Groove Isidlali Zeerekhodi by Daniel Henneh

Groove Isidlali Zeerekhodi by Daniel Henneh is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award in Uyilo lweSixhobo seDijithali ne-Elektroniki Competition Category.

IsilivereI-Elektroniki yaBasebenzisi· 2025

Groove Isidlali Zeerekhodi

by Daniel Henneh

Client: Groove

Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award Winner in I-Elektroniki yaBasebenzisi Category

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Colors

The Design

About Groove Isidlali Zeerekhodi

I-Groove sisidlali seerekhodi esidibanisa ukudlalwa kwe-vinyl netekhnoloji yedijithali. Umzimba wenziwe ngokuqingqwa kwibhloko epheleleyo ye-aluminiyam eye-anodized kwaye ufakwe amalungu esinyithi esingakhange (stainless steel) esikhazimlisiweyo. Iprojektha yomgama omfutshane ibonisa imenyu, amagama engoma, umfanekiso wealbham kunye neenkcukacha zengoma kudonga olukufutshane. Xa irekhodi ibekwe kwipleyiti ejikelezayo, ifunyanwa ngokuzenzekelayo kwaye ingalo yesidlali (tonearm) iphuma kwindawo yayo yokuphumla. Ukuqondwa komculo kuchonga ingoma kwimizuzwana yokuqala yokudlalwa. Iqhosha elijikelezayo elirhoxekayo liyangena xa isidlali singasetyenziswa, ligcina imilo ilula.

The Recognition

About the Ibhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award

Groove Isidlali Zeerekhodi ngumphumeleli weIbhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award, ukuqatshelwa okuhlonitshwayo ngokungaqhelekanga okunikwa imiyilo yomgangatho ophezulu, entle nechukumisayo. Abaphumeleleyo beSilivere ziimveliso ezikhazimlayo kakhulu nezidala kakhulu ezibonisa ubungcali obuphawulekayo, italente nobukrelekrele babayili bazo. Groove Isidlali Zeerekhodi iyathenjwa ukuba ibe ngumsebenzi omhle womzekelo, onobungcali obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha ezinzulu. Lo myilo uphumeleleyo weIbhaso Lesilivere le-A' Design Award yimveliso ebonakalayo kakhulu, ethandwayo enceda kwaye inyusa imida yobugcisa, inzululwazi, uyilo kunye nobuchwephesha. Groove Isidlali Zeerekhodi yimveliso enomona omkhulu kuyo evusa iinqwenelo, izisa iimvakalelo ezintle kwaye ivuselela ukumangaliswa nokumangala.

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