Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Pro-Ject E1

The E1 is the most basic belt-driven record player in the E range by the Austrian firm Pro-Ject, handmade in Europe and supplied with an Audio-Technica AT3600L moving-magnet cartridge that is mounted and aligned at the factory. Its plinth is CNC-machined from composite fibre and buyers could choose walnut, satin white or a high-gloss black finish. The same chassis was also sold in variants carrying a built-in phono stage or a Bluetooth transmitter, whereas this plain E1 has neither. The US list price was USD 349.

Key specs that matter

Speed is chosen electronically between 33 and 45 rpm, with no need to shift the belt onto a different pulley step. Speed deviation is rated at 0.7% at 33 rpm and 0.6% at 45 rpm, wow and flutter of 0.25% and 0.23% respectively, while rumble sits 65 dB below the signal. A one-piece 8.6-inch tonearm tube of aluminium offers an effective length of 218.5 mm, an effective mass of 7 g and an overhang of 22 mm. The 300 mm platter is moulded from ABS polymer and carries a felt mat. An external 15 V DC, 0.8 A supply powers the deck, which draws 4.5 W at most. The plinth is 420 mm wide, 330 mm deep and 112 mm tall, and the whole deck tips the scale at 3.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

A silicone belt chosen for its damping links motor and platter, and the anti-resonant polymer platter is intended to keep record surface vibration low at this price. Downforce and bias compensation come preset from the factory, so the owner does not need a scale or protractor before the first record. Composite fibre was picked for the plinth because it is stiff and damps vibration and mechanical noise better than thin board. The box holds an acrylic dust cover on adjustable hinges, a 1.23 m RCA phono cable, the felt mat, a 7-inch adapter for 45 rpm singles and the power supply. In the US the warranty runs two years and can be extended to three by registering within four months of purchase.

Pairing

Because there is no internal preamplifier, the E1 has to go into an amplifier or receiver with an MM phono input, or into a separate phono stage that then feeds a line input. The fixed moving-magnet cartridge expects the standard 47 kohm MM load found on nearly all such inputs, and the included cable is long enough to reach a nearby amplifier on the same shelf. Buyers without any phono input would be better served by the E1 Phono version, which carries its own stage.

Alternatives

The Pro-Ject E1 BT is a sibling turntable on the same chassis that adds a Bluetooth transmitter for wireless playback to speakers or headphones.