John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged turntable · everything

www.henleyaudio.co.uk

Henley Audio | Pro-Ject Announce a new standard in Entry-level | Welcome to Henley Audio

Pro-Ject's new E1.2 is a £249 fully manual turntable that strips away modern conveniences like Bluetooth and USB to focus on core analogue sound quality, drawing philosophical inspiration from the company's original 1991 turntable that helped spark the vinyl revival. The deck features significant upgrades over its predecessor including a heavier die-cast aluminium platter with damping, an improved sub-platter, and a new low-mass cartridge with neodymium magnet, all mounted on a rigid composite fibre plinth and handmade in Europe. Pro-Ject positions it as an accessible entry point for newcomers to vinyl that pairs with modern integrated amps and active speakers already equipped with phono stages, backed by a 25-year spare parts guarantee.

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Pro-Ject Audio Systems

E1.2 – Pro-Ject Audio Systems

The E1.2 is an entry-level turntable handmade in the Czech Republic that arrives pre-adjusted and ready to play out of the box, featuring a premium MM cartridge, heavy 730g die-cast aluminum platter, and CNC-machined tonearm designed to deliver warm, smooth sound without requiring technical setup. It's available in three variants—standard, with built-in phono preamp, or with Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity—and comes in multiple finishes including wood, black, and white, with optional satin color options for the Bluetooth model. The design prioritizes simplicity and quality components over complexity, emphasizing solid engineering and low background noise at an accessible price point.

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Kanto Audio

www.nytimes.com

Outgrown Your Starter Record Player? Here’s How to Shop for a Quality Turntable.

Belt-drive turntables are cheaper and isolate the platter from motor vibration but require periodic belt replacement, while direct-drive systems offer consistent speed and superior reliability at higher cost, with DJs favoring them for their precision. Beyond motor type, buyers should consider whether they need a built-in phono preamp (convenient for beginners, but external preamps offer more flexibility), the quality of the phono cartridge (which significantly affects sound and is replaceable), and optional features like Bluetooth connectivity (which digitizes the signal but adds flexibility) and USB digitization capability. Ease-of-use factors like speed adjustment, tonearm tracking force adjustment, cue levers, and auto-return functions vary by model and should match your priorities and listening habits.

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www.nytimes.com

How to Connect Your New Turntable to Any Audio System

Connecting a modern turntable to contemporary audio systems requires understanding the phono preamp, a specialized component that processes the turntable's signal before it reaches speakers or headphones. The specific connection method depends on your equipment: receivers and some powered speakers have built-in phono preamps for direct connection, while Bluetooth turntables offer wireless streaming, and Wi-Fi speakers require either analog connections or additional devices like music streamers to avoid costly intermediaries. The article walks through each scenario—from traditional receivers to wireless headphones to Sonos systems—explaining which components you need and where potential bottlenecks occur, such as needing a standalone phono preamp when neither your turntable nor speakers have one built in.

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www.gearpatrol.com

How to Build a Hi-Fi Turntable System for Less than $1,000

The piece explains that vinyl's resurgence has made it easy and affordable to build a complete turntable system, breaking down the four essential components (turntable, phono preamp, amplifier, and speakers) and how they work together. It then presents three different budget-friendly system configurations under $1,000, each combining components in different ways: an integrated turntable paired with a wireless powered speaker, a turntable with separate external preamp and powered speakers, and a turntable with an integrated amplifier and passive speakers that allows for future upgrades.

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www.gearpatrol.com

The Complete Guide to All of Pro-Ject’s Excellent Turntables

Pro-Ject, an Austrian company founded in 1991, manufactures turntables ranging from budget-friendly entry-level models ($300–$500) to ultra-premium audiophile systems (over $16,000), all designed around the founder's goal of making high-quality vinyl playback accessible across price points. The company achieves competitive pricing by producing most components in-house across facilities in Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, and integrating its own phono stages, DACs, and amplifiers directly into turntables. The guide walks through Pro-Ject's major product lines—from the E1 and Primary series for beginners, through mid-range options like the T Series and Debut line, to high-end alternatives like the RPM Carbon and X Series, concluding with premium offerings like the Signature series for discerning audiophiles.

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