Turntable Reviews

Pro-Ject's $299 Essential costs 25% less than the recently reviewed Carbon. So what don't you get for your minus $100?

A great deal actually, beginning with the Ortofon 2M Red. The Essential comes with a pre-installed Ortofon OMB 3E, which I could not find sold as a separate product. The least expensive Ortofon in the line that I could find was the $59 OM 5E. So the 3E obviously sells for less. Nonetheless it has an output of 4mV, a relatively high compliance (20µm/mN) and an elliptical stylus. Recommended tracking force is 1.75 grams

The Carbon's metal platter gives way to one of MDF weighing in at 1 3/4 pounds. Yes an MDF platter, and a thin particle board plinth said to be "resonance optimized," supported by three rubber feet, with drive via a supple, white silicon O-ring that fits around the platter periphery and over the two step pulley atop the AC synchronous inboard motor.

The arm is Pro-Ject's 8.6 Unipivot featuring an aluminum tube and a hardened steel bearing with restricted play in the azimuth angle. The dropped counterweight lowers the center of gravity and adds stability. Azimuth is adjustable via a small allen screw atop the bearing housing that when loosened allows you to easily rotate the arm tube, but curiously, the instruction manual, like that of the Carbon, neglects to mention the azimuth adjustability feature.

Unlike the Carbon's arm, the Essential's does not feature an integral tracking force gauge, but Pro-Ject supplies a reasonably accurate plastic one. Anti-skating is of the thread/weight variety.

Significantly at this price point, the platter rides on a chrome plated stainless steel axle sitting on a polished steel bearing within a bronze sleeve. While it's of small diameter, such construction is unusual at this price point.

The 'table comes complete with a dustcover, hard-wired RCA cables, "Wall-wart" type outboard power supply and a felt platter mat. Even the felt mat is a thinner edition than the Carbon's.

Overall build quality is very good considering the price and the packaging is up to Pro-Ject's current high standards. Look, you can't expect miracles for $299 but compared to the plastic dreck out there, not to mention the shlock "nostalgia" turntables from Crosley, this one is a serious turntable, that if used correctly will safely play your precious LPs until you can afford something else.

So, how did it sound? Quieter than expected, with better speed stability than expected as well. The biggest loser was the bottom end. It was (also as expected) soft and lacking in punch and especially physical definition. Dynamics were, well weak and overall detail was lacking.

The sound was generally pleasant, though, with the only annoying quality being a bit of midband "bump" that added a slightly hazy quality to the proceedings.

Here's the thing: Pro-Ject was obviously trying to give folks a serious, well-made turntable for as little as possible and in that they have succeeded. However, the Carbon for $100 more is way better than $100 better. Listening to the Carbon without being able to see it, you'd never know it was a $399 turntable. But listening to the Essential without seeing it, you'd know it was inexpensive (not "cheap").

Look $100 is $100 and for many that's a considerable amount of money. Certainly it's enough to buy a few of the very decent budget prices phono preamps like ones from NAD and Audio Technica so I don't mean to be dismissive, but unless you are really strapped for cash and are really in need of a vinyl fix and you don't have a turntable, I really suggest saving and waiting until you can afford The Carbon.

The Carbon is not just somewhat better sounding, it's muchbetter sounding and I bet with the addition of the Pro-Ject Speed Box speed controller and the additional cost acrylic platter, it can compete with far more expensive turntables.

That said, the Essential makes for a great starter turntable for the kids. The tonearm will take good care of the records you hope they'll be spinning throughout their lives as you have done throughout yours.

As with the Carbon, Pro-Ject offers an additional cost USB version with built-in phono preamplifier.