Analog Gear News

Following a huge — and quite fun — display of their gear at High End Munich 2025, Pro-Ject have begun releasing some more new products that were seen at the big show including the E1.2 turntable, which was shown as part of the latest Pro-Ject Audio System E setups (the Phono ones, that is).

But we’re here today to talk more about that new table. Part of the company’s E-Line series, the Pro-Ject E1.2 is billed as being a plug-and-play turntable that takes the fuss out of assembly and setup. It ships with a factory-mounted, pre-aligned Pick It MM cartridge on the end of its pre-affixed tonearm (as seen above). The Pick It MM cart, which has a conical diamond tip, deploys a tiny neodymium generator magnet within its damped ABS body. Its design and construction are designed to reduce vibrations and unwanted colorations, Pro-Ject says.

To help with tracking, the arm’s headshell is carbon-reinforced for more stiffness, according to Pro-Ject. The tonearm’s gimbals are made of aluminum for increased mass, and they work with a “low-friction, pinpoint bearing,” as per Pro-Ject parlance. Its counterweight, which is TPE-decoupled, has a larger-than-typical diameter that’s reported to improve tonearm balance and tracking.

But wait, there’s more of that mass-heavy metal. A key part of this new table is its die-cast aluminum platter that’s specified to weigh more than 1.6lb. The Pro-Ject E1.2’s aluminum platter replaces the prior E1 table’s ABS polymer platter. For damping — and, presumably, to minimize ringing — it, too, has TPE damping, via a TPE ring on the underside of its outer circumference. To help protect LP labels — particularly when a record weight is in use — the platter has an extra indentation diameter on top to provide space for the record label during playback.

The belt-driven E1.2 turntable uses a glass-fiber–reinforced ABS subplatter in its design to enhance precision, the company says. And, according to Pro-Ject’s technical data, the E1.2’s bearing deploys a stainless-steel axle and ball in a bronze bushing.

Other fit-and-finish details are also considered, including a CNC-machined plinth made of a “rigid composite fiber” that has no hollow spaces and decoupled damping feet beneath. A toggle switch enables playback speeds of 33⅓ and 45rpm.

The Pro-Ject E1.2 comes in three finish options, all of which can be seen throughout this story: black, white, or walnut. As with other Pro-Ject turntables, the E1.2 is made by hand in Europe.

To our way of thinking, the Pro-Ject E1.2 turntable sounds like a solid option for music lovers and budding audiophiles alike — and/or those just getting back into vinyl — many of whom want a sonic upgrade but without a complicated setup, or breaking the proverbial bank. The E1.2 also sounds like a pretty good AP review prospect as well, so stay tuned for that development.

Finally, the SRP for the Pro-Ject E1.2 turntable is $499 U.S., or €329 across the Pond.

For more on Pro-Ject, go here.
For an authorized Pro-Ject dealer, go here.