Tag Archives: Vinyl player

This modular LP player with detachable controller is modernized digital player for your vinyl collection

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Consuming music in digital format is as easy as compressing thousands of MP3 files into your phone storage and playing it with just a few taps on the screen. This is not the case with long play discs that ensure the unmatched sensory experience of sliding a record from the sleeve – featuring an artful cover design, – placing it on the turntable, adjusting the needle on the groove, and then enjoying the clean, clear music watching the disc rotate in visual ecstasy.

With vinyl disc players, you are treated to analog music where sound revibrates unlike any other medium. This fascination in the otherwise digitalized world has triggered a resurgence of record players in the last decades. Now, with the booming sales of vinyl, designers are willing to take the dive, presenting digital ways to playback LP’s and make them time-relevant without compromising the rich sound quality.

Designer: found/Founded

Case in point the Vibrary Digital LP Player that is more than its vibrant orange color and pleasant design. It is a modernized high-quality player for your vinyl collection that features a modular design you can customize with colors and materials of choice to match the artist’s official color and more. Of course, it’s not the most fascinating collector’s item still, but if you’re someone who is generally on the move and wants to carry their love for LPs along, the Vibrary Digital is a remarkable option.

While turntables offer a warm vinyl sound; this new design offers a tangible click-through operation for ease of use, and promises to match the sound experience through its long speaker body that houses the record.  The new Vibrary Digital concept digital album player, as it is referred to, is designed to enjoy your favorite records whenever and wherever you want.

It is envisioned with a detachable – cylindrical – wireless controller stationed next to the speaker (also with onboard controls), which would allow you to play music from the slotted record from a distance. Digitalizing the idea of a record player is not limited to size and altered vertical design, it is presented with state-of-the-art listening modes including spatial sound mode and a voice-specific mode that would allow you to customize sound according to the artist’s content.

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Vinyl turntable concept uses industrial materials and design

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As much as I love my music streaming services, I’m also a fan of playing analog music. Well, at least in theory. I have several CDs at home already but I don’t have a CD player (still researching about what’s the best one that my wallet can afford). I also want to have a vinyl player soon although that will take more of an investment both for the player itself and the vinyls I’ll buy afterwards. So I am always interested when I see concepts or designs for turntables as it can be references for what I’ll buy in the (hopefully) near future.

Designer: Antoine Brieux / NAK Studio

This concept for a high end industrial design linear vinyl turntable will probably not fit into my budget if it ever gets made but it’s still pretty interesting to look at. It will be made up of full machined aluminum and magnesium parts but also uses glass and recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) so you get an industrial but minimalist look. The platter assembly has conical bearings shaft and actually looks like those old 35mm film projectors but placed horizontally.

In keeping with its industrial theme, you get an industrial drive belt driving system but with an air cushion linear arm to make it more interesting. The tonearm is Bluetooth embedded so you can connect it to Bluetooth speakers directly but you can also use the regular plug system if you prefer that. It also has a brushless motor and constant drive controller while it uses capacitive sensors to manage the start and end position of the arms which can use either an automatic or manual lift system.

The product render, including a video sample of what it might look like, makes it really look like a high end kind of vinyl player. But it also looks a bit heavy based on the materials that will be used so if you’re looking for something that can be portable or at least easy to move within your space, this might not be it. As for the quality when you actually play your vinyls on it, that remains to be seen.

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Razor-thin turntable brings an uber-futuristic touch to your retro vinyl collection

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Sleekness was never really a consideration back in the 50s and 60s when vinyl discs were still popular… which is why turntables and vinyl players never really explored thin-ness as a design aesthetic. The most any company ever did was integrate minimalism into their design language (a la Braun), but products weren’t generally designed to be razor thin. Which is why the BÖNWERK Turntable feels so visually exciting – it brings a novel design direction to an otherwise aged product category. Trends (whether fashion or tech) are always cyclical, and vinyls have been gaining popularity over the last few years… but traditional vinyl players don’t live up to the design sensibilities of today. The BÖNWERK Turntable is a gorgeous concept that boasts the same wedge-shaped design detail popularized by the MacBook Air. The rotating disc sits on a razor-thin platform, which gradually becomes thicker near the turntable’s control panel, creating an overall aesthetic that’s practically invisible, but emotionally impactful.

Designers: Mateo Rombolá & Tobias Quirici

“The primary goal of this project was to create a cutting-edge and sophisticated turntable tailored specifically for expert users in the audiophile world,” said designer-duo Mateo Rombolá and Tobias Quirici. “Our focus centered on prioritizing user semantics and experience, elevating these aspects above mere functional distinctions.”

Functionally, the BÖNWERK Turntable isn’t too different from the ones you’d otherwise find on the market. It has the tonearm with a cartridge and needle on one end, and a counterweight on the other. The tonearm sits at the center, with the rotating disc platform on one side, and a control panel on the other with a strobe light, RPM controller, volume knob, highs and lows control, and a start/stop button.

Flip the BÖNWERK Turntable over and you see its actual mass, which hides underneath a super-sleek exterior. Almost mirroring the design of the MacBook Air (or even older iPhones, which used to hide the camera bump in the side-view photos), the mass hides itself well thanks to a slick outer profile that your eyes see (instead of the volume underneath). This makes the BÖNWERK Turntable look MUCH thinner than it already is, which adds to its appeal. The appeal also extends to the minimal visual language used in the rest of the turntable’s design, from the use of plain black and metallic hues, sharp geometric shapes, knurled metal knobs, and the palpable absence of any text, giving the turntable its signature clean look.

