Waiting For Ideas crafts "monolithic" PP-1 record player from solid aluminium block

French creative studio Waiting For Ideas has developed a turntable with a minimalist aesthetic and simplified functionality to focus attention on the listening experience.

PP-1 is so named because of its straightforward "plug-and-play" design, which is operated by simply placing a vinyl record upside down on the turntable and pressing the play button.

Waiting For Ideas founder Jean-Baptiste Anotin wanted to strip the experience of playing records down to its essence so users can focus purely on the sound, without any concerns about complex processes or fragile parts.

"Today, music is often compulsively consumed, people do not take the time to listen anymore," Anotin told Dezeen.

"Vinyl, on the other hand, demands a ritual – a conscious act of selecting, placing and playing. The PP-1 was created to make this process as seamless and intuitive as digital streaming while preserving the tangible experience that makes vinyl special."

The turntable is manufactured from a solid piece of aluminium that is CNC milled to ensure precision and durability whilst providing the necessary weight and rigidity for optimal sound performance.

The metal is machined to achieve the desired sharp edges and clean form before being sandblasted to give it a smooth, matte feel. An anodising treatment is then applied to enhance durability, resist fingerprints and provide a uniform finish.

PP-1's simplified form is dictated by its functionality and was chosen to create a sense of permanence and quality.

Antonin was influenced by the approach of German designer Dieter Rams and iconic products such as Bang and Olufsen's Beogram 4000c turntable and Naoto Fukasawa's wall-mounted CD player for Muji.

"The PP-1 is designed to be as minimalist and monolithic as possible, like a sculptural object," the designer explained.

"It had to feel effortless to use, without the intimidation that, in my opinion, could come with traditional turntables – no exposed tonearm, no complex setup," he added.

"The goal was to merge form and function, making something that feels as natural to use as a digital device but as physical and engaging as analogue media."

Instead of the tonearm typically found on vinyl record players, PP-1 uses a unique underneath-reading system powered by technology from Dutch electronics brand Miniot.

When not in use, the stylus and mechanism are hidden behind a flap that opens when the play button is pressed. The stylus then rises up to track the grooves in the vinyl from underneath.

The device incorporates automatic speed detection that recognises whether a record should be played at 33 or 45 revolutions per minute.

Miniot's technology also enables navigation between tracks, using a sensor to analyse the record's position so listeners can move seamlessly between tracks.

The simplified interface comprises one play/pause button and another that can be used to override the speed detection if needed. Track navigation is performed using the play button, pressing twice for the next track and three times for the previous one.

Waiting For Ideas also developed a set of accompanying speakers with an identical footprint to the turntable. The three elements can be stacked to form a tower with the turntable on top or positioned side by side for optimal sound diffusion.

Other minimalist record players that have recently been featured on Dezeen include Jony Ive's redesign of the Linn Sondek LP12 to celebrate its 50th anniversary and an all-white turntable by Brian Eno that lights up in different colours.

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