Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Pro-Ject George Harrison Recordplayer

The George Harrison Recordplayer is a limited edition belt-drive turntable that Pro-Ject Audio Systems built with Universal Music Group around the former Beatles member. The base deck is the Essential III, and production was capped at 2,500 pieces worldwide at an MSRP of EUR 499 including VAT. Studio Number One designed the plinth graphics from an exclusive 2014 art-print lithograph that street artist Shepard Fairey created for the Harrison family. The design combines a portrait of George Harrison with Indian patterns and a drawing of an analogue mixing console placed below the clear platter.

Key specs that matter

Speeds are 33 and 45 rpm, selected manually on the pulley. Published speed variance is 0.70 % at 33 rpm and 0.60 % at 45 rpm, with wow and flutter of 0.21 % and 0.19 %. The platter is 300 mm acrylic and rides on a stainless steel spindle in a bearing held to low tolerances. The one-piece 8.6 inch aluminium tonearm uses sapphire bearings and gives 218.5 mm effective length, 22.0 mm overhang and 8.0 g of effective mass, and it accepts cartridges weighing 3 to 5.5 g. The tracking force range is 0 to 25 mN, with 18 mN specified for the pre-mounted Ortofon OM10. Maximum power consumption is 4.5 W. The deck measures 420 x 112 x 330 mm (WxHxD) and weighs 5.0 kg net.

Engineering and use context

The drive chain runs from a synchronous motor to a diamond-cut aluminium pulley and then through a silicone belt, which Pro-Ject chose for precise power transmission, to the platter. An integrated DC-powered motor control reduces motor vibration and keeps speed drift low. The chassis is resonance-insensitive MDF, while special decoupling feet support it. A power supply, a dust cover and a felt mat for the acrylic platter come in the box. Pro-Ject also includes its Connect it E cable, a semi-balanced phono lead terminated with gold-plated RCA plugs.

Pairing

With no phono preamplifier built in, the Connect it E lead must be plugged into an MM-capable amplifier stage or an outboard phono box. The release accompanied a George Harrison LP box set that covers his studio albums from Wonderwall Music (1968) to Brainwashed (2002), the 2-LP Live In Japan and two 12 inch singles, When We Was Fab and Got My Mind Set On You, available only in that box.

Alternatives

Pro-Ject's regular Essential III is the series production turntable on which this limited edition is based.