Audioplant record player – Fabian Reimann

Audioplant record player
Master degree project

2022

Lund University
School of Industrial Design

The record revival shows what we - and especially young people - genuinely seek in our digital and material worlds: real and valuable experiences that stand the test of time. Audioplant is a record player for the new generation of vinyl listeners. Combining decades of turntable construction with the requirements of a new audience results in a modern new vinyl experience.

No one would have thought that the vinyl would be making a comeback. But the last 15 years have seen a consistent rise of vinyl sales in all major markets around the world. Vinyl has been so popular in recent years that manufacturers can not keep up with the demand.

But why vinyl?

Generation Y and Z are living in a digital world accustomed to streaming music whenever wherever. Listening to music takes no effort anymore and became the new normal.

Yet Gen Y and Z are the main driver for the comeback of the vinyl record. They have a longing for an authenthic music experience; the inconvenience of the large format and the tactility of an actual analog piece of music.

The revival shows what we want to see more – experiences that hold their value and endure.

Prototyping

A common and cheap record player was bought and dissassembled to understand the construction, functionality and faults of mass-produced record players.

Proof-of-concept

A simplified version of the vertical record player concept was build as a proofof-concept to test the ability of the vinyl record to spin freely and at the correct speed.

Connectivity

Audioplant can be a completely cableless experience; the integrated Bluetooth lets ou stream music to an external speaker or headphones. Plenty hours of music listening is guaranteed with the rechargable battery.

For an even besser music experience you can use the RCA cable output and turn off the integrated Pre-Amp.

Speed

Two spinning speeds can be chosen (33 1/3 and 45 RPM) by simply moving the belt on the back of the platter.

Tonearm

The linear tonearm system moves laterally in the lower aluminium profile. Once in position it lowers on the spinning vinyl with the right amount of tracking force.

Model-making

A mockup of the Audioplant record player was built for the MA degree project exhibition in June 2022.

MA degree exhibition in Lund, June 2022