Daniel J SaitWith the new T2 W, Pro-Ject is venturing into the world of quality Wi-Fi streaming turntables. Based around an upgraded version of the popular T1 turntable design, this new model is equipped with wireless technology.
Priced at £899.00 and available from September 2023, the T2 W is a full-feature turntable, boasting a precision engineered aluminium tonearm with a Sumiko Rainier cartridge pre-mounted and a thick glass platter.
The manufacturer also claims that it is also one of the “smartest” turntables available today thanks to its built-in Wi-Fi technology, allowing users to playback your vinyl records throughout their home reliably and in high-quality.
The T2 W combines a tried and tested turntable with UPnP streaming technology. This feature is a first for Pro-Ject Audio Systems and enables seamless streaming to a wide range of modern network-enabled devices, including network streamers, home theatre receivers and contemporary streaming loudspeakers. Such versatility means the T2 W can easily fit into a living space as it does not need to be next to any other audio equipment.
The T2 W boasts the latest WLAN standards and 2×2 MIMO for faster transmission speeds and greater stability and reliability. This is all handled and managed by a multi-core CPU that has been over-specified for greater reliability.
This advanced technology allows the T2 W to send signals up-to 24-bit, 48kHz lossless compression, but there is also a lossy transmission option for wider compatibility with other devices. The streaming technology is also multi-room capable, meaning users can send audio to many zones all at the same time, without degradation. For ease of use, all these streaming features can be controlled by the new Pro-Ject Control app.
The T2 turntable is based around a stylish CNC-machined plinth that has been expanded in size to enhance stability and is available in three stylish finishes, including Gloss Black, Satin White, or Walnut. The core construction is free of plastic and has been carefully manufactured to ensure there are no hollow spaces inside, avoiding unwanted vibrations within the finished product.
Mounted inside the plinth is a high-performance belt drive system featuring an electronically regulated, precision-speed AC motor, attached to Pro-Ject’s finely engineered T-Line sub-platter, which is inserted into a stainless-steel axle/brass-bushing main bearing. The sub-platter drives the new heavy, zero-resonance glass platter with absolute stability, ensuring an ideal playback surface for vinyl records.
The tonearm on the T2 W is a new 9” model featuring a one-piece aluminium tube and an improved low-friction gimble bearing assembly and spring-loaded anti-skate mechanism for total accuracy in use.
Mounted with the Sumiko Rainier cartridge for great sound out of the box, the tonearm is also pre-set for downforce and anti-skate settings, so there is no need for any complicated set-up.
The T2 W features a new built-in dual-stage, split-passive moving magnet phono pre-amplifier. Rivalling the technology employed in some external phono stages, this built-in solution guarantees true hi-fi stereo sound, and ensures the signal that gets passed on to the digital wireless transmitter is of the highest quality.
The T2 W is supplied with a removable dust cover, felt mat and Pro-Ject’s premium Connect it E Phono RCA cable for a quality connection to an existing hi-fi system.
As well as Wi-Fi connectivity, the turntable can also be connected to the network via the high-quality ethernet port included next to the RCA outputs.
The T2 W is available through Henley Audio in the UK.