With the resurgence of vinyl, we often forget that such an old-school technology can still find ways to innovate. One such company looking to the future in a traditional medium is Miniot. After surviving the bumpy Kickstarter road that nearly killed their original Wheel turntable back in 2017, the Dutch audio outfit has returned with something that feels less like a prototype and more like a design piece. The Wheel 3 is finally the turntable this small team from the Netherlands always wanted to build, but couldn’t quite pull off until now.
A Little Light Music
The most intriguing upgrade with the Wheel 3 is Miniot’s optical stylus system, which ditches traditional magnets and coils entirely. Instead of measuring magnetic field changes, the Wheel 3 uses light to track stylus movement. Yes, you read that right. A diamond needle still rides in the groove like any turntable, but a small plate attached to the cantilever modulates light hitting optical sensors. The result? Better low-frequency response since optical systems can detect position changes all the way down to 0 Hz, while magnetic pickups only catch acceleration changes.
The optical approach allows for a much lighter stylus assembly, which translates to better high-frequency tracking. Meanwhile, the system feeds position data directly to the linear tonearm’s control system, enabling real-time adjustments that maintain perfect groove contact regardless of whether you’ve mounted this thing upright, flat, or on a wall.
Direct Drive Evolution
Where earlier Wheel prototypes relied on belt drives, the Wheel 3 packs a custom-built axial flux direct drive motor with 24 neodymium N52 magnets. Building a slim, sideways turntable meant cramming this powerful motor right next to where the needle reads the record — normally a recipe for disaster since motor magnets interfere with traditional cartridges. But since the Wheel 3 reads grooves with light instead of magnets, magnetic interference simply isn’t an issue.
The real sophistication lies in the control system. Using five optical sensors, the motor continuously monitors performance and learns each record’s quirks within a single revolution. The system predicts and compensates for things such as warped records, off-center pressings, and unbalanced vinyl, all before you hear any pitch variations.
Truly Head-Spinning
Visually, the Wheel 3 is a significant upgrade over its predecessors as well. The two-piece construction combines a machined composite back (wooden versions coming in a special edition) with a polished aluminum front that’s been circularly polished to create the distinctive reflective surfaces. When you’re spinning translucent vinyl in particular, the effect is genuinely striking.
The linear tonearm now moves vertically from bottom to top, creating perfect symmetry while keeping dust exposure to a minimum. Controls remain embedded in the aluminum rim via a slider system, while the dimmable display only appears when needed. An included aluminum base positions the turntable at an 8-degree backward angle for upright use, though wall mounting remains as simple as hanging a picture.
Spec Sheet
Model: Miniot Wheel 3
Stylus: Optical diamond stylus (no magnets/coils)
Drive System: Custom axial flux direct drive motor
Tonearm: Linear tracking, vertical movement
Materials: Aluminum front, composite back
Preamp: Built-in optical-specific preamplifier
Connectivity: USB-C power, 3.5mm audio output
Mounting Options: Upright stand, flat surface, wall mount
Pricing & Availability
Expected to ship within the next 10 weeks, the Wheel 3 is available for pre-order now for $3,355. A Special Edition variant featuring a solid wooden back is planned, though pricing and availability haven’t been announced yet.
Recap
Miniot Wheel 3 Turntable
Miniot’s latest upgrade of its flagship Wheel turntable is its best yet, using light instead of mangets to read your vinyl records. It can be stood upright or hang on your wall as well.
