Design

The Brionvega Totem RR231Audio System

View all 12 Photos

The anniversary re-issue of an innovative design created by a renowned Italian architect and designer.

In 1971, celebrated architect and designer Mario Bellini created an audio system that featured an innovative modular system. Named Totem rr231, the design incorporated a turntable and two speakers that came together to create a perfect cubic form. The speakers rotated to open the unit and reveal the turntable in the middle. To mark the audio system’s 50th anniversary, Italian brand Brionvega re-launched the design with some modern upgrades. The new Totem rr231 stereo system recreates the original faithfully, but also features contemporary technology, seamlessly integrated in its design. Monolithic and minimalist, the pristine white cube blends sculpture and sound in one.

The user needs to interact with the unit to open it smoothly, thus bringing a more personal touch to the music listening ritual. The rotated position, which makes the speakers resemble wings, ensures excellent sound quality. However, the user can completely remove them and position them at a distance from the central unit. Each speaker has a 2-and-a-half-way speaker system with one mechanical reflex loading woofer and one mid-woofer as well as one tweeter.

Tech upgrades for a design classic.

The new version of the Totem rr231 audio system has a Bluetooth connection and works with smartphones, tablets, PCs, and Mac computers. It incorporates both a standalone TI PCM converter and aptx HD. Designed with audio quality in mind, the unit offers fantastic digital signal processing as well as a low -20kHz signal-to-noise ratio. The ProJect turntable comes with a high-end Ortofon cartridge and a 125W + 125W self-limited amplifier. Apart from these features, the audio system also plays AM and FM radio and has DAB+ reception. Beautifully made, the Totem rr231 features a handmade wooden cabinet finished with a white lacquer and hand polishing. Other features include a headphone output and line inputs for various RCA connectors. This work of art and collector’s item is currently available at Brionvega for €16,000, which is around $18,000. Photography© Brionvega.

More for you

Binome by Appareil Architectur...


Architecture

A five-unit building in Montreal that turns infill into intentional living.
Built on…

Casa Clara


Architecture

A straightforward renovation with no appetite for nostalgia.
In Costa Nova, it’s the…

Brutalism Books: Essential Rea...


Architecture

A curated guide to brutalism books that document, question, and quietly obsess over c…

Dinesen Country Home by Mentze...


Interior Design

The warmth of Douglas fir, the hush of ochre, the art of inhabiting slowly
You don’t…

House 905 by HARQUITECTES


Architecture

Built slowly, layer by layer, House 905 becomes its own landscape.
Some homes grow f…

House with A Hidden Atrium


Architecture

An extension designed with four connected volumes of different heights that encircle …

Around the world

Mala Vila


Around the World

Designed with mirror walls, these four cabins perfectly reflect the surrounding woodl…

Kimpton Las Mercedes Hotel


Around the World

A Historic Landmark Reimagined: Kimpton Las Mercedes Brings New Life to Santo Domingo…

Treehouse Villas, A Nature-Cen...


Around the World

Seven tree house villas in Bali nestled among lush vegetation on a sloping site that …

Staff Picks

Casa PJA

The Minale Lounge Chair

Binome by Appareil Architecture

Viglostasi by Block722

Stay Updated

FacebookPinterestRedditLinkedInEmailWhatsAppX