Revolution: The History of Turntable Design

There's something about turntables that refuses to fade. Maybe it's the ritual — lifting the tonearm, placing the needle, hearing that first crackle before the music starts. Or maybe it's just that they're beautiful objects, machines designed with intention, built to last.

Revolution is a deep dive into that world. It traces the design and cultural history of turntables from the 1950s to now, from affordable classics to obsessive high-end builds. It's written by Gideon Schwartz, who also did Hi-Fi: The History of High-End Audio Design, and he clearly knows his stuff. 300 illustrations, decades of evolution, and a real understanding of why analog never really went away.

We put it on Perlo because it's the kind of book you keep on the coffee table, not the shelf. It's as much about design and craft as it is about music. If you care about objects that were made right the first time, this one's for you.

Featured in Wallpaper*, The Wall Street Journal, Monocle, and New York Magazine's The Strategist.

Published by Phaidon.