Two new turntables celebrate the 50th anniversary of an iconic Beatles album

By Kris Wouk April 28, 2017

The Beatles’ iconic Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band is approaching its 50th anniversary in May. A massive CD reissue is going to be released to celebrate the anniversary, and if you’d rather listen on vinyl to celebrate, Pro-Ject Audio Systems — makers of one of our favorite turntables under $500 — has you covered with the release of two limited edition Beatles-themed turntables.

Both of these turntables are based on existing turntables that Pro-Ject sells, and were developed in collaboration with the surviving members of the Beatles. This isn’t the first time that Pro-Ject has done this, as the company has previously released George Harrison and Beatles 1964 artist edition turntables.

The Essential III Sgt. Pepper‘s Drum is aimed at the Beatles superfan who doesn’t want to empty their wallet for a new turntable, and is based on the bass drum featured on the cover of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Built using an MDF wood chassis, this turntable features a Ortofon OM10 needle, aluminum pulley, and acrylic platter.

While the other model looks more like the cover of the album, the 2Xperience SB Sgt. Pepper Limited Edition will likely be more attractive to collectors. Not only does this turntable feature more advanced hardware and a sleek, understated design, but it is also limited to just 1,000 units worldwide.

The 2Xperience SB Sgt. Pepper Limited Edition’s MDF chassis features a walnut veneer, and is optimized to reduce resonance and vibration. This is taken further with an included record clamp that tightens the record to the platter, eliminating rumbling and vibration. This is paired with a Evo Carbon tone arm and pre-mounted 2M Silver phono cartridge.

The Essential III Sgt. Pepper‘s Drum sells for 500 euros, while the 2Xperience SB Sgt. Pepper Limited Edition sells for 1,400 euros. For more information on these turntables and more, see the Pro-Ject Audio Systems website.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…

Audio / Video

Crazy! This 75-inch 4K TV is under $450 at Walmart right now

The onn. 75” Class 4K UHD (2160P) LED Frameless Roku Smart TV is a living room with orange walls.

Walmart continues its reign of great TV deals with the option to buy an Onn. 75-inch Frameless 4K TV for just $448. A 75-inch TV for under $500 is pretty impressive and this TV usually costs $498 so you’re saving even more than usual. If you want a great new TV to add to your home for less, this is the perfect opportunity to do so while saving plenty of cash. Let’s take a look at what it has to offer.

Why you should buy the Onn. 75-inch Frameless 4K TV
Onn. is nowhere to be seen in our look at the best TV brands but it’s still pretty respectable for anyone seeking a budget-priced TV. The most obvious benefit here is the hefty 75-inch 4K screen with 2160p resolution. It looks great with a crystal clear picture which is an excellent upgrade compared to an HD screen. The Onn. 75-inch Frameless 4K TV might lack the finer features of the best TVs but it has the essentials arranged well.

Audio / Video

Tubi teams with DAZN for sports as free TV service continues its takeover

The Tubi app icon on Apple TV.

Not that Tubi was exactly lacking for anything to watch, but the free (as in ad-supported) streaming service just added a couple more reasons to keep you glued to your couch. The Fox-owned FAST service (that's short for free ad-supported television) today announced a partnership with DAZN that brings a bevy of sports to platform.

The tentpole addition is DAZN Women's Football. It'll be available 24 hours a day, with "a compelling mix of live and classic soccer matches from prestigious tournaments." Those will include the UEFA Women's Champions League, Liga F, and the Saudi Women's Premier League, among others. It'll be available in the U.S. and Canada.

Audio / Video

Hisense’s PX3-Pro Laser Cinema gets AI, a bigger picture, and better sound

The Hisense PX3-Pro Laser Cinema.

Hisense's PX2-Pro Laser Cinema ultra short throw projector made all kinds of best projector lists for its excellent picture, big brightness, and accurate color. Today, the Chinese electronics maker announced the popular projector's latest model, the PX3-Pro, a $3,500, premium triple-laser projector that improves on its predecessors with better sound, a brighter light source, and AI smarts to further enhance its image.

The PX3-Pro sees some improvements over the PX2. For one, it's brighter than the PX2's 2,400 ANSI lumens at 3,000 ANSI lumens, which should mean a significant boost, especially in brighter rooms. But one key improvement with the PX3 that Hisense is certainly hoping will make an impact is its integration of "real-time Pro AI Algorithms" that Hisense says will "enhance brightness, fine-tune contrast, and eliminate noise." Using AI to enhance picture quality, color, and more, has been showing up in all the best TVs over the last year or so, so it's no surprise to see it start making its way into the best projectors now, too.