Miniot’s really strange turntable is wheely clever

When you think of a turntable, there are some things you expect to see – a plinth, for starters. There's also usually a tonearm and stylus.

However, the Wheel 3 from Miniot doesn't appear to have any of those things. It doesn't even sit like a normal turntable either.

It plays vinyls vertically, and it's so compact it effectively disappears behind your records – so you can hang it on the wall as an interactive, moving work of art.

In some ways, the Wheel 3 has more in common with a CD player than a traditional turntable. Instead of the traditional tonearm and cartridge, it uses an optical stylus that reads the grooves.

There's also a bespoke pre-amp inside to handle the resulting audio, and the motor speed is optically-controlled for perfect playback.

Miniot Wheel 3: key features and pricing

The Wheel 3 isn't the first vertical turntable by a long shot. Indeed, it's the third Wheel from Miniot, and many manufacturers have experimented with vertical designs. Pro-Ject most recently impressed with its VT-E turntable, but the design here is striking.

The optically-controlled motor is direct drive for precision, and while it doesn't look like there's a tonearm, there actually is – it just lives underneath the record rather than above.

The hidden arm moves vertically from the bottom to the top, and keeps the optical sensor close to the surface of the vinyl without any physical contact.

According to Miniot, this is a go-anywhere turntable. You can lay it flat, use it on its stand, or hang it on the wall. It even works upside down. And if the standard model isn't enough of a statement piece, there will be a special edition in the near future with a solid wooden back.

The Miniot Wheel 3 is available to pre-order now for £1,973 / €2,300 / AU$4,105. US pricing and availability is yet to be announced.