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

Product Information

Enjoy the best sound you’re your vinyl, plus the benefit of Bluetooth output, with the Project T1 BT. While I wasn’t completely sure what to expect from the T1 once I had it up and running, I was fairly confident that it would be good. The Essential III is an absolutely brilliant turntable and even the cost effective Primary is a compelling listen. Even with this taken into account, the T1 was still able to spring some wholly pleasant surprises. 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. 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.

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: The Pro-Ject T1 is directly aimed at a very specific consumer. It wants to give you an audiophile experience—that is, no cheap parts inside the turntable, vibration absorbing feet, a quality tonearm, etc—but doesn’t want you to feel the need to have to spend a lot of money.

Outstanding build-quality

Listening to the Pro-Ject T1, sound quality was completely adequate but failed to capture the magic of recordings. Effortlessly simple to set-up and produces a highly engaging, accessible sound that really makes your records sing. Made in Europe, and featuring only premium materials – there is no plastic where it shouldn’t be, as every component part is made to the same exacting standards as far more expensive designs. ProJect have a passionate belief in the importance of true stereo sound, and their turntables are a key part of that. 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. 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. The Planar 1 doesn’t quite possess Pro-Ject’s ability to wrap its arms around you and hug; it’s a leaner performance, which musically we prefer, but might not sate those coveting a taste of home cooking.

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. That said, we are reviewing the base model T1, which means it doesn’t come with a phono pre-amp nor Bluetooth. Design In 2022, Pro-Ject released several new turntables in the X Line. This includes the X8 Evolution, which is a true high-end turntable that features many similar components as its ultra-high-end Xtension 9 and Xtension 10 turntables; as well as the X1 B and X2 B, which are newer versions of X1 and X2 turntables but with "truly balanced connections.")Like a well-designed watch, looks are important when buying a record player. An attractive turntable can liven up a room, and that's precisely what Pro-Ject Audio's T1 BT does. After entering my apartment for the first time in more than a year, my friend's first words were “Wow, that looks pretty.” But the model he was admiring is a redesigned version of the T1 BT from Houseplant, a new company from actor and comedian Seth Rogen and his creative partner Evan Goldberg that sells cannabis and cannabis lifestyle accessories.

The other changes are harder to spot but no less significant. Unlike every Pro-Ject turntable we’ve looked at before, the T1 has a platter and sub platter assembly. This means that the belt acts on the sub platter rather than the platter itself. This means that the motor can also be moved closer to the spindle which - in theory anyway - should help control unwanted oscillation. On a much more practical note, it means that fitting the belt on the T1 compared to the outer edge models is a complete and utter joy.With its standard Bluetooth output, the T1 BT opens up a whole range of new connection possibilities. Perfect for connecting to a Bluetooth speaker or a Bluetooth enabled hi-fi system, the wireless connection lets you place the turntable much further away from the system than would otherwise be possible. Plus, it’s clutter-free!

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 Okay, before we go further in this review, I’d like to briefly take some time to show you everything you need to know in terms of the Pro-Ject T1 setup. Think of this as a mini tutorial. My very first turntable was the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, and although I have upgraded since then, I still have a strong fondness for this record player.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. TheT1 BTfeatures a switchable Moving Magnet phono stage with Bluetooth transmission so you can output at Line level, Phono or wirelessly via Bluetooth. Going for broke, listening begins with a MoFi one-step version of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water. The T1 presents a solid musical foundation on this stellar pressing. That Ortofon OM-5 is a real sleeper and one of the best low key values in audio. Should you want just a bit more performance out of your T1, when the removable stylus needs replacing, you can put the stylus from an OM10 or OM20, it plugs right in.