We know a sweet deal when we see one, and Pro-Ject's Essential II lands at the top of our list of true audio bargains. This well-crafted, easy-to-use turntable makes an excellent choice for vinyl newcomers who want to savor that ear-pleasing analog sound without spending a fortune. Pro-Ject's minimalist design philosophy focuses squarely on the features that benefit performance — no unnecessary bells and whistles here. With its simple, uncluttered appearance and your choice of handsome matte black, red, or white finishes, this 'table will look and sound fantastic perched on your audio rack.
The Essential II's stiff, lightweight chassis rests on shock absorbing feet that help resist external vibration. Its low-resonance MDF platter spins on a precision axle and bearing that minimize friction for smooