Tag Archives: record player

This metallic record player concept blends music and architecture to create harmony

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Record players are en vogue again, and thanks to interest in the product, we’ve seen quite a few designs that go beyond the simple task of playing a vinyl record. There’s a wide variety of designs, ranging from minimalist to eccentric, from utilitarian to decorative. The requirements for a record player design aren’t many, as long as it’s able to actually produce the audio quality unique to the medium and have usable controls that don’t get in the way. Thanks to that, there’s plenty of leeway in how to interpret a record player design, and this particular concept takes advantage of that in order to create a fusion of an audio device and architecture, presenting a unique visual and tactile experience for audiophiles.

Designer:

The standard record player design involves a box with a circular plate on top, a tonearm that holds the head reader, and controls on the top or side of that box. There’s no hard rule for that design, of course, just that it’s the most efficient way to cram components and mix shapes. When it comes to space and shape efficiency, however, nothing is more precise than architecture, which is exactly the source of inspiration for this distinctive concept design for a record player.

Right off the bat, you will notice the slats that run across a section of the aluminum chassis that’s not covered by the platter. This design is reminiscent of many architectural forms, but it serves more than just a visual function in this design. One of those slats is actually the tonearm, giving this important part of the record player a home when not in use and preventing accidents due to leaving it exposed.

Three gaps between those slats also hide the machine’s controls in plain sight. While most record players use buttons and dials, the RYTM record player uses less ambiguous sliders for volume, speed (denoted by RPM or rotations per minute), and power. The sliders integrate so seamlessly into the design that you might not even notice their presence unless you look closely. At the same time, however, they offer a somewhat novel way to engage with the machine.

RYTM’s anodized aluminum body gives it a bit of a unique and almost industrial character. It’s not difficult to associate the motif with robot arms, similar to those used in automobile manufacturing plants, on a smaller scale, of course. In an age of mostly digital consumption of music, this interesting record player design concept offers a different and perhaps more memorable way to enjoy your tunes, creating a ritual that involves physical engagement to elevate your listening experience.

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Invisible turntable makes playing your vinyl look almost magical

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Vinyl and record players miraculously resurfaced a few years ago, giving people of all ages a chance to experience or revisit the unique quality of this analog medium. At first, most of the products tried to faithfully recreate the experience, going so far as modeling record players after vintage aesthetics. Recently, there have been new designs that try to appeal to more modern tastes and younger generations, with styles ranging from minimalist to extravagant. That has given birth to a few interesting record players, some more unusual than others. This turntable, for example, doesn’t seem to actually exist, completely hidden from sight to put the spotlight on your vinyl and the music that is recorded in its grooves.

Designer: Miniot

Most turntables are rectangular boxes, mostly because that’s the most convenient shape for cramming electronics, especially the big parts from decades past. These take up unnecessary space and limit the ways you can place the machine on display. Fortunately, today’s pieces are so much smaller, and you can fit all of them inside something the size of the record itself. In fact, you can fit them in a shape that’s almost exactly like the vinyl as well.

Black Wheel, the latest iteration of the Wheel design by Miniot, does exactly that and hides all the electronics and mechanical parts under the record. They sit inside a thin circular body that completely disappears once you put the record on. This illusion is more effective if you stand the Wheel upright, but it still has this particular minimalist charm even if you lay it flat horizontally.

In addition to the peculiar design, the Wheel also has a rather unique control system that was also designed to be felt but barely seen. A tactile Slide Track offers all the controls you need in a single physical interface, allowing you to slide or push parts of the hidden wheel to select tracks, change the volume, or even set the stylus’ weight. Even with an incredibly thin body, the Wheel doesn’t make compromises in audio quality to satisfy audiophiles.

The Black Wheel itself is a thing of beauty, handmade using high-grade black materials and brushed metal. The slightly older Wheel 2 has a bit of an old-fashioned charm with a wooden base reminiscent of the turntables of old. But although it’s something you would definitely want to flaunt, its design is really meant to put the focus on the part of a record player that matters the most: the record itself.

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This portable record player helps you focus on your inner light in a unique way

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Vinyl records and LP players have experienced a renaissance in the past few years as the “newtro” fad gripped people of all ages. While most tried to be faithful to the designs and experiences of old, even if they are considered inconvenient by today’s standards, others saw the trend as a challenge to re-imagine what could be in light of what was. That’s particularly true of old media that don’t necessarily need to be constrained by the limitations of old media players. This vinyl record player concept, for example, still tries to deliver that same unique audio quality of LP plates but uses a device that is not only lightweight but also light-centric in a manner you might not expect.

Designer: Hyeyoung Han, Hanyoung Lee

LP or vinyl records have always had a place in music lovers’ hearts despite the limitations of the physical medium. Those limitations, in fact, are what endears these large black discs to its loyal fans, creating a unique tone and quality that’s difficult to reproduce perfectly even through digital means. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to enjoy these vinyl records, both old and new. Unfortunately, most of them seem to be designed on the presumption that they have to be as big as an LP or even bigger.

There are reasonable considerations why record players come as large, flat boxes, but it’s not a hard rule. In fact, one could consider it detrimental to the enjoyment of these records since they take up much space and, more importantly, aren’t exactly easy to move around. Luceren is a design concept that tries to bring that favorite “portability” feature to the record player in a way that is both interesting and elegant, all for the sake of finding your inner self through music.

At first glance, this boat-shaped device looks more like a minimalist tealight candle holder. The protruding bulb on one end reinforces that imagery, but, as they say, looks can be deceiving. As you might have guessed, this is actually a record player, and that bulb serves as the spindle that holds the vinyl in place. Whether on its own or with a record on top, Luceren evokes a sense of simplicity, calm, peace, and light. Plus, it also makes it easy to move the player around, even if just inside the house or room.

It isn’t just for display, though, since it’s supposed to actually play those records. Rather than having a tonearm on top, though, the design hides the mechanism underneath, inside the body of the device. This means you’ll have to place the record upside down, but it’s not exactly a novel idea with some more minimalist record players. It also helps keep the design simple and reduces the number of moving parts that could be broken when moving it from one place to another.

There might be concerns about the stability of a device that spins a disc larger than itself, but Luceren does tickle the mind in imagining other unconventional designs like this. Regardless, the design successfully conveys the message it wants to send, that of a lightweight device that brings light through the simple enjoyment of music wherever you are.

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Retro player concept recreates the experience of phonographs with a modern twist

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The old vinyl experienced an unexpected renaissance a few years ago, along with a resurgence of interest in Polaroid-style instant cameras and photos. Some of that interest has waned recently, though, but it hasn’t stopped the generation of new ideas and designs that try to revive this old yet still loved format. Most of these revolved around recreating the full vinyl experience, including the flaws of the physical medium that make it sound unique and special. While some people do like that audio experience, not everyone appreciates the other aspects of using a phonograph, no matter how modern it is. This Retro Player concept has the potential to deliver the same listening experience and more, all while providing a user experience that is more in tune with today’s modern lifestyles and mindsets.

Designers: Ha lim Kim, Park JooHyung, Ryukyung Lee, YoonJeong Lee

Vinyl LP records have physical imperfections that may be considered acoustic flaws but have become a well-loved characteristic of this type of medium. While many modern record players try to faithfully recreate that unique sound quality, they do so by actually recreating the entire experience, from the needle that scratches the record to the very act of having to put in an LP every time you want to change an album. While there are those that actually love that kind of retro experience, there are also those that simply want to listen to that kind of music without the rest of the work involved.

In a way, this RE; Retro Player concept design gives such people what they want by mimicking only the look of a record player, without any of the parts that make such a machine special. That said, it does so in a rather interesting way that you could be forgiven for taking a shortcut. In essence, this device is designed to be a more general-purpose music player, except it offers to give the same acoustic and visual experience as the original.

The most important part of the RE; Retro Player is the CD-shaped plate that represents an LP record, except it doesn’t contain any music at all. Music comes from a paired Bluetooth device like a phone or perhaps some internal storage. You can play any music from this system, and the display on the disc plate changes into the appropriate album art, reminiscent of how vinyl and CDs look. Instead of a needle that “reads” from the disc, the head is instead a touch display that can be used to control the machine in case your phone is out of reach. There is another circular display for showing the time or visualizations while playing music.

To some extent, the RE; Retro Player pays homage to the phonographs of old in a very different way. It is unapologetic in being a modern device while still delivering some of the emotions of the old record player. Some might take issue with how it can only artificially recreate the distinct sound of vinyl, but at least it won’t run the risk of eventually damaging those physical plates until they’re no longer usable at all.

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Vertical turntable idealised to present music in a way we wouldn’t think twice before taking home

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A turntable skimmed the aesthetics and delivered music with additional gadgetry which perhaps record players did as a cohesive unit. However, the transition is more modern and timelier. Now, to fill some sort of void left out by the fast transition from traditional to modern; Blok is an aesthetic that visions turntable, and the notion of music, in a way you and I wouldn’t think twice before taking home.

Many form factors of turntables have been idealized, in the recent past, but have not really gained traction. If you reflect back, there are only a few idealistic designs that stay put; importantly, these are part of our routine because the ease of use and adaptation of embedded technology has been easier as opposed to the fancier ones that have crossed paths.

Designer: Josh Schwefel

Basing the Blok on the choice of the gen-z; designer Josh Schwefel presents turntable boasting mechanical looks with ultra-precise tolerance. That transpires a device with a simple user interface and a clean silhouette. It is not the usual beefy device; instead, a sleek square form factor with similar buttons and an enriching scroller knob for volume deliver a turntable worth your bedside table.

The difference here is not so much about how it looks, but how it functions! The turntable works as a vertical device with the vinyl record going into the middle like a disk in between the gaping lips of a DVD player. Understandably, the built-in spindle identifies the record and begins to play it. A visually pleasing setup – provided in midnight back, arctic white, and bumblebee yellow – has connectivity ports on the back that do not interfere with the façade and render the device apt for your lifestyle. At this point, I am not sure if the Blok loves your smartphone, but Bluetooth connectivity would certainly allow Blok to fill the void; permitting you and me to toggle the music from the comfort of the couch/bed.

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This retro-modern record player pits your vinyl against gravity in lofty style

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Love the pure classic feel of a record player but always wanted the inclusion of a modern element to it? The element of unique styling for your living or bedroom in an upright turntable format? Then this concept will fuel your craving even more.

This is the Vertical Turntable designed keeping in mind the needs of modern audiophiles who want the pure sound of a record player with an aesthetic that fits their lifestyle.

Designer: Eun seok Go

The turntable doesn’t lose out on the analog sensibility and brings forth the design elements that would please the most finicky of buyers. That means the user will be able to listen to even the most subtle sounds in the wide music soundstage. Inspiration for the vertical turntable design comes from the typical appearance of the Ip when it is taken out. So, the designer thought of achieving a form factor that fuses the turntable and lp look into one.

One disadvantage that analog players have as compared to digital audio players is the wear and tear due to physical contact. This record player has an optical cartridge that minimizes the damage incurred by the tracking force in conventional cartridges. The driving method of the Vertical Turntable is the same as that of a DVD player – the lens detects the Ip and then connects it to the built-in spindle.

The transparent screen on the front superimposes the track time played and elapsed, play and pause status, artist name and albumart onto the visible part of the record in the background. Below the screen is the speaker, the volume knob and play/pause buttons. While the designer doesn’t make a mention of its Bluetooth connectivity feature, still I’m assuming it has the ability to connect to your smartphone for toggling any of the options from the cozy confines of your couch.

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B&O recreates 50-year-old record player into a modern limited edition music system

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Bang & Olufsen is headstrong about its sustainability drive – with a prime focus for now on the creation of circular products. Homing in on a century of years creating a plethora of timeless products that have lasted for many generations, the Danish audio manufacturer is re-releasing the 50-year-old Beogram 4000 Series turntable. The classic vinyl player designed in 1972 by Danish industrial designer Jacob Jensen was a living example of breaking boundaries and going to the next possible level.

Under the scanner, B&O has been buying examples of its most famous products to be refurbished and recreated for generation Z with all the latest technology and timeless function intact. According to Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, the senior global product manager, B&O for the in-house Product Circulatory & Classics Program – studies have pointed out the immense potential for reducing environmental impact by refurbishing old products.

Designer: Bang & Olufsen

Limited edition Beosystem 72-22 music system is a result of the constant endeavor to preserve old products into timeless musical accessories. As a part of the Recreated Classic Initiative, the brand has recreated 30 turntables, and infused them with the latest audio technology to never miss a beat. The pearl-blasted titanium tone aluminum record player comes in a solid walnut presentation box which doubles as package housing, as well as a storage cabinet for the old vinyl records.

