modern audio player restores the physical form of music using disc-shaped cartridges

disc-shaped cartridges for modern, portable audio player

ENSA P1 aims to restore the physical form of music by becoming a modern, portable audio player that uses disc-shaped cartridges. Designed by Vladimir Dubrovin, the concept project imagines bringing back the CD feel to the digital tracks, but in the most modern way possible still. The designer plans to make the device run on C-NAND systems, which are disc-shaped solid-state cartridges, each one holding a full album. 

It’s similar to a vinyl record, but the tracks are in a USB drive. It has no moving parts inside, so it’s totally digital in how it stores sound. But it has a physical shape users can hold, flip over, look at, and collect, so in a way, the designer is asking: what if digital music had a physical body? In the streaming era, listening has become more about scrolling and less about switching the CDs to listen to a completely new album. ENSA P1 attempts to revive that.

all images courtesy of Vladimir Dubrovin

ENSA P1 attempts to revive the physical form of music

While it is a concept project, the modern, portable audio player sits in the palm comfortably. It’s rectangular with rounded corners, silver and grey, and it has a small disc sitting right in the middle of it, visible through a clear window. On the left side of the device, there’s a tiny screen showing a track name and playback controls. On the top, a dark circular element sits like a camera lens or a speaker grille. The modern, portable audio player resembles a CD player, a hard drive, and a piece of industrial design combined together in one pocket-sized device.

The body of the ENSA P1 by designer Vladimir Dubrovin appears to be made from aluminum. The mini display visualizes the track’s rhythm, just like in the old days, for a multisensory design approach in bringing back the physical form of music. The disc sitting visible in the modern, portable audio player isn’t just for design. Somehow, it’s a testament that says ‘here’s your music,’ a refreshed era where the face of music, an actual one, exists. 

the designer plans to make the device run on C-NAND System

detailed view of the bottom part

detailed view of the bottom part

there’s a tiny screen showing a track name and playback controls

the device fits in the hand

view from the top

rear view of the device

project info:

name: ENSA P1

design: Vladimir Dubrovin