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Groove Pladespiller by Daniel Henneh

Groove Pladespiller by Daniel Henneh is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award i Sølv in Forbrugerelektronik Competition Category.


SølvForbrugerelektronik· 2025

Groove Pladespiller

by Daniel Henneh

Client: Groove

A' Design Award i Sølv Winner in Forbrugerelektronik Category

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The Design

About Groove Pladespiller

Groove er en pladespiller, der kombinerer vinylafspilning med digital teknologi. Kabinettet er fræset af en massiv blok anodiseret aluminium og forsynet med polerede komponenter i rustfrit stål. En kortdistanceprojektor viser en menu, sangtekster, albumcover og nummerdetaljer på en nærliggende væg. Når en plade lægges på pladetallerkenen, registreres den automatisk, og tonearmen føres ud fra sin hvileposition. Musikgenkendelse identificerer sangen i løbet af de første sekunder af afspilningen. En indtrækkelig drejeknap trækker sig tilbage, når afspilleren ikke er i brug, hvilket holder formen minimalistisk.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award i Sølv

Groove Pladespiller er vinder af A' Design Award i Sølv, en usædvanligt prestigefyldt anerkendelse, der tildeles designs i topklasse, som er pragtfulde og imponerende. Sølvvinderne er enormt geniale og overordentlig kreative værker, der illustrerer deres designeres fremragende ekspertise, talent og skarpsindighed. Groove Pladespiller forventes at være et vidunderligt udstillingsværk, der er bemærkelsesværdigt professionelt og dybt innovativt. Dette design, der har vundet A' Design Award i Sølv, er en højst bemærkelsesværdig, beundret opfindelse, som gavner og flytter grænserne for kunst, videnskab, design og teknologi. Groove Pladespiller er en skabelse, som mange misunder, og som vækker begær, bringer positive følelser og antænder forundring og undren.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Experience timeless music and cutting-edge technology in one elegant package. Groove is made from a solid block of anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel components ensuring both durability and a modern aesthetic. It is equipped with advanced AI and a short range projector to automatically detect and display lyrics, album art, music meta data and all the relevant information that modern music players are capable of. This truly elevated Grove beyond the conventional record player.
Dimensions & Packaging
Physical dimensions: 500mm x 350mm x 80mm (WxBxH)
Audio: Built-in stereo amplifier, Bluetooth 5.1, 3.5mm Aux Out, Beam forming microphones.
Connectivity: Wifi, LAN
Display: Short range projector
Platter: Direct drive BLDC motor with precision speed control
Tags
Record player, Turntable, High End, Hifi, Audiophile, Music, Timeless, Premium
Production Technology
To be made from machined aluminum, and polished stainless steel components. Actuators will be used to implement mechanisms that automatically deploys the tonearm and retract and dial to maintain a minimalist look when Grove is not being used. It will also have advance electronics which comprices a projector module, wireless connectivity and a central onboard computer.
Design Challenge
The most challenge part of designing Groove was simplifying the conventional record player to only its essential components in order to achieve a clean minimal design. For instance spring preload mechanism was used in order to get rid of the counterweight which is used in the tonearm of conventional record players.
Research
Most of the research done for groove was to understand the current state of music recognition and explore feasibility of such a technology with minimal computing power. The ideal solution for Groove will be one that is accurately recognizes music in the shortest amount of time.

Additional research was done a retractable mechanism and actuators that could be application for implementation of the retractable dial and tonearm. I identified off-the-shelf stepper motors with reduction gears as well as short distance linear motion systems that could be used.
Inspiration
Inspired by my love for music, advance technology and high end products with durable materials. My goal for groove is to leverage recent advancements in technology to give the traditional record player a modern revival.
Project Duration
2 months, in San Jose California.
Operation Flow
Once powered on, the multifunctional retractable dial is deployed to enable an interface to interact with the menu system that is displayed on the projected UI on the wall. When a record (vinyl) is placed on the platter, it is automatically detected and presents the music controls on the UI, once the play button in selected the tonearm is automatically deployed from the resting position to the platter to begin playing the music. The first few seconds of the music is automatically used for AI music recognition. Once the song is identified, the lyrics, album art and other useful details about the songs is displayed on the UI.
Team Members
Daniel Henneh

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