Great design meets good sound: La Boite concept LX turntable

Kevin Hofer

4.7.2024

Translation: Julia Graham

There are products I absolutely want to have, even though it goes against common sense. The LX turntable record player furniture from La Boite concept is one of these.

The LX turntable looks more like a piece of furniture than a speaker system. It’s aimed at people looking for an easy-to-use device that also offers good sound while looking stylish. The emphasis here is on «one» device. Instead of being divided into umpteen individual speakers, the system that’s disguised as furniture combines five drivers in one. But it comes at a cost. At just under 4,000 francs, this turntable is in the hi-fi realm, when it comes to price at least. But if you’re a hi-fi purist, the LX turntable isn’t for you. Quite simply, it won’t hit the right note in terms of your requirements.

But you’re not just paying for the aesthetics. Its French manufacturer develops, designs and produces almost exclusively in the Basque country. And the components, such as those made of wood, are sustainably sourced. Obviously a device of this calibre is going to set you back more than one manufactured in a country with low production costs. As well as developing the housing around the electronics, La Boite concept also manufactures a significant amount of these electric parts. As such, the drivers are made in-house. The grandmother of the head of La Boite concept founded the Siare loudspeaker brand in the 1930s. All of this expertise now feeds into the development process.

I appreciate the design as well as the quality finish, which is also flawless and well thought-out. The only cable you’ll see is the one for the power. You can lead this through a duct on the inside of the supporting leg so that it’s less visible. Thanks to shock absorbers, the plate with the turntable on it can be moved. If you bump into the table or play music with too much bass, the needle won’t jump.

The LX turntable weighs about 30 kg. At 79 × 69 × 48 cm (h × l × t), it’s as compact as a small desk.

The sound: great, but not as good as a separate hi-fi system

La Boite concept promises «a sound worthy of a live orchestra.» I actually think the audio sounds natural. To my ears, the frequencies are reproduced dynamically and linearly. The stereo sound image is certainly better than anything I’ve heard from soundbars of a similar design. Wide Sound 3.0 is what the manufacturer calls it. However, it doesn’t quite meet the calibre of a «real» hi-fi system.

As long as I don’t twist the bass knob more than halfway – the only physical control besides the volume – the mids still stand out. The trebles are also clear without being piercing on saxophone pieces. In just under half of the music, the bass is subtle but still powerful. Overall, the sound is balanced.

At the heart of the five speakers are the two TWZ tweeters, which are designed to create a directional effect thanks to two outwardly curved deflectors. So no matter where you stand or put the system, the stereo sound should be right. The TWZ tweeters were designed over 40 years ago by the family behind La Boite concept and refined for the LX turntable. There are also two mid-range speaker with a fibre optic membrane and a long-throw woofer, totaling an output of 315 W.

The record player with belt drive comes from French manufacturer Elipson. It’s the same as the one in the Chroma line. As a result, the Elipson record player is one of the few parts not made by La Boite concept itself.

In a nutshell

I want it, but I can’t afford it

The LX turntable isn’t a sensible product. You can get sound that’s just as great for less money. If you have high demands for your hi-fi, La Boite concept’s system won’t strike a chord. Having said that, the device offers many connection options and is elegantly designed.

It’s the kind of product you only buy if you fall in love with the aesthetics. This doesn’t mean that what’s on the inside isn’t good. Quite the opposite. The sound and quality finish are just as classy as the design. What’s more, the majority of the device is manufactured in the Basque country – almost locally by today’s standards.

At just under 4,000 francs, the LX turntable boasts a hefty price tag. For someone like me who fell in love with the device while I was testing it for the week, it’s just too high. Not because I refuse to dig that deep into my pocket, but because I simply don’t have that kind of money. So now I have to lament the LX turntable while I stick with my current system.

Pro

• amazing design
• sophisticated concept
• great sound

Contra

• high price
• old Bluetooth standard

Record players

CHF3990.–

La Boite concept Lx

3

Kevin Hofer

Senior Editor

kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.ch

From big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.

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