marina Bay Sands from 10 to 12 July 2026.
“Hotaru was designed to visually enrich the listening experience and bring colourful sound to life,” said Shaokai Teng, Managing Director of Audio-Technica S.E.A. “Partnering with Appetite allows us to showcase Hotaru exactly as it was envisioned: as an avant-garde interior masterpiece. This collaboration highlights how a storied analogue brand can redefine contemporary spaces, making ownership of this rare device a truly unique privilege.”