At a price slightly above entry level, the Pro-Ject T1 BT could be your first vinyl player
- ChungT.
- Feb 20
- 5 min read
At the end of 2020, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that in the first half of 2020, vinyl record sales exceeded CDs for the first time since 1986, reaching US$232 million, accounting for 62% of physical music media sales. In the past, when people bought records, they were often limited by economic conditions and had to make choices and choose the records they liked. This process requires a lot of time to explore, listen and think, and ultimately form your own taste. The fun is actually comparable to listening to music itself. Today, however, music selection has become so easy to access on streaming platforms at virtually no extra cost that the process of gradually developing a taste is no longer that fun. In this case, when we want to develop new interests, music may be a direction worth exploring. It's not about obsession with material things, but how to build your own taste. Of course, vinyl records are unlikely to replace mainstream digital music in the future market, but they symbolize the music world's emphasis on humanity and taste.
When shopping for a turntable, you will find that there are many different types of information that can be used to assess the quality of the turntable, such as wheels, drive, direct drive, foundation, support table, tone arm, moving magnet cartridge, electromagnetic pulse, finger pressure, and shockproofing. These conditions may make people hesitate and fear regret, but as a user rather than a professional player, there is no need to worry too much. Let's leave these confusions to professional manufacturers to solve. Just consider your budget and the visual appeal of your product. When users gradually transform into players, information such as pricing, suggestions, theories, rules, etc. will become meaningless, and it is more reasonable to start from the user's perspective.
Pro-Ject Audio System from Austria is a black turntable player that released a timeless story in June 2019 - the T-Line turntable series T1, Designed to deliver true high-fidelity sound quality at an affordable price.
Elegant appearance, environmentally friendly concept
In 2018, the market is flooded with cheap plastic turntables, but the T1 turntable has no plastic in its base, platter, or tonearm. Pro-Ject CEO Heinz Lichtenegger isn't worried about small-scale intrusions into his massive product line, but rather that buying a cheap plastic "entry-level" turntable will give people a bad vinyl experience. Introducing the T1, a beautiful, high-performance, well-built, and competitively priced "plastic-free" turntable. The CNC-machined MDF base has no hollow spaces inside to avoid unwanted vibrations, the dedicated turntable feet isolate surrounding ambient vibrations with high fidelity, and the high-gloss black exterior finish (also available in Satin White and Walnut finishes) is excellent for a turntable at this price. The turntable features full-size sandblasted glass, a one-piece 8.6-inch aluminum tonearm, a drive system consisting of machined aluminum pulleys, precision flat belts, and a sub-platter mounted in an ultra-precision 0.001mm main bearing with a hardened steel shaft and brass bushing.
Also included is an ultra-shielded, semi-symmetrical, low-capacitance phono cable designed by Pro-Ject specifically for turntables; and an Ortofon OM 5E moving-magnet cartridge with an oval diamond stylus tip for high-fidelity playback.
You'd never know you were using a $599 turntable
The T Series is one of Pro-Ject’s most popular mid-range turntable series. It’s priced between the Pro-Ject Essential and Pro-Ject Primary series, and is very simple to set up, with an Ortofon OM 5E moving magnet cartridge pre-installed and preset for overhang and tracking, so you’ll be playing records right out of the box in just minutes. The overall tonal balance is satisfying. Bass frequencies aren’t the cleanest, most concise, or most detailed. Although slightly mild, it supports a smooth midrange that sounds clearer and wider. It treats the human voice in a generous and loving way. The price-performance ratio is unquestionable.
A little blemish, but no big deal
The speed of the T1 and T1 BT switches between 33 and 45 rpm, and unlike most turntables there is no simple switch to change the speed, you need to remove the glass platter, connect the belt drive to a different part of the motor pulley, and then put the glass platter back in place. That's fine if you don't have 45 rpm records; another issue is that there is no auto-stop feature, which many entry-level turntables have but is rare on more expensive turntables, meaning that when one side of the record ends and enters a blank area, the turntable will not stop spinning until you stop it manually. But when it comes to the “art of appreciating” music, there’s no need to be too convenient. Sit on the sofa, look at the cover, take a sip of coffee, turn the record every 20 minutes, and enjoy the humanized process, which can make you more immersed in the music.
Price & Details
T1 BT USD599
Bluetooth transmitter & direct Line or Phono output
T1 Phono SB USD499
Switchable Line or Phono out & 33/45 electronic speed selector
T1 USD449
pre mounted Connect it E RCA cable
Colors: Walnut, Satin White, High-Gloss Black
Included: Dust Cover, Connect it E Phono RCA cable, Felt mat
Dimensions: 415x100x355 mm (WxHxD) Weight: 3.8 kg
Brand Introduction
CEO Heinz Lichtenegger founded the brand in 1991 with the launch of the first Pro-Ject 1 turntable during the heyday of disc and CD players, with the goal of providing the best analog experience at an affordable price. In an era when digital audio media is on the rise and vinyl records are being declared obsolete and extinct, Heinz Lichtenegger has always believed in the simplest yet best way to enjoy music - the record player. To give as many people as possible access to a proper turntable, foster the beautiful hobby of listening to music, and provide a true stereo experience at the lowest possible cost. We want to give customers back the power to choose the products they need, rather than adding unnecessary features to them. Pro-Ject strives to meet the demands of the market by creating premium products of impeccable value, using only the finest parts and the best prices, and completely handcrafted in Europe. With cutting-edge technology and machinery, we are able to create visually pleasing products while still paying attention to the finest details. All turntables are handmade in the Czech Republic, from the smallest screws to the chassis, everything is done by our technicians, saving all costs, with the aim of providing customers with real value for money, a product of lasting value and meeting all their audio needs. With over 5,000 dealers in more than 80 countries, Pro-Ject is a global leader in vinyl turntables and micro high-end audio components.
Source Pro-Ject Website
Official Website https://shop.project-audio.com/
< Prices are for reference only. All prices are subject to the latest official prices. ＞
