Understanding the Phonograph System in HSR 2.7
The Phonograph is HSR's music collection feature, located in the Astral Express Parlor Car's northeastern corner. This interactive jukebox lets you replay collected discs, creating a personalized soundtrack library.
Version 2.7 (released December 4, 2025) expanded this system by adding the Party Car and Trailblazer's Room. The Penacony Radio disc series is highly sought-after, with Hope Is the Thing With Feathers frequently missed by players rushing through Golden Hour's main story.
What is the Phonograph and Why Collect Discs
The Phonograph functions as both collectible tracker and ambient music player. Each disc unlocks tracks from The Flapper Sinthome collection, letting you customize your Astral Express atmosphere. Disc collection contributes to exploration completion percentages and unlocks achievement rewards.
Penacony Radio Disc Series Overview
The Penacony Radio collection includes:
- Hope Is the Thing With Feathers - Standard version from NPC interactions in Golden Hour
- Hope Is the Thing With Feathers (Overture) - Alternative version from Penacony Grand Theatre journal quest
- Sway to My Beat in Cosmos - Additional Golden Hour collectible from same NPC chain
The Overture version ties to Trailblaze Mission And on the Eighth Day, accessible after version 2.2 (May 8).
Rewards from Complete Collection
Completing the Hope Is the Thing With Feathers quest yields:
- 5 Stellar Jades
- Exclusive Dreamscape Pass sticker
- 2x Lost Crystals
- 5,000 Credits
- Achievement The Feather He Dropped
These stack with Golden Hour's 37 total chests, making comprehensive exploration profitable for account progression.
Prerequisites for Accessing Golden Hour Phonograph Discs
Required Story Progress
Complete Trailblaze Mission Long Day's Journey Into Night within The Sound and the Fury storyline (available since version 2.0, February 6). For Golden Hour access specifically, finish The Youths Who Chase Dreams.
Unlocking Golden Hour Area
Golden Hour has three floors (F1, F2, F3) with six Space Anchors:
- Clockie Plaza Space Anchor
- Dreammerse Shopping Street Space Anchor
- Sweet Corner Space Anchor
- Aideen Park Space Anchor
- The Reverie Hotel Entrance Space Anchor
- Oti Mall Space Anchor
Essential NPCs for Disc Acquisition
Four NPCs outside the northeastern Golden Hour staircase:
- Bloodhound Family Member - Suit, blond hair, glasses
- Vexed Pepeshi - Secondary NPC
- Lonely Intellitron - Supporting character
- Mysterious Dreamchaser - Additional context
Exhaust all dialogue with Bloodhound Family Member, including threatening to report them. This unlocks the disc reward.
Exact Location of the Penacony Radio Disc
Primary Disc Location
Navigate to northeastern Golden Hour, near the staircase between floor levels. The Bloodhound Family Member stands near parked vehicles—a distinct visual cluster outside main quest pathways.
Visual Landmarks
Key markers:
- Parked vehicle cluster in semi-circular arrangement
- Staircase connecting multi-floor layout
- Bloodhound Family uniform (suit with glasses)
- Northeastern boundary of explorable map
No time-gated restrictions apply.
Step-by-Step from Clockie Plaza Space Anchor
- Face northeast toward outer edges
- Navigate past Clockie Statue toward multi-floor staircase
- Locate vehicle parking area adjacent to northeastern staircase
- Find Bloodhound Family Member NPC
- Initiate conversation, select option to threaten reporting
- Exhaust all dialogue branches
- Interact with Vexed Pepeshi, choose listen option
- Confirm disc in Phonograph menu
Select Option 1 during confrontational exchanges. Incorrect choices may require restarting.
Alternative Method: Penacony Grand Theatre
For Hope Is the Thing With Feathers (Overture):
- Travel to Ascension Hall Space Anchor
- Navigate to Hall of Chords
- Locate floating book interaction
- Retrieve lost journal
- Hand journal to Female Intellitron NPC
- Receive Overture disc
Available after completing And on the Eighth Day (post-version 2.2).
Complete Golden Hour Phonograph Disc Checklist
Golden Hour contains 37 total chests across three floors.
