TONEOPTIC RPM RECORD STORAGE PRESENTS A NEW INTUITIVE OPTION
LA-based Toneoptic presents an interesting and intuitive approach to how we store and select our records, with their new Toneoptic rpm system.
Fabian Geyrhalter, the founder of the company explains the reasoning behind their new product. “Storing records (usually done side-ways) is counter-intuitive to how we like to select records (which is cover-forward). For the past 70+ years, the mechanical aspect of record storage has been left untouched whilst many cosmetic design changes flooded the marketplace. It was time to rethink vinyl record storage at the roots level and make it intuitive to the way we like to experience the medium”.
VINYL COLLECTOR
Fabian continues: “As a lifelong vinyl collector I struggled with the way I liked to store my records, which, naturally, is library-style. I kept selecting records to spin that had fat spines or easy-to-read titles – the ones where I was quickly able to recognize the record – over and over. By doing so I was fully aware that I was leaving out any thin spines, older second hand records where spines rendered illegible, or the many that had no titles displayed on their spines altogether”.
TONEOPTIC RPM RECORD STORAGE
Fabian’s solution is a cube housing records that, upon touch and pull, would spin 90 degrees forwards so you can easily flip through them while still stashing them away again in the classic manner of spines facing outwards. The rpm uses a patent-pending 90-degree rotation mechanism to achieve this.
The Toneoptic rpm is hand-crafted and designed to deliver “a multi-sensory experience for the refined vinyl collector”. It is built from solid walnut or Finland ply with a high-gloss, water-based white acrylic lacquer.
Each unit stores 60-75 records and comes with three dividers to allow for categorizing or organizing 12″, 10″ and 7″ records.
HANDMADE IN LA
The record storage system is made by a team of three, in a small wood workshop in Los Angeles. Their philosophy is “to create the most advanced, innovative and functional vinyl furniture, one at a time, whatever the effort and sweat equity”.
TONEOPTIC RPM SPECIFICATIONS
Solid walnut (Walnut unit) or high-build high-gloss water-based acrylic lacquer painted Finland ply (White unit)
Powder-coated high-grade 5052 aluminium
Polyfelt® record protector made of recycled plastic water bottles
High-grade solid steel hardware used throughout
17″ length (depth) x 20.625″ width x 19″ height
Weighs 51 lbs (White) and 50 lbs (Walnut)
TONEOPTIC RPM PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Toneoptic rpm presale consists of 50 strictly numbered and signed special ‘Founder’s Batch’ units signalling the very first rpms ever sold to the public. The presale prices are as follows.
The Walnut version costs $4,250
The gloss white costs $3, 750
HiFi Pig Says: We really like the way this system looks and works, though for those of us with huge record collections it’s an expensive solution, hopefully as they progress, the brand will produce more affordable versions.
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