Third Man Records– Jack White and Ben Blackwell’s Detroit and Nashville-based full-service company – partnered with legacy audio technology manufacturer Phonograph in a limited-edition turntable and bookshelf speaker set that embodies the sister brands’ shared appreciation for the enduring culture of analog vinyl.
To celebrate the collaboration, the machine – developed with Victrola’s audio expertise – has been expertly dressed in Third Man’s proprietary yellow and black palette. The subtly punkish color carries the products, packaging, complementary material and accompanying swag.
“I’ve had the opportunity to visit Third Man many times,” says Scott Hagen, CEO of Victrola. In the early 20th century, Victrola was instrumental in democratizing recorded music by introducing the first home gramophone. “What Jack and his team have built is something truly magical. They’re not just painting things yellow and black. It’s like they’re bringing inanimate objects to life, each with their own character and soul. Maybe that’s why vinyl and vinyl culture fit so naturally into the world of Third Man. It’s definitely why Victrola asked Victrola to bring these products to the new design. buy together.”
The Wave turntable is made of durable MDF and is equipped with an adjustable counterweight, removable head shell and high-resolution Bluetooth with Auracast support. Tempo bookshelf speakers offer multiple input options including optical, USB-C and RCA, along with Bluetooth and Auracast multi-room connectivity for up to 10 speakers.
“Third Man is excited to make these yellow turntables and speakers with the beautiful cats on Victrola,” says Blackwell, co-founder of Third Man. “Set the volume to ‘stun’ and you’ll be blown away and blown away by the sonic magnificence on display.” To extend the experience – and give customers a few records to start with – the label has reissued several key albums: The White Stripes’ Elephant, Jack White’s Blunderbuss and The Raconteurs’ Broken Boy Soldiers, all featuring White in one capacity or another, of course.
As brand partnerships continue to define releases across product categories, it’s clear that the best are the ones that spring from authentic symbiosis: a mutual understanding of cultural value rather than a simple drive to get to the bottom line.