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Vinyl music system lets you have an aesthetic listening party

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While we’re now used to listening to our favorite tunes on our streaming service of choice, there are times when we would still crave to listening on unadulterated and uncompressed formats, specifically on vinyl players. One of my dreams is to have a listening party with my fellow K-Pop stans and listening and dancing to tunes from vinyl records. But actually setting up a system can be intimidating for newbies, not to mention expensive.

Designer: Dum Audio

The Stereo System Bundle that Dum Audio is offering will remove some of that hassle of choosing what things should go into your vinyl record set up (although the expensive part is still there of course). It has “everything you need and nothing you don’t” in a sense that it has all the basics that you would need to listen to your records with an “immense and crystal clear sonic experience”. This includes the turntable itself, an amplifier, and a pair of passive speakers, with the option of adding a passive subwoofer in case you want more base.

The entire system has a real hardwood veneer with aluminum hardware so if that’s your aesthetic in your living room or bedroom, it should go well with the whole ambience. The turntable has an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge and an MDF flinth with real hardwood veneer and a custom aluminum tonearm. It plays at 33.3 and 45 RPM. The integrated amplifier has analog inputs and an output for the passive subwoofer that is coming soon. You can control the bass, mid, and treble and has a power output of 100 watts RMS per channel. The passive speakers has custom Dum Audio drivers and has a power handling of 100 watts RMS per speaker.

If you still want to listen to songs on your streaming service, the amplifier has Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX so you can still stream from your smartphone or computer. If you have around $2,000 to spend for a system, this is something you can consider if you don’t want the hassle of looking for individual components. It also looks pretty aesthetic so that can add to the joy of listening to your favorite vinyl records.

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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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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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Audio Technica revives the 80s Sound Burger turntable for modern audiophiles

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Want to bypass the most advanced turntables but still want to get the funk factor of vinyl players? Then Audio Technica has got just the right audio gadget for you. Celebrating 60 glorious years of audiophile awesomeness, the Japanese audio pro is reviving its iconic AT-727 portable turntable after almost four decades.

Popularly known as the Sound Burger and branded as Mister Disc, the vinyl player is making a comeback with modern upgrades to satiate the craving of serious music listeners. Back in the 1980s, the turntable was pitted against the Sony Walkman for vinyl and made a good name for itself owing to its unique build and cuteness.

Designer: Audio Technica

The 2022 Sound Burger (model number AT-SB2022) looks almost the same as the original one but comes with more modern features to make it portable or plug-in to headphones. Those who have seen the original one will instantly be hit with nostalgia, all because of the funky red color. Top-mounted controls and the built-in carry strap. The biggest upgrade comes in the form of Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity. There’s the slim clamshell showing off the grooves of the record and tonearm as well. Audio Technica has also replaced the hard-to-find replacement cartridges of the original one with the ATN3600L stylus.

The massive C-cell batteries give way to the rechargeable battery which brings 12 hours of playback time to the platter spinner. Also, the outdated motor is replaced by the high-precision DC motor that spins the belt-driven platter at 33-1/3 or 45 RPM. According to Audio Technica the portable record player is crafted for “portability and stability” which makes complete sense.

Audio Technica is planning to sell 7,000 limited edition units of the AT-SB2022 turntable for a price tag of $199. For modern vinyl record lovers, that’s absolutely a no-brainer. The only issue’s going to be getting one of these before they all sell out.

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Vinyl player uses electric vehicle motor design for industrial look

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While it’s been more convenient to listen to music on Spotify or Apple Music the past decade, there is still something lost in the compression of the songs that true-blue audiophiles regrettably notice. That’s why over the past few years, we’re seeing the re-emergence of “retro” music formats like CDs and vinyl. The latter in particular has become a must-have for those who are serious about listening to music in its uncompressed format. More often than not, these players are also vintage in design, harking back to music listening in the 60s and beyond.

Designer: William Fairington

But what if the record player gets a futuristic and industrial design instead, bringing a different kind of aesthetic to what we’re used to. That’s the idea behind the conceptual design of a record player called Rotor. The designer is inspired by the mechanical forms of the internal motors of modern electric vehicles. So if you’re the demographic that likes both cars and music, then you’d want this concept to become an actual product eventually.

The design features 6 copper coil-inspired speaker modules that support the center shaft and radiates the sound from the inside wall. It actually looks like it is floating within the outer shell as it doesn’t touch the table or the wall where you’ll place the player. To show off the motor design, the vinyl mat has a condensed belt but there is also a threaded cap and spindle to keep the vinyl in place no matter what position your player is placed in since this is a “conceptual dual orientational record player”.

The overall look of the Rotor is that of a motorized car part with a bare metal finish, linear form repetition as well as highlights on its fasteners and jointure. In order to create an actual product like this, the manufacturer would need to use Machining, Casting, and Forging. There are also a lot of complex components for such a device so if this does go into production, expect it to cost something fierce. But if you’re a fan of both EVs and vinyls, you probably will not mind.

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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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The ‘Ripple’ turntable transforms the idea of sound-waves into actual waves modeled onto the surface

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A clever play on how sound emanates from a source like ripples from a single point, the Ripple Turntable turns audio waves into literal waves, with its surface treatment. The pristine white turntable comes with a rippled surface, with waves emanating from the spindle at the center of the platter, as well as from the origin of the swing-arm, and intersecting in the middle to create that perfect bit of visual drama.

The entire turntable is white, with the swing-arm adding a gold accent to it, and the vinyl disc itself bringing a bit of black to the mix. Although conceptual, the turntable’s visual experiment is interesting, to say the least. Most turntables are either designed to look retro, or over-the-top luxurious. The Ripple, however, is a deviation from the norm, with a design that’s minimal, quirky, and has a great sculptural quality that lends beautifully to Scandinavian or Japanese home decor styles!

Designer: Pelin Özbalcı

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