Finally!!! A Fully Automatic Turntable! All New Pro-Ject Automat A1 Turntable Review

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Subs

[petemcfeet]

Audiophiles are going to hate me, but I think fully automatic should be an option on every turntable no matter the price.

If you don't want it, you're a pure audiophile, fantastic. You don't need to have it. If you're like me and are willing to sacrifice a teeny tiny bit of sound quality because you happen to leave the room for a little while and don't want your needle spinning on deadwax for 39 minutes, or overnight because, well, fun happens! Let me have that option for $100, $200, hell even $1000 on a high ender!

[sfiori]

I hear you on the plastic parts. Although maybe not quite so plasticky is that according to features listed on Audio Advisor the head shell is carbon fiber reinforced.

[spacehopper]

How does it play 7 or 10 inch records? I see you can select speed but can it change record sizes? I wouldn’t say it was fully automatic if it only works with 12 inch records.

[chrisAclaes]

It’s so nice to have a reliable audio reviewer that doesn’t just gush about every product that they’re sent. Appreciate the nuance!

[thisisnev]

Ugh. Reminds me of the hideous BSR thing I had when I was 11. Things are going backwards! Compared to this effort, my old Panasonic SL-H350 is a Luxman.

[brianlewis]

The last automatic turntable, which I still have is my Technics Sl1600 MKII. I loved the convenience of not having to get up once the a record finishes playing. But I also love my manual turntables as well. It’s about time a manufacturer produce a product at a cost that will bring more people into the vinyl world.

[SyzygyNoon]

The PRO-JECT PLA-STICKY turntable.
When I was a kid, we had an automatic turntable. I guess I thought that’s how they would always be. It seems like a forgone conclusion. One step forward, two steps back.

[pittmanjt]

Scratching my head - the fully automatic Audio-Technica AT-LP3 has been around for 5 years, has a defeatable internal preamp, a universal headshell that will handle any ½” mount cart if you don’t care for the preinstalled AT91R cartridge, and a tonearm that lets you set the stylus pressure and anti-skating to suit whatever cartridge you choose. Stylus pressure on this Automat A1 is not adjustable and there’s no antiskating adjustment - both are permanently set. I have a vintage Technics p-mount turntable from the 1970s with the same tonearm features and I love it, but it is certainly nothing new.

I should mention that the Audio-Technica AT-LP3 sells for half the price of the Pro-Ject A1.

Sorry, not getting this “finally! Something new!” spin. And I don’t get why the A1 sells for twice as much as the AT-LP3. Clearly I’m missing something.

[jhschmidMD]

Yeah, exactly right - Finally! Now if only Fluance would make one as well

[johnstump]

Beautifully filmed and awesome music intro.
Very high class Randy!

[Extremesam]

Good video Randy. I've noticed that ALL the new generation of automatic turntables lack a "locking" tonearm rest. My belief is that for protection purposes it keeps the tonearm "free" in case it is accidentally turned on while in the locked position damaging the mechanism. If you remember back in the day, automatic turntables DID have the locking mechanism and how many times did it turn on while you were moving it and you'd hear this "clunk" underneath as the gears broke off like 15 teeth or so. Amazing for us, It usually still worked fine afterwards but owch! The Audio Technica AT-3 has an eyehole on the rest in which you can use a bread tie to secure it. I'm using the Denon DP300F and love it. It's in the same class as the A-1 but to me it's the best looking of all of them.

[peterlarkin]

Looks like a decent product. It's amazing how much more charm, functionality, and value 70's/80's turntables offer in comparison.... Providing they've been serviced.
I'll hang on to my Sony PS-T33, made in Nigeria in 1979:)

[Terry]

Hey Randy, don't sweat the cartridge. The Ortofon OM series stylus' are interchangeable from the OM Pro to the OM-30. The OM-30 is serious gear!
I like it. Hitting that start button looks addictive!

[TomEaglesHypnosis]

Fixed cable and factory unchangeable counter weight and anti-skating makes this one a no-go for me.

[gdemirjian]

Rather have the Fluance RT85 with auto off for $499 (I have the RT83). IMO, Fluance is the team to beat under $700. Love your reviews!

[spacehopper]

As someone who has 4 fully automatic turntables this new Project turntable looks very disappointing. If one is looking for a fully automatic turntable I’d urge anyone to buy vintage. Try a something like a Pioneer PL-630 or a Technics linear tracking deck instead.

[odwatchguy]

Thanks for the great review of the new Pro-Ject A1 turntable. I can see the tradeoff of convenience for the ability to change out cartridges and head shells, choose which camp fits what you want. I think there is some real competition at this price level.

[michaelwright]

I bought the Denon DP300F for this very reason, automatic, and you can change out the head shell too, which is very nice. It has been out for more than a few years, and as far as I can tell does just fine on my system. I am using the Schiit Mani phono preamp, I like the sound of it vs my Pro-Ject preamp. The Mani is a bit more lively, where the Pro-Ject is more laid back. I am using MC cartridges. Currently running the old Denon DL-160 MC cartridge. I have tried several others, keep going back to the Denon DL-160.

[homerjones]

I’d say this is perfect for someone who’s not going to fuss with it once they have it set up, and wants better quality than a low level Crosby or Ion. It’s great that you mentioned that it’s not very upgradeable for those who like to tinker - adding a separate preamp is about it, and that would probably help a lot. All it’s missing is the record stacker 😊.

[njmnyc]

Wow. A budget mid-80s DUAL-esque turntable "reinvented". Such an impressive achievement! Meh.