The Pro-Ject E1 is a belt-drive turntable, a system that is considered quieter because the motors are separated and not directly connected to the platter like direct-drive decks. Its minimal design comes in white, black, and wood grain finishes (like my review unit), and is on par with many of the belt-driven turntables on the market, drawing its DNA from Pro-Ject’s long line of world-class turntables, including its award-winning Debut Carbon, which is still going strong as an audiophile-level turntable today. Overall, the Pro-Ject E1 is a gorgeous, well-built turntable in the Austrian company’s affordable sub-$500 entry-level range. Design and build Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends That said, I found that the basic force gauge protractor (that comes with most Pro-Ject turntables) worked pretty well and it didn’t take long to get everything balanced. ![]() For some reason, the counter weight and its rod was inserted into the tone-arm assembly backward (likely from the previous reviewer), and I had to balance it myself. Unless, like with my review unit, it doesn’t. Overall, the Pro-Ject E1 is a gorgeous, well-built turntable in the Austrian company’s sub-$500 entry-level range. But on the off chance that you need to set or reset the tracking force (the manufacturer’s suggested downward weight at which the stylus contacts the record’s grooves) or anti-skate setting (a light, outward force that counters the tonearm’s tendency to move inwards), whether at setup or down the road if you ever change the cartridge, then these tools are easy to use and will come in handy. Now, you shouldn’t need these at setup as all the E1 turntables come “plug and play” from the factory (I’ll get to that below). As with most turntables that don’t come in a suitcase, there’s some assembly required, and in the E1’s box, you’ll find everything you need, including the individually packaged platter, RCA cables with included ground wire, a 3.5mm-to-RCA adapter (for connecting to an AUX input or set of powered speakers), rubber belt, AC power supply with international adapters, dust cover, and a little Allen wrench for adjusting its stiff hinges.Īlso in the bag, Pro-Ject has thoughtfully included a force-gauge protractor and a paper cartridge alignment tool. Given Pro-Ject’s experience with making things simple for the uninitiated, it’s no surprise that the E1 Phono review unit I received was perfectly packed, easy to unpack, and had pretty much every doodad in a single bag. For my review, I tested the midtier E1 Phono. It’s worth noting that all three E1 turntables are identical, with the obvious differences - one doesn’t have a phono pre-amp, one does, and one has it plus Bluetooth connectivity. But like I said, this is where Pro-Ject excels, and to borrow from Pink Floyd, the E1 Series is yet another brick in its formidable entry-level turntable wall. But here’s the problem: Pro-Ject isn’t the only reputable deck maker vying for a piece of the budding record-collector pie, as it has to contend with the likes of Rega, Audio Technica, Fluance, U-Turn, Sony, and others to earn your dollars. They’re also a cinch to set up, making them perfect for newbies. The E Series combines good looks with decent components that deliver a surprisingly big sound. A range of three entry-level turntables - the $350 base mode E1, the $400 E1 Phono with built-in pre-amp, and the $500 E1 BT with all that, plus Bluetooth connectivity. Case in point: The Pro-Ject E Series is the company’s latest budget line that it launched in May 2022.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |