Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable with Electronic Speed Change and built-in Phono Preamp (Walnut)

Product Information

The T1 BT is supplied with a built-in Bluetooth transmitter to wireless transmit the sound to a Bluetooth receiver, such as wireless headphones. It also has a built-in phono stage for connection to a traditional hi-fi system. The Pro-Ject Phono SB is all about convenience in this area. The SB stands of “Speed Box,” and one of the notable features of the Speed Box is its easily ability to switch playing speeds. Personally, I’m a fan of acrylic platters (which is something you can find or upgrade to on other turntables), but a glass platter is certainly a nice option here. ProJect T1 vs T1BT vs T1 Phono SB So, on the T1 Phono SB, the front of the turntable features a switch that allows you to easily toggle between 33 1/3 RPM and 45 RPM speeds. How to Set Up the Pro-Ject T1:

An impromptu gathering of a few neighbors, has everyone joining in, playing a few records and marveling at how easy the T1 is to use. While the T1 makes a great start to your vinyl journey, I highly suggest that even seasoned audiophiles have one, for casual listening. And starting out your friends with one of these means that their records won’t get damaged either. Nearly everyone buying those cheapie tables is not doing their records a favor.Another difference worth noting is that the basic ProJect T1 does not have a built in phono stage. The ProJect T1BT and T1 Phono SB do indeed have a phono stage. We would've liked a bit more detail at the bottom end, as louder songs such as F.I.N.E. and Don't Get Mad, Get Even had a tendency to sound a little cluttered at times. However, the T1 excelled in the mid-ranges, with some of Joe Perry's fretwork sounding smoother than a cashmere codpiece; and the treble, while not always entirely crisp, was more than acceptable. Pro-Ject T1 review: The competition But there’s one company that’s been making turntables for decades, and with one of their latest product offerings, might just have found a perfect way to give consumers an audiophile experience on an affordable budget. If making those kind of adjustments is indeed important to you, you just might want to pay a little bit more money and get the ProJect Debut Carbon DC or the Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB.

I started Pro-Ject to bring as many people as possible to the world of hobby hi-fi, especially in the 1980s when CD players were extremely expensive and generally inaccessible,” said Heinz Lichtenegger, the founder of Pro-Ject Audio. “At this time, I realized that a good turntable could sound even better than a CD. However, there were no quality turntables available that were low cost. So, in 1991 I decided I had to make one.” Nearly 30 years later, the company is still known for audiophile-grade turntables at affordable prices.

T1

The T1 Line is one of Pro-Ject’s new lines of mid-range turntables. It is priced between the Essential and Primary lines, so it’s still relatively affordable. Still, one of the biggest reasons you’d buy a T1 Line over something else is its visuals: It has a striking platter made of tempered glass. It only comes in three models. There’s the baseline T1, which requires an external phono stage and a powered amplifier; the T1 Phono SB (above), which has a built-in phono stage; and the T1 BT, which also has a Bluetooth transmitter for connection to a powered speaker or AV receiver. The platter is made from medium density fiberboard and a wood-look veneer finish. While nicely built, the turntable is extremely light and doesn’t damp vibration as well as other turntables in the price range. Let’s start with the basics. The Pro-Ject is absolutely pitch stable and the noise floor via the built-in phono stage is sufficiently low (and the gain it offers sufficiently high) that normal listening levels are unlikely to result in any significant level of unwanted noise. What does this mean in reality? It means that the T1 can play - and really dig into - Paul’s Boutique by the Beastie Boys.

On the basic T1, to change the speed from 33 1/3 RPM to 45 RPM, you’ll have to lift off the platter and adjust the height of the belt on the motor pulley. The Classic is a traditional sub-chassis turntable designed for a user who needs to have their speakers close to the turntable, perhaps in a more restricted living environment," Heinz Lichtenegger says. "[It has] a nostalgic appearance with its retro design reminiscent of the 1960s and 70s, but upgraded with modern technology such as precision CNC’ed pulley, diamond knife-cut sub and main platters created for the highest precision, and sub-chassis isolation by modern rubber dampers (TPE, thermoplastic elastomers) instead of the traditional springs." That said, we are reviewing the base model T1, which means it doesn’t come with a phono pre-amp nor Bluetooth. DesignThe X Line is for people seeking the highest sound quality in a traditional design — including dustcover and hinges," Heinz Lichtenegger says. "From the X1, these units are ‘no compromise’ and 100-percent correctly designed turntables including all of the features an audiophile dreams of." To better help you, I’ve also created the interactive guide below, which will allow you to directly compare the Pro-Ject T1 to other notable record players on the market. Photo Pro-Ject would also argue the T1 is easier to set up than its Rega rival, and with that we couldn't disagree. It might only be the difference of 15 minutes or so spent gauging weights, but that could understandably be pivotal for those looking for an easy entry into great vinyl sound. Unlike many other turntables around this price, the Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB has all the elements of a proper hi-fi turntable - just at a lower price. Rather than plastic, the CNC machined plinth is made from MDF. This gives lower resonance for reduced distortion. Mounted to the plinth is a steel/brass bearing that’s the same as the award-winning Essential III and, combined with the new heavy glass platter, provides smooth and stable running for perfect pitch.

Well, it’s first important to remember that the Pro-Ject company has been making turntables for decades. They are the model of consistency when it comes to making affordable, high quality record players. The Pro-Ject T1 is classic Pro-Ject design with clean lines and no frills. The turntable houses a built-in belt drive motor and spindle, which should help with isolating some vibration from the motor.

Sound Quality

This is Pro-Ject’s pinnacle line. The Signature 10 (above) and the Signature 12 are high-end turntables that compromise nothing. They each have a mass-loaded sub-chassis, a floating turntable design and a unique S-shaped tonearm. They’re designed for the audiophile who is prepared to pay an extreme premium for a product with no caveats. One nice feature that the Pro-Ject T1 has that sets it apart from the competition is the glass platter. The platter is extremely well-made with a nice frosted finish on one side and a glossy finish on the other side. In the box is a felt turntable mat.