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This Stunning Record Player Turns the Classic Vinyl Formula on Its Head

No tonearm? No problem.

Waiting for Ideas PP-1 turntableWaiting for Ideas

By Tucker Bowe

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This isn’t your average turntable. In fact, it’s far from it.

Waiting For Ideas, a Paris-based design studio, has revealed its first turntable, the PP-1, which has a stunningly minimalist design crafted from a single block of aluminum.

However, just as interesting as its design is how it plays vinyl — it defines most conventional logic and I’d wager that you’ve never seen a turntable quite like it.

Waiting for Ideas Turntable PP-1

Waiting for Ideas PP-1 turntable
The minimalist turntable is sculpted out of a single block of aluminum.
Waiting for Ideas

No tonearm, no problem

Aside from being sculpted out of a block of aluminum, the most striking thing about the PP-1 turntable is what it’s missing — there’s no tonearm. All the technology to actually play the vinyl is hidden from view inside the turntable.

The PP-1 stands for “Plug and Play 1” and just like its minimalist design, the turntable is designed to be easy to use. There aren’t any settings to adjust or intricate setup processes.

To play a vinyl record, you place it upside down on the turntable and press the play button. The PP-1 has a built-in sensor that automatically detects the record speed (it supports 33 or 45 RPM) and plays the record accordingly.

According to the brand, the PP-1 blends “digital ease with the depth of analog sound.”

Waiting for Ideas PP-1 turntable
Waiting For Ideas makes matching passive speakers for the PP-1 turntable.
Waiting for Ideas

Minimalist speakers to match

If you’re interested in the PP-1, you’ll probably want speakers to match … and Waiting For Ideas has made just that.

The company’s Passive Speakers are a custom-made pair of passive speakers that, according to the brand, are “designed to match the turntable’s sonic precision.” They have a minimalist design made of wood and high-end fabric.

Interestingly, they can be stacked on top of each other with the PP-1 then positioned on top of them, so you can get a single tower-shaped hi-fi setup. If you’re not into that, you can position the speakers on either side of the turntable in a more traditional stereo setup.

Waiting for Ideas PP-1 turntable
The speakers have the same footprint as the PP-1 turntable and can be stacked on top of each other.
Waiting for Ideas

External amplification required

The caveat is that you’ll still need an external amplifier to power the speakers. The brand says the amplifier should be able to deliver a minimum of 60-watts per channel (into 8ohms) to properly drive the speakers.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to find a matching amplifier with the same design footprint, and thus, it will be a bit of an outlier in the so-called stack.

It appears that the PP-1 has a built-in phono preamp and headphone amplifier — there’s a 3.5mm jack for connecting headphones and having a private listening session.

Waiting for Ideas PP-1 turntable
To play vinyl, you place the record upside down on the PP-1 turntable.
Waiting for Ideas

Price and availability

Waiting For Ideas will sell the Turntable PP-1 for €5,800 (approx. $6,050) and the Passive Speakers for €3,200 (approx. $3,450). You’ll be able to purchase the complete setup for €9,000 (approx. $9,350).

They’re available for order now. Each turntable and speaker pair is “made to order” and has an expected 12-week turn around time for shipping.

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