Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Pro-Ject Pro-Ject E1.2 Turntable

Pro-Ject Audio Systems presents the E1.2 as a next generation E-Line record player aimed at a limited budget and handmade in Europe, replacing the earlier E1. The maker describes it as a plug and play deck whose tonearm is adjusted at the factory by its technicians, so the owner can play records without tools once it is unpacked. It comes fitted with the Pro-Ject Pick it MM E cartridge.

Key specs that matter

Speeds of 33 and 45 rpm are chosen with a single push button, and the belt drive uses electronic speed control. Quoted wow and flutter figures are plus or minus 0.23% at 33 rpm and plus or minus 0.21% at 45 rpm, with speed drift of 0.7% and 0.6%. Signal to noise is 65 dB. Arm geometry is 218.5 mm effective length, 7.0 g effective mass and an overhang of 22 mm. A 15 V DC, 0.8 A external adapter feeds the turntable, whose consumption is 4.5 W. It measures 420 x 112 x 330 mm (WxHxD) and weighs 3.6 kg net.

Engineering and use context

The ABS polymer main platter of the E1 was replaced by die-cast aluminium, with a recessed area for the record label and a TPE damping ring, and each platter is reworked and precision-balanced in an extra production step so that it spins evenly. It sits on a sub platter of glass fibre reinforced ABS. The platter bearing combines a stainless steel axle and ball in a bronze bushing. The tonearm is CNC-machined aluminium in a high mass gimbal design with a precision pinpoint bearing that Pro-Ject says has zero play, while a carbon-reinforced headshell reduces vibration. The oversized counterweight is TPE decoupled and placed closer to the pivot to improve balance. The Pick it MM E cartridge uses a low mass system with a miniature neodymium magnet, a conical diamond tip and a damped ABS body. Inside the CNC-machined plinth there are no hollow spaces, and damping feet decouple it from the surface to reduce the risk of acoustic feedback.

Pairing

Pro-Ject supplies its Connect it Phono E lead, a semi-symmetrical OFC copper cable with gold-plated RCA plugs and its shield connected at one end only. Because the cartridge is a moving magnet type and the standard deck has no internal preamp, it needs an MM phono input on the amplifier or a separate phono stage. A dust cover, a 7 inch single adapter, an Allen key and a cartridge alignment tool are included.

Alternatives

The Pro-Ject E1 is the earlier model of the line, fitted with an Audio Technica AT 3600 L cartridge and an ABS polymer platter.