New Sound Burger record player REVIEW

Audio Technica released a limited edition of their Sound Burger record player in 2022. The AT-SB2022 has Bluetooth and recharges via USB-C. It returned as a non limited edition in 2023. Here's my review.

CLARIFICATION Re SPEED ADJUSTMENT:
One pot adjusts the 45rpm speed and the other one adjusts the 33 1/3 speed.


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Regularly asked question
Q) Why are there comments from days ago when this video has just gone live today?

[adampoll]

Hats off to Audio Technica for not pushing out a cheap mechanism dressed up with their branding and actually caring how it sounds.

[Bleats_Sinodai]

Now THIS is how you reissue a classic product! Maintain what worked and made it iconic, fix what didn't work, and update it to the modern world without unnecessary bells and whistles. Brilliant!

[TheSimTetuChannel]

Fun fact:
In Japan, the 60th year of life is called “kanreki” (還暦) and is celebrated as a rebirth or re-entry into childhood. Sixty years is the full cycle of the Chinese zodiac calendar, which was adopted for use in Japan starting in the year 604. Kanreki marks the completion of this cycle and is celebrated by wearing a red hat and vest. The red outfit holds a dual meaning: Red is both a celebratory color and a reference to childhood. (A baby is Japan is called aka-chan or “little red one”.)

I'm willing to bet this is why the Sound Burger re-release is meant to be of this color.

[synthmage]

I sincerely hope this gets a wider release. I've wanted one for as long as I've known they existed, and learning that they had sold out of this limited run before I even knew it was happening was...crushing.

[djsherz]

Hi Mat, regarding your original Sound Burger that died on one channel - I've repaired a couple of these with that exact fault, and on both occasions the culprit was tired electrolytics. I'm normally the first person to mock people for immediately blaming capacitors in old hifi gear, but in the case of these units they may have a point. I think there's around 15 or so caps on the board if memory serves, just replace the lot. The last time I did this I tested them all, a couple had completely failed, while the rest were half and half between okay and a bit borderline. An hour with a soldering iron and a fiver's worth of bits, and you should be up and running again. A future video perhaps? :) - John

[amberisvibin]

I think $200 sounds pretty reasonable for something like this! the replaceable battery is a very nice touch.

[timschulz]

I love the replaceable battery and the amount of work they put into this. It's not a cheap modern copy, it's a homage to the old model while still being useful today.

[mpersad]

How lovely that AT have worked hard to maintain the quality of this classic, portable, record player, and yet updated to make it so usable today. Great review Mat!

[whatprogress]

From their Twitter page today: "Well, that was fast! The demand for the Limited-Edition Sound Burger has exceeded all expectations and we are officially sold out. We are humbled by your response and comments/questions about product availability – we hear you! We hope to have more info in 2023."

[AwesomeGames]

Hopefully these are put back in stock. I respect the fact that they made it so that you can easily get into it to change parts and REPLACE THE BATTERY! Exciting stuff. A lot of love went into making these just as good as the original.

[whatprogress]

I wish I could say I happily watched this video, but at the moment I’m too green with envy to truly enjoy it! I’ve longed for one of these since I first saw the advertisements in 1983. Alas, I was only 12 and couldn’t afford one.

I subscribed to all Audio-Technica’s social media platforms years ago, *specifically* because I didn’t want to miss out if these were to be made again. My initial shock and excitement to find out about the 2022 version quickly turned to disappointment that I missed the boat yet again.

I revisited AT’s Instagram, Twitter, YouTube platforms just now…no mention was made of this rerelease. I don’t get why these were made in such limited quantities, and then not make mention of it anywhere. Grrr… I’m sure more will be made, but it’s such a disappointment to miss out on the initial rerelease.

Having said all that, what a great video, especially the teardown. It certainly looks top quality. 👍

[awhite]

A modern take on a classic that is better built and specced and the original? That’s a rarity nowadays. Well done AudioTechnica. Also loving the user replaceable rechargeable battery. All manufacturers should do this.

[lanmastersassistant]

Great to hear they've reproduced one of the most interesting vinyl players around, even happier that they've gone above and beyond to produce something to a way higher standard than the original. They could have half arsed it but they didn't.

[coreymon]

"If any company has put together the production line, the tooling, got the process for making one of these things and then sells out, they're not just going to say "Well that's that, then."

From experience, that's actually _exactly_ what many Japanese companies would do. That country loves leaving money on the table for the sake of something being "limited edition". Not to say that's what will happen here, but I wouldn't be too surprised if it did.

[denniseldridge]

Mat, I have to say I'm quite impressed with the sound quality; very full and punchy, and clear. Perhaps not too surprising from a "real" brand such as AT I guess; they're not an anonymous Chinese outfit after a quick buck. I'd certainly pick one up if I had the money.

You're one of the best AV equipment reviewers I've seen. You see things through a "learned layman's" eyes, which is the perfect combo for giving a solid, reliable opinion on any product, no matter when it was made. I have to thank you for introducing me to some truly interesting AV formats as well, as that is a particular interest of mine.

[dikbozo]

as a person who likes to play vinyl once in a while, this is just about what i would want. Props to AT for doing this so very right and not pricing it too high. Thanks to you, sir, for your showcase and demonstration of this nice device. The break down and analysis of the internals was the cherry on top for me as it looks like a very serviceable thing, which is complete surprise and very welcome.

[jens]

Good to see that they made a quality player and that it's not just a quick gimmick. I suspect that it's much easier to make a quality record player today than a quality tape-deck, what with only one tape mechanism still being produced. A record player mechanism is simple enough that you can assemble a high-quality one from off-the-shelf parts (and the turn table itself, is a piece precision-machined steel or aluminum, the manufacture of which is straight forward).

[_afw_]

Sold out in Germany as well. I’m so glad I ordered without thinking. Will become a collectors item for sure. Thanks again, Mat!

[davidahiwaaynet]

It's so refreshing to see a manufacturer make a very high quality reproduction from a famous project. It was cool to see how heavily built the turntable mechanism is! It's also cool to see how nearly-identical it is to the original. Thanks for sharing it with us!

[LycanShift]

really sad that they only made so few of these that it literally sold out before it was even officially announced, before even the media outlets covered it. Hopefully they consider another run. maybe of one of the other colors.