Vintage Record Players (Design-forward)

Design-forward vintage record players. One of my many special interests. So much to cover, so little time and space. First and foremost let's mention the one I used as the primary photo/link here. The Brionvega Radiofonografo. Just the coolest. You'll notice immediately that it looks like a little robot face, which justifies its cost alone. It's on wheels which is insanely convenient. It comes in a host of incredible colors and finishes. But most notably, it's speakers on the side fold up and over the record player itself to make the whole situation compact when not in use (as shown below). Amazing. I linked one that is the US (usually in Europe) for those who are particularly motivated. I had one, I sold it (for a profit) and have regretted it since. Fell in love with a walnut model in Italy recently but promptly let that dream go while calculating shipping costs.

There are so many other icons in the space. I'll mention them as three different types here. The icons, the hidden and the wall units. As far as icons go, the most notable I can think of are the 'Batman' bar, the Playbox, the Totem and Dieter Rams designed Phonosuper Radiogram. They're all stunning of course — the Batman has an 8-track cassette player, a radio, a record player and bluetooth but ALSO A FUNCTIONING FRIDGE with bar storage. The Playbox folds up into a beautiful wooden box that you would never know to be a record player of any type, the Totem does something similar but is much more dramatic when in use and the Phonosuper is nothing short of a design icon designed by a design icon.

Next we have the hidden. Record players concealed within other pieces of functional furniture. These are fairly common, though the beautiful examples are fewer and further between. I'm fond of this storage unit from Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler, this Scandi sideboard from Senderwahl, and this MCM unit from Siemens.

Finally, the peak of design record player categories — the wall units. These are the big daddies. What says I care about music and design like permanently fixing something to your wall. The two most iconic I know of are the custom Marcel Breuer Stereo Credenza and the Braun Wall System. Just perfection.