Pro-Ject has updated its beginner-friendly plug-and-play turntable: The E1.2 BT features a built-in phono preamp and streams vinyl wirelessly to Bluetooth speakers, headphones, or amplifiers. Other new features include a heavier aluminum platter and the pre-installed Pick it MM E cartridge.
Vinyl records and wireless playback don’t have to be mutually exclusive. With the new Pro-Ject E1.2 BT, the analog signal is amplified right in the turntable and then transmitted via Bluetooth 5.4 if desired. In addition to SBC, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive are also available as codecs.
Important: The Bluetooth module functions exclusively as a transmitter. The E1.2 BT therefore does not receive music from smartphones, but instead transmits the signal from the vinyl record to compatible playback devices. The classic wired connection is still possible via gold-plated RCA jacks and the included 1.23-meter phono cable.
New Aluminum Platter for the Pro-Ject E1.2 BT
Compared to the previous E1 model, Pro-Ject has replaced the plastic main platter with a newly developed die-cast aluminum platter. It weighs 730 grams and is re-machined and balanced after manufacturing. The increased mass is intended to stabilize the rotation and reduce unwanted resonance.
Beneath the main platter is a fiberglass-reinforced sub-platter made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The belt drive is powered by a brushed DC motor. The two speeds for singles and LPs—45 and 33⅓ revolutions per minute—can be switched electronically at the touch of a button. There is no need to change the drive belt.
The turntable spindle is made of stainless steel and rotates in a bronze bushing. Decoupling feet are designed to isolate mechanical vibrations from the surface on which the unit rests.
Pre-assembled Pick it MM E
Pro-Ject equips the 8.6-inch-long aluminum tonearm with the new Pick it MM E moving-magnet cartridge as standard. Its generator uses a small neodymium magnet and a conically ground diamond stylus.
A carbon-fiber-reinforced headshell is designed to reduce unwanted vibrations. The gimbal-mounted tonearm and the decoupled counterweight are already factory-adjusted. Pro-Ject also sets the tracking force and anti-skating before shipment. This means the E1.2 BT should be ready to play without any further adjustments.
The package also includes a removable acrylic dust cover, a single adapter, and the external power supply. The turntable, which is manufactured in Europe, measures 42 centimeters wide, 11.2 centimeters high, and 33 centimeters deep. It weighs 3.6 kilograms. Pro-Ject guarantees a supply of replacement parts for 25 years.
Pro-Ject E1.2 BT Color with a heavier housing
In addition to the standard version, Pro-Ject offers the E1.2 BT Color. Its denser and heavier cabinet, made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), is designed to suppress resonance even more effectively. The surfaces are hand-painted in satin-matte colors.
The available colors are Satin Black, Satin White, Satin Fir Green, Satin Golden Yellow, and Satin Steel Blue. The standard version of the E1.2 BT is available in high-gloss black or walnut.
The manufacturer lists a suggested retail price of 399 euros for the Pro-Ject E1.2 BT. The hand-painted color version costs 449 euros.
