Celebrating Vinyl
Wheel 3 production is on track! We’re thrilled by the enthusiastic response from design lovers and audiophiles alike. Another technical update this time. If you have specific Wheel 3 questions, feel free to ask!
Optical analog
Wheel 3’s audio path is purely analog. Inside its optical cartridge, a tiny black flag is mounted on the cantilever near the needle tip. As the needle traces the groove, the flag moves between a stationary LED in front and two photocells behind it. Light passing around the flag reaches the photocells, converting light energy into an electrical current and creating a small voltage.
Wheel 3’s built-in analog preamplifier then amplifies this signal to a level suitable for active speakers, wired headphones, power amplifiers, or wireless systems.*
A compact high-end preamplifier
We designed a custom analog preamp to precisely match the output of our optical stylus. By using cutting-edge components and integrating control systems on the same board as the analog stage, its compact size never compromises Wheel 3’s sound. Extremely short signal paths and an optical system immune to magnetic stray fields guarantee pure, undistorted signal transmission and the cleanest analog output.
Integration
Wheel 3 works with all vinyl records and connects seamlessly to any audio system. But between input and output, everything is different.
Inside Wheel 3, every part is custom, nothing is standard. The result of years of hard work and tough choices is complete integration. Each component is purpose-built to perform exactly the function we designed it for. We only need to be compatible with ourselves. By avoiding standard parts and conventional concepts, we achieved total freedom in design, and a better record player as a result.
How does it sound?
Wheel 3 sounds just like a very, very good record player. Thanks to its superb stylus tracking, dynamics are explosive yet unstrained. Resolution and microdynamics are exceptionally detailed because the optical signal is captured very close to the needle tip, and because light has no mass or resistance. Adding to this purity is our controlled direct-drive motion system, perfectly pitched from the very first rotation. The inherent warmth of vinyl, combined with such precision, depth, and clarity, is something you have to hear to believe.
Stay tuned!
Peter and the Wheel team
*Wheel 3 is analog. Wireless is digital. Just connect a bluetooth transmitter to Wheel 3’s output port to use it with your Devialet, Sonos, Beosound or other wireless system.