Pro-Ject Audio Systems has added a new series to its revered turntable range. The Automat range is the first fully automatic turntable series from Pro-Ject. Its inaugural product, the A1 (SRP £369.00), is available in the UK now.
Since 1991 Pro-Ject has been offering high-quality audio products at affordable prices for discerning music lovers. Pro-Ject has always produced its turntables in Europe to the highest production standards. The A1 sees Pro-Ject expanding into a new, vastly experienced German production facility that has been producing automatic turntables for decades. This commitment to European production allows the A1 to deliver the same expected high standards as all other Pro-Ject models.
Henley Audio exclusively distributes Pro-Ject Audio in the UK and the ROI. Please see the following pages for the A1’s key standout features and UK pricing.
A1 features include:
- 8.3in aluminium tonearm with carbon fibre reinforced anti-magnetic headshell
- Built-in switchable Moving Magnet (MM) phono stage
- Damped metal platter for decreased wow and flutter
- Dust cover included
- Electronically controlled playback speeds (33 and 45 RPM)
- Fully automatic turntable system
- Gold plated RCA output connectors
- Pre-adjusted Ortofon OM 10 cartridge with elliptical stylus profile
- Precise mechanics for automatic start/stop system
- Premium semi-symmetrical Connect-IT E phono cable included
- Resonance-damped wooden chassis
- Specially designed turntable feet with silicon damping
A1 technical information:
- Dimensions (w x h x d): 430 x 130 x 365mm
- Drive Principle: Belt drive / Fully automatic
- Effective Arm Length: 211mm
- Included accessories: 15V DC / 0.8A power supply / dust cover / 7in single adapter / Connect-IT E phono cable (pre-fixed) / felt mat
- Overhang: 19.5mm
- Platter: 300mm, aluminium platter with damping ring
- Power consumption: 1.5W
- Signal to Noise: 65dB
- Speed Drift: 33: +/-0.75%; 45: +/-0.65%
- Speeds: 33 / 45
- Tonearm: 8.3in aluminium tonearm with carbon fibre reinforced headshell
- Weight: 5.6kg net
- Wow & Flutter: 33 = 0.27% / 45 = 0.25%
Pricing and availability:
- A1: £369.00 (SRP)
- Available in the UK from February 2022 in Black finish
Pro-Ject Audio A1 in detail
The A1 uses proven technologies to deliver a premium “automatic” turntable system. The first model in Pro-Ject’s Automat turntable series presents class-leading sound alongside an effortless user experience, making listening to vinyl records in high quality more straightforward than ever before.
Users can expect elegant and minimalist aesthetics while adhering to purist audiophile standards to provide the best possible sound. Essential here is Pro-Ject Audio’s use of premium, anti-resonant materials and technologies throughout. From its sturdy wooden base sat upon four silicon-damped feet to its damped metal platter and reinforced headshell, every part of the A1 works to keep unwanted resonances away from the musical signal for perfect playback.
Its fully automatic belt-drive system sets the A1 apart from Pro-Ject Audio’s range. This automated technology, originally developed and produced by Alfred Fehrenbacher GmbH in St. Georgen in the Black Forest (Germany), delivers a quiet, efficient, and reliable fully automatic experience at 33 and 45 RPM. The system is entirely mechanical, avoiding the need for extra built-in electronics, and is wholly disengaged when the record is playing, allowing the turntable to perform flawlessly, without interference. Just set the playback speed, push START, and the A1 takes care of the rest.
The built-in moving magnet (MM) phono stage brings further convenience, meaning the A1 is ready to connect into almost any audio system with a LINE or AUX input available. And by making the phono stage switchable, those with systems that already have or wish to upgrade to an external phono pre-amp can bypass the built-in option.
The A1 features a sturdy, low-mass aluminium tonearm finished with a carbon fibre reinforced headshell, ideally suited to Ortofon’s popular OM cartridge range. The supplied OM 10 cartridge with its elliptical diamond stylus profile is pre-aligned and pre-set for tracking-force, allowing for “plug and play” playback of the turntable out of the box. The OM range also offers several stylus upgrades to enhance the system’s sound.
The A1 is a pure Pro-Ject product. Made in Europe to exacting standards to achieve a stylish aesthetic and a first-class sound, it is incomparable on the market. Supplied with a detachable dust cover and Pro-Ject’s popular Connect-IT E turntable-ready RCA phono cables in the box, this is as near to plug-and-play convenience as you can get while still experiencing an authentic hi-fi sound.
The Pro-Ject A1 is available now in the UK, priced at £369.00 (SRP).