If you’re a hardcore audiophile or have a few hardcore music lovers in your life, then you know a true blue audiophile just needs a bunch of amazing audio devices to set his/her mood. All an audiophile needs is a collection of impressive audio designs to blast out their favorite tunes. Whatever your musical need may be, it is integral to own clear, distortion-free, nifty, and interactive audio devices. And if you manage to get retro-themed music players, then it’s a whole new experience for you! Retro-style music players take you to an era gone by while maintaining some modern functionality. And, we’ve curated a collection of our favorite retro music players for you. These gadgets are wonderfully retro-esque, they have been imbibed with modern functionality. Their aesthetics may be from their past, but their utility is embedded in the future.
1. Black Wheel
Named Black Wheel, this one-of-a-kind innovation is the latest iteration of the stunning Wheel design by Miniot. The turntable cleverly conceals the electronic and mechanical components beneath the record, which stores all the varied parts within a thin circular yet sturdy body, which vanishes once you put a record on.
Why is it noteworthy?
When placed upright, the Black Wheel creates a pretty apparent illusion. It features a minimal and classy charm that attracts you instantly, even when placed horizontally. It includes a unique control system that can be felt but not seen.
What we like
- Equipped with a thin and compact body that doesn’t alter audio quality
- Features a space-saving design
What we dislike
- It has an old-fashioned charm which may not appeal to users of modern products
2. SP3000T
Say hello to Astell&Kern’s latest portable music player, which attempts to bring a modern device that looks retro on the outside but partially retro on the inside, creating a device that merges the past and present. Called the SP3000T, this device features a retro twist, since it incorporates dual vacuum tube amplifiers on the back.
Why is it noteworthy?
The tube amps aren’t just for sure, they function the way tube amps did in the past. They provide the device with an analog appearance and sound, offering a unique audio quality that is warm and pretty soothing, something that cannot be achieved by only digital sound.
What we like
- You can switch between analog tube amplifiers and the digital op-amp mode
- Equipped with 8GB of memory
What we dislike
- Too large and heavy for a portable player
- Expensive price tag
3. FUTURAHEAD Headset
Say hello to the FUTURAHEAD headset, which provides a whole new music-listening experience. These conceptual headphones feature a digital screen that has been integrated into the outer shell to display playlists, videos, the user’s mood, as well as the rhythm of the music, genre, or images. The square shape of the cans is inspired by the retro design of headphones of the past.
Why is it noteworthy?
With the FUTURAHEAD headset, Olga wanted to create a product that merges retro looks and modern tech, while ensuring the functionality is top-notch. According to the designer, “Future Nostalgia as a visual style became a source of inspiration for this project.”
What we like
- Amped with peppy details, and charming aesthetics
What we dislike
- If you’re a private person, you may not like the fact that the music you’re listening to is being displayed on the digital screen
4. LEGO Radio
This LEGO Radio is the perfect retro-themed music player! It cannot play your local radio station, but you can play the pre-recorded tunes that come along with it. You can turn on the dial, and Spotify and Apple Music too. It is equipped with an extendable antenna and tuner window to offer some old-school feelings.
Why is it noteworthy?
The adorable LEGO Radio is functional and it is amped with Apple Music/Spotify support. It has a lovely color palette which elevates the whole nostalgic aesthetic. It is 13 inches high, 9 inches wide, and 2.5 inches deep.
What we like
- Features a stunning vintage-inspired green and beige palette
- You can connect your smartphone in the hidden compartment on the back, and play your fav tunes
What we dislike
- It doesn’t have an actual transmitter to play live radio stations
5. Portable CD Cover Player
Say hello to the Portable CD Cover Player – a minimal CD player with a lovely retro design that provides an excellent listening experience, with the pleasure of pretty visual art. You can put in the CD jacket or sleeve within the specially-designed pocket, and showcase your favorite CD with pride.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Portable CD Cover Player is essentially the physical equivalent of showcasing digital album art, with the extra benefit of being able to showcase your physical original CD.
What we like
- Portable and easy-to-carry product with a 40mm full-range speaker and woofer unit
- Equipped with a powerful battery which offers 7-8 hours of top-notch audio
What we dislike
- You cannot sync it with any digital medium, it only supports analog music listening
6. Battery-free Amplifying iSpeakers
These are the Battery-Free Amplifying iSpeakers, and they’re portable and battery-free. This iPhone speaker is a novel and exciting version of the conventional no-power smartphone speaker. It is made from metal, making it pretty functional and valuable, unlike typical speaker designs you see nowadays.
Why is it noteworthy?
The speakers are built from Duralumin – an aluminum alloy that is used in aviation and aerospace industries since it has vibration-resistant properties. You can place the smartphone into the speaker, and the sound surrounds the room and you.
What we like
- Does not require any power, and is electricity-free
- Minimal, sleek, and unique aesthetics
What we dislike
- Incompatible with bulky smartphone covers and cases
7. Retio
This stunning retro speaker is called Retio, and it is made using vintage Nixie tubes, creating a gadget that beautifully blends past aesthetics with modern utility. The Retio serves as a Bluetooth speaker and a clock. It features Nixie tubes that were made during the 70s to 90s, adding a hint of retro-ness to the product.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Retio is a portable product amped with 6 hours of playback time. It is powered by a 6800mAh battery, and the Nixie tubes have an impression lifespan of 22 years. The speaker is equipped with a powerful 10W Class-D amplifier and has been created with meticulous care and attention to detail.
What we like
- Perfectly merges the past with modern functionality
- Hand-crafted and amped with steampunk flavor
What we dislike
- The numbers for the clock are difficult to read from a distance
8. Floating Record
Called the Floating Record, this high-performance turntable plays your record vertically, with the help of built-in full-range stereo speakers. It features a walnut wood base and a Carbon Fiber tonearm. It is made using high-quality materials, which add a whole new level of class to your living space.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Floating Record is essentially turntable tech reimagined to create a visually and mechanically interesting way to experience vinyl music. It is a must-have for all the vinyl lovers out there – ranging from the first-time record listener to the seasonal vinyl enthusiast.
What we like
- No external gear is needed, it’s all integrated into the design
- Perfectly blends with different interiors and environments
What we dislike
- The turntable is pretty fragile and can skip if you don’t position the record properly
9. VIBESPIN
Meet the VIBESPIN – a super cool portable record player. This compact record player is designed by vinyl lovers for all the vinyl lovers out there. It features an elegant and timeless design, amped with modern features and high-quality elements. It is the perfect turntable for camping trips, outdoor adventures, or even parties in your home!
Why is it noteworthy?
What makes VIBESPIN unique, is that it works well for the indoors and the outdoors. You can use it on a road trip, or if you’re simply chilling at home. It features a retro vintage design, and its style will bring to mind the image of a big 1950s car, despite this, the turntable is pretty lightweight and ergonomic.
What we like
- Occupies half the area of a 12″ record
- Among the smallest record players available today
What we dislike
- The stylus is pretty basic and doesn’t have a true aux out
10. iBoy Retro Toy
Designed by Classicbot, and called the iBoy Retro Toy, this adorable little product is a tribute to the iconic MP3 player. It features arms, legs, and earbuds for ears. He looks like a friendly little MP3 player! The Retro Toy can be used at home or in your office, adding a hint of nostalgia to both these settings.
Why is it noteworthy?
The iBoy features magnetic joints that support his arms and legs. He can be posed in any way you like. You can play around with the little toy, and get a whole bunch of poses, around a thousand! It serves as a helpful fiddling toy for when you’re stressed out, and need to distract and give yourself a little break,
What we like
- Functions as a toy for grownups with detachable and lifelike headphones
What we dislike
- The chrome gets easily scratched or scruffed