The lucky owners can play the vinyl records in the ecosystem of B&O Beolab wireless speakers with controls actuated via the uber-futuristic Halo Beoremote or even a mobile device using the company’s app. For times when you don’t want to play the record player, the option to stream music from services like TIDAL and Spotify is there.

As per Rick Costanzo, vice president of Bang & Olufsen Americas, the system is a result of active customer engagement which has enabled the B&O products to be trickled down from one generation to the next, “as the technology, engineering, and design are simultaneously updated and improved across product categories.”  The price tag of $45,000 is not for the faint-hearted collectors, so you’ll have to be a passionate audiophile and also a B&O fanatic to own this piece of history revamped as a modern turntable for your living room.

As a consolation, the 30 fat-pocketed owners of the Beosystem 72-22 will get a pack of four classic vinyl albums. These will be a set of handpicked releases from 1972 including David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, the Spiders from Mars, Paul Simon’s Paul Simon, Eat a Peach by the Allman Brothers’ Band, and Carly Simon’s No Secrets album.

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See-through Harman Kardon record player is a fashionable audio accessory for modern living room

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A transparent Harman Kardon record player – as irresistible as the prospect sounds – it looks and functions too. Seems to have landed straight out of a Star Wars franchise, this audio equipment is a dream accessory for audiophiles who want zero compromises on style and the unique proposition of a see-through product for their living room.

True to its luxury quotient, the high-end Hi-Fi brand is known for its balanced soundscape, perfect for audiophiles who appreciate punchy lows, sublime mids and ear-pleasing highs. And when it comes down to a record player that’s just one thing your living room or geeky den was missing, this turntable is it. A futuristic, minimal and modern approach towards a record player capable of outshining any eye-popping accessory in your nest. The Harman Kardon turntable designed by URUSS Design carries a distinct retro-futuristic flair and unique form factor to keep music lovers more than interested.

Just look at those internals inside a crystal-clear housing that encapsulates the mechanics of the record player in the most majestic manner. It’s like a celebration of the timeless record player era and the untouchable art of creating music. This piece of rare beauty stands in a corner on an equally impressive tripod – instantly attracting onlookers with a profound magnetism. For an instance, I too got drawn to the charismatic design of this record player that is in a league of its own. As the music plays, the record spinning inside is visible as elegantly as one could ever imagine!

This is one practical product design deserving to go beyond the concept stage, and make it to the real world someday. A turntable that adds true value to the art of composing music, and appreciating it in the grandest style. Yes, a Harman Kardon Turntable is something that’s got my feel-good hormones set into overdrive!

Designer: URUSS Design

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This vertical record player deserves attention for its eye candy looks + practical functionality

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A vinyl record player that looks and feels way advanced than your modern music player thanks to its vertical orientation, the cool blue color theme, and overall sleek aesthetics. Playing music never looked this good, before I laid my eyes on this!

In normal circumstances, a record player is perceived to play the records lying flat – as the music churns out melodiously. In the design world, there is nothing that cannot challenge the existing perception of design elements, same goes with the good old vinyl players. The wall-mounted TT-90 System and o-ton turntable are prime examples of that out-of-the-box thinking are what we always tend to appreciate.

Industrial design student, Daniel Visintainer’s Asenso Vertical Record Player is yet another eye candy record player you’d want to sport in your living room or geeky den filled with Star Wars merchandise and high-end gaming accessories. Well, if that association wasn’t relevant enough, do pardon me, I get carried away at times! Alright coming back to the record player here, the designer has infused a subtle touch of modern to the good old vinyl player that we generally relate to our grandfather’s music fantasies. Sure, record players have lots of lovers, and for good measure too – the audio produced is high quality without any loss in frequencies, just as intended by the producer. Compare that to the modern digital formats and you’ll appreciate the difference.

The vertical approach adapted by the designer for Asenso is practical and commercially viable for the audiophile market. The big chunky buttons right where the record player slots in, lends the audio equipment a very modern technological bent. There is the big power On/Off button, the Play/Pause button and the Needle Release button – all these inclusions bring a sense of coolness to the design. Mids, bass and treble knobs are positioned on one side – just like any contemporary music player. Even better, the cord on the bottom section is movable for one reason – the vertical record player can be used horizontally too. Just like the PS5 or Xbox Series X gaming consoles!

Designer: Daniel Visintainer

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