This year marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic sound tech manufacturer Audio-Technica. In honor of this special event, the company is releasing the AT-SB2022, a re-amped version of an iconic Audio-Technica turntable: the Sound Burger.

Originally released almost 40 years ago with the brand name Mister Disc, the product was Audio-Technica's response to the Walkman that had been recently released by Sony. With portable audio on the rise in the early 80's, Audio-Technica wanted to offer an option for vinyl-lovers. While not quite as travel-friendly as a cassette player, the portable, battery-powered turntable could be taken on the go and plugged into headphones.

While the original Sound Burger became something of a novelty, shadowed by more versatile and convenient playback modes, the 2022 version may find a new purpose in an era beyond vinyls and cassettes. The new Sound Burger has maintained the original design almost to a T, keeping its compact and endearing clamshell body, exposing the record grooves and the tonearm when in use. The device features a 3.5mm direct output, a replaceable ATN3600L cartridge stylus, and speed options for 33 1/3 and 45 rpm records.

Overall, Audio-Technica maintained the original style and use of the Sound Burger while making it more versatile in the modern world. The device is only 30 centimetres long, 10 centimetres wide, and 7 centimetres tall. The major upgrades to the Sound Burger include Bluetooth capability and a USB-C port to supply power. This makes it an easy way to listen to vinyl records from anywhere using any bluetooth speaker or headphones. Audio-Technica claims that the device has a 12-hour battery life, which would support casual listening for multiple days before needing a charge.

The 2022 Sound Burger costs a mere $199 and is being released as a limited edition product with only 7,000 units, all in the color red. Each unit will have a unique numbered anniversary plate on the back panel. Audio-Technica has no plans to incorporate it into their full-time lineup, so grab one of these quirky gadgets while you can. With record sales consistently on the rise in the last few years, the Sound Burger is a perfect nostalgic reminder of audio tech from previous decades that still offers versatile, modern function.