Waiting for Ideas Reinvents the Turntable as a Sleek, Minimalist Aluminum Statement

The PP-1 turntable strips vinyl playback down to its core, transforming it into a refined, tactile experience.

A Modern Tribute to Vinyl’s Ritual

Paris-based creative studio Waiting for Ideas has reimagined the turntable as a strikingly minimalistic audio centerpiece. Designed by Jean-Baptiste Anotin, the PP-1 is crafted from a single solid block of aluminum, offering a sleek, monolithic aesthetic that elevates vinyl playback to an almost ceremonial act.

Anotin, whose studio has worked across diverse creative disciplines—including retail design for Lacoste, Reebok, and Shinzo—approaches every project with the goal of telling a new story. With the PP-1, that story is one of precision, simplicity, and reverence for analog music.

A Design Rooted in Simplicity

The PP-1 turntable’s design is striking in its purity. The platter is recessed into the aluminum block, allowing records to sit seamlessly flush with the surface. This sculptural approach extends to a pair of matching speakers, designed with the same footprint as the turntable. The speakers can be stacked vertically, creating a totem-like arrangement, or placed separately for stereo sound. Wrapped in black fabric, they provide a bold contrast to the turntable’s raw metallic finish.

A Unique Approach to Vinyl Playback

Unlike traditional turntables, the PP-1 eliminates the visible tonearm altogether. Instead, the needle is hidden beneath a protective cover that opens automatically when a record is placed on the platter. This unconventional design requires users to position records face-up, playing the underside of the vinyl—a small but notable departure from the typical experience.

With no manual arm placement required, the act of playing a record becomes an even more fluid and intentional process. The turntable also features an automatic speed-detection system, which adjusts between 33 and 45 RPM formats, though the exact detection method remains undisclosed.

A Celebration of Vinyl as an Object

By stripping away unnecessary controls and visual distractions, Waiting for Ideas has reduced vinyl playback to its absolute essence. More than just a high-end record player, the PP-1 presents vinyl as an artistic and tactile experience—one designed not just for listening, but for feeling the music.

With its sculptural form, innovative playback system, and meticulous attention to materiality, the PP-1 isn’t just a turntable—it’s a statement piece for true vinyl enthusiasts.