Korg, a renowned brand in the music industry, has announced its entry into the record player market with a trio of portable turntables designed to cater to the diverse needs of DJs, audiophiles, and archivists. The Handytraxx Play, Handytraxx Tube, and Handytraxx 1bit each offer unique features and functionalities that set them apart from one another.

The Handytraxx Play is specifically designed for DJs who perform with their turntables. This portable record player comes equipped with a built-in crossfader, low-pass, high-pass, and EQ filters, a delay effect, and a built-in variable speed looper for recording samples and creating beats. The control panel can be flipped around for right or left-handed use, ensuring maximum comfort and flexibility during performances. Additionally, the Play can be powered by an AC adapter or six AA batteries and features a pair of 2.5-watt speakers for entertaining a crowd without the need for additional equipment.

In contrast, the Handytraxx Tube is geared towards audiophiles who prioritize sound quality above all else. This premium turntable boasts an aluminium die-cast platter that uses software to monitor its pitch and speed, ensuring a stable rotation and optimal playback. The tone arm features an adjustable counterweight, allowing users to swap needles while maintaining the proper pressure on their records to prolong their life. The Tube also incorporates Korg's Nutube vacuum tube technology, which "operates exactly as a triode vacuum tube" and "creates the same characteristic rich overtones," according to the company. This technology adds pleasant harmonics characteristic of vacuum tubes for a rich, immersive sonic experience, while bass and treble controls let users dial in their preferred balance.

Korg is also offering a limited edition version of the Tube, called the Tube J, in collaboration with Japanese company JICO. The J version swaps the Tube's standard JICO J44A 7 cartridge with JICO's Clipper MM Cartridge, featuring an upgraded design and improved performance. This limited edition model comes with a higher price tag of $1,199.

The Handytraxx 1bit, on the other hand, is designed for archivists and those who want to digitize their vinyl collections. This turntable carries forward the hardware upgrades of the Tube and, using Korg's included AudioGate 4 software, can digitize vinyl to the Direct Stream Digital (DSD) format. This format, originally developed by Sony and Philips for the Super Audio CD (SACD), captures single samples 5.6 million times per second, resulting in much higher quality recordings suitable for archiving.

The Handytraxx series is the result of Korg's collaboration with Vestax's former president and co-creator of the original Handy Trax, Toshihide Nakama, before he passed away in 2023. The design of the Handytraxx turntables bears a striking resemblance to the Vestax Handy Trax, which debuted in the early 2000s.

The prices for the Handytraxx series start at $399 for the Play, jump to $799 for the Tube, and peak at $999 for the 1bit. While release dates have not been announced, Korg's entry into the record player market is expected to generate significant buzz among DJs, audiophiles, and archivists alike.

The launch of the Handytraxx series marks a significant expansion of Korg's product portfolio, demonstrating the company's commitment to catering to diverse musical needs and preferences. As the vinyl resurgence continues to gain momentum, Korg's portable record players are poised to become a staple in the music industry.