Groove Toca-Discos by Daniel Henneh is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award de Prata in Design de Dispositivos Digitais e Eletrónicos Competition Category.

PrataEletrónica de Consumo· 2025

Groove Toca-Discos

by Daniel Henneh

Client: Groove

A' Design Award de Prata Winner in Eletrónica de Consumo Category

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The Design

About Groove Toca-Discos

O Groove é um toca-discos que une a reprodução de vinil à tecnologia digital. O corpo é usinado a partir de um bloco maciço de alumínio anodizado e recebe componentes de aço inoxidável polido. Um projetor de curta distância exibe um menu, letras, capas de álbuns e detalhes das faixas em uma parede próxima. Quando um disco é colocado no prato, ele é detectado automaticamente e o braço é posicionado a partir de seu descanso. O reconhecimento musical identifica a canção nos primeiros segundos de reprodução. Um botão retrátil recolhe-se quando o aparelho não está em uso, mantendo a forma minimalista.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Prata

Groove Toca-Discos conquistou o A' Design Award de Prata, um reconhecimento extraordinariamente prestigiado atribuído a designs de topo de gama, deslumbrantes e impressionantes. Os vencedores da Prata são obras tremendamente brilhantes e extremamente criativas que ilustram a perícia, o talento e a acuidade excecionais dos seus designers. Espera-se que Groove Toca-Discos seja uma obra maravilhosa e de referência, notavelmente profissional e profundamente inovadora. Este design vencedor do A' Design Award de Prata é uma invenção muito notável e admirada, que beneficia e faz avançar as fronteiras da arte, da ciência, do design e da tecnologia. Groove Toca-Discos é uma criação imensamente invejada que desperta desejos, traz sentimentos positivos e faz nascer espanto e deslumbramento.

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