Pro-Ject Audio Systems has unveiled its Automat range of fully automatic turntable. The inaugural A1 (£369.00), is available in the UK now. The A1 sees Pro-Ject expanding into a new German production facility that has been producing automatic turntables for decades.
The A1’s fully automatic belt-drive system sets it apart from Pro-Ject Audio’s range. This automated technology, originally developed and produced by Alfred Fehrenbacher GmbH 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. 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.