A tonearm is an essential part of a turntable’s anatomy, naturally, we expect the best of turntables to have it. The PP-1 Turntable, created by Paris-based design studio ‘Waiting For Idea,’ comes without the tonearm as we have grown up to see it. If there is no tonearm, it means the turntable lacks a cantilever and stylus as well. The cartridge that houses the sylus is generally located on the tonearm, allowing it to follow the grooves of the record while playing. So, if the PP-1 lacks a tonearm, how does it work?
Well, the PP-1 is no ordinary turntable. It’s crafted from a solid block of aluminum and lacks much of the typical hardware you’d expect in a traditional device. As mentioned, it doesn’t have a tonearm, but that does not mean it’s without a stylus, or ‘needle,’ as some call it. As noted by The Verge, the PP-1’s elliptical diamond stylus and cartridge are placed on the platter and concealed behind a pair of metal doors that open and close.
According to the designers, users are required to place the vinyl record upside down, and the device takes care of the rest. The turntable is equipped with a built-in sensor that automatically detects the record’s speed (whether 33 or 45 RPM) and adjusts the playback accordingly to ensure optimal sound quality.
The turntable features two knobs, one for speed control (although it can auto-detect the appropriate speed) and the other for play, pause, previous, next, and volume adjustments. By stripping away conventional components like the tonearm, the PP-1 is as much an artistic statement as it is a functional audio device. No wonder then that it may remind some of the sleek monolith that appeared in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Anyways, the PP-1 can be positioned both horizontally or vertically, and the studio has designed a set of 80W companion speakers to go with it. The turntable is powered by USB-C and includes a 3.5mm mini-jack output. The PP-1 is available for €5,800 (around $6,000) on its own or for €9,000 (roughly $9,400) with the speaker pair.
Each unit is made to order. You can learn more about it on the Waiting For Ideas website. What’s intriguing here is the fact that the solid block of anodized aluminum requires about 12 weeks of production time to manufacture, which is actually why the turntable costs a whopping $6K. Is it meant for me? Well, I am not sure. It’s priced on the higher side; I could potentially get 20 MIXX Analog System 5 for that. But if you are a hardcore audiophile, it is definitely worth a try!
Follow Homecrux on Google News!