Key Chest Locations
Chest 1: Northwest of Clockie Statue at Clockie Plaza Space Anchor
Lordly Trashcan 1: Near Hanu's Adventure TV (second floor)—select Option 1 both times
Lordly Trashcan 2: Near Chest 30—select Option 3 both times
Chest 6: Enter Hanu's Adventure TV machine, complete parkour minigame
Why Players Miss This Disc
The Bloodhound Family Member interaction is frequently missed because:
- NPC stands outside primary quest pathways
- No map marker indicates collectible significance
- Confrontational dialogue feels counterintuitive
- Vehicle cluster blends with dense urban environment
Optimal Collection Route
- Start at Clockie Plaza Space Anchor
- Collect Chest 1 northwest of Clockie Statue
- Navigate to second floor for Lordly Trashcan 1
- Complete Hanu's Adventure parkour for Chest 6
- Travel to northeastern staircase for Bloodhound Family Member
- Exhaust dialogue with all four NPCs
- Locate Lordly Trashcan 2 near Chest 30
- Return to Astral Express to verify disc registration
Total time: 15-25 minutes.
Common Mistakes When Searching
Why Players Miss This Location
- Positioning outside quest corridors: Main story never directs here
- Lack of environmental cues: No glowing indicators
- Dialogue choice sensitivity: Non-confrontational options fail to trigger reward
- Multi-NPC requirement: Must interact with all four NPCs in sequence
Time-Gated Content
The disc remains permanently available after unlocking Golden Hour. No daily resets or version-specific windows restrict acquisition.
The Overture version requires completing And on the Eighth Day (post-version 2.2).
Quest Progression Blockers
Critical blockers:
- Incomplete The Youths Who Chase Dreams mission
- Skipping dialogue with Bloodhound Family Member
- Choosing incorrect dialogue options
- Ignoring Vexed Pepeshi follow-up
Restart NPC interaction from beginning if blocked.
Phonograph Disc Rewards
Stellar Jade Breakdown
Hope Is the Thing With Feathers awards 5 Stellar Jades (≈3% of single limited banner pull). Golden Hour's 37 chests provide additional Stellar Jades through exploration milestones at 50%, 75%, and 100% completion.
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Exclusive Achievements
The Feather He Dropped achievement unlocks upon quest completion, contributing to overall achievement score. Achievement hunters need both standard and Overture versions.
Music Room Features
The Phonograph lets you:
- Select specific tracks from The Flapper Sinthome
- Preview disc descriptions and sources
- Track collection completion percentages
- Customize Astral Express ambient music
Version 2.7's Party Car provides dedicated social space where Phonograph music plays during character interactions.
Long-Term Benefits
Disc collection demonstrates thorough engagement, correlating with:
- Higher exploration completion for regional rewards
- Increased NPC location familiarity
- Achievement score accumulation
- Superior map knowledge for time-limited events
Advanced Tips from 100+ Hours Exploration
Best Characters for Exploration
While no characters provide Phonograph bonuses, certain compositions accelerate exploration:
- High-mobility characters: Sprint stamina reduction, movement speed bonuses
- AoE damage dealers: Clear enemy encounters efficiently
- Sustain units: Reduce healing downtime
Time-Saving Techniques
- Unlock all six Space Anchors before systematic collection
- Use map zoom to identify unexplored areas
- Mark NPC locations with custom waypoints
- Complete Lordly Trashcan interactions immediately (don't respawn)
- Batch Phonograph verification trips
Unlocking all Space Anchors first reduces travel time by ≈40%.
Environmental Cues
Golden Hour provides subtle storytelling through:
- NPC dialogue referencing nearby collectibles
- Ambient music shifts near significant locations
- Visual clustering of interactive objects
- Lighting variations highlighting staircase areas
Community-Discovered Shortcuts
Hanu's Adventure TV parkour has alternate route reducing clear time from 90s to ≈45s using wall-jump mechanics near third checkpoint.
Second-floor Lordly Trashcan accessible via staircase shortcut from Dreammerse Shopping Street Space Anchor, saving ≈20s per trip.
Troubleshooting Guide
Common Technical Issues
Disc not appearing in Phonograph:
- Verify quest completion in Missions menu
- Return to Astral Express, interact with Phonograph directly
- Check The Flapper Sinthome collection specifically
- Restart game client for inventory sync
- Confirm disc wasn't already collected
Registration delays occur during high server load, especially post-update.
Quest State Requirements
Bloodhound Family Member only offers disc after:
- Completing The Youths Who Chase Dreams
- Reaching appropriate story progression
- Exhausting prerequisite dialogue branches
Server Sync Delays
Cross-device play causes tracking discrepancies when:
- Switching between PC/mobile mid-session
- Collecting during unstable connections
- Acquiring multiple collectibles rapidly
Wait 5-10 minutes after collection before verifying.
Reporting Missing Collectibles
If discs remain missing:
- Document NPC interaction with screenshots
- Note in-game timestamp
- Verify quest completion status
- Check Phonograph collection percentage
- Contact in-game support (Settings > Customer Service)
- Provide UID and reproduction steps
Support responds within 24-48 hours.
Maximizing HSR Experience
Balancing Exploration with Progression
Golden Hour's 37 chests provide ≈15-20 pulls worth of resources. Balance collection time against:
- Daily commission completion
- Stamina expenditure on ascension materials
- Event participation
- Simulated Universe weekly rewards
Dedicate 2-3 focused sessions to complete Golden Hour exploration.
Stellar Jade Optimization
F2P players should prioritize:
- Exhaustive Penacony exploration before updates
- Achievement hunting for one-time bonuses
- Daily login rewards and commissions
- Event participation
Spenders accelerate through selective top-ups during:
- Limited character banner releases
- Double bonus reset periods
- Special promotion events
Top-Up Options
BitTopup provides secure HSR resource acquisition with:
- Competitive pricing vs official channels
- Instant delivery
- Secure transaction processing with buyer protection
- Wide payment method support
- Excellent customer service
- High user ratings
Strategic top-ups during limited banners maximize value when combined with F2P Stellar Jade.
Resource Allocation for Version 2.7
Version 2.7 (December 4, 2025) introduced Party Car and Trailblazer's Room. Allocate resources for:
- Phonograph disc collection for Party Car customization
- Character investment for new Trailblaze missions
- Stamina management for event farming
- Stellar Jade reserves for version 2.8 banners
Future Updates
Anticipated Disc Additions
Future updates will likely introduce:
- Additional Penacony Radio variants from unexplored districts
- Event-exclusive discs from limited-time content
- Character-specific tracks from companion quests
- Remix versions as achievement rewards
Penacony Expansion Areas
Penacony's current map represents ≈60-70% of planned region. Future expansions:
- Clock Studios Theme Park district
- SoulGlad entertainment complex
- Additional Reverie Hotel floors
- Dreamscape boundary areas
Each expansion will add 20-40 new chests with proportional Phonograph discs.
Developer Roadmap
HoYoverse's pattern suggests:
- Quarterly updates adding 3-5 new discs per major version
- Annual collection events with limited-time discs
- Achievement expansions for complete milestones
- QoL improvements to tracking interfaces
Staying Updated
Track Phonograph updates through:
- Official patch notes (1-2 days before updates)
- In-game notices via mail system
- Community resources (use caution with unverified leaks)
- Achievement menu for new collection categories
Check Phonograph menu after each version update for newly added discs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Penacony Radio disc located in Golden Hour HSR 2.7?
The Hope Is the Thing With Feathers disc is obtained from the Bloodhound Family Member NPC (suit, blond hair, glasses) near parked vehicles in northeastern Golden Hour, adjacent to the multi-floor staircase. Threaten to report them during dialogue, exhaust all options, then interact with Vexed Pepeshi and select listen to receive the disc.
Can you miss Phonograph discs permanently in Honkai Star Rail?
No, Phonograph discs remain permanently available after unlocking their areas. The Hope Is the Thing With Feathers disc can be collected anytime after completing The Youths Who Chase Dreams Trailblaze Mission, with no time-gated restrictions.
What rewards do you get for collecting all Penacony Radio discs?
The quest awards 5 Stellar Jades, Dreamscape Pass sticker, 2x Lost Crystals, 5,000 Credits, and achievement The Feather He Dropped. Complete collection contributes to exploration completion percentages, unlocking additional tiered Stellar Jade rewards.
How to check Phonograph disc collection progress in HSR?
Access the Phonograph in Astral Express Parlor Car's northeastern corner (next to Passenger Cabin door). Select The Flapper Sinthome collection to view all discs—collected items highlighted, missing discs shown as locked with acquisition hints.
What Trailblaze Level is required for Golden Hour disc access?
No specific Trailblaze Level required. Golden Hour unlocks after completing The Youths Who Chase Dreams Trailblaze Mission, which requires prior completion of Long Day's Journey Into Night in The Sound and the Fury storyline.
Does collecting Phonograph discs give Stellar Jade rewards?
Yes, Hope Is the Thing With Feathers awards 5 Stellar Jades directly. Collection also contributes to Golden Hour exploration completion percentage, unlocking tiered Stellar Jade bonuses at 50%, 75%, and 100% completion alongside 37 total chests.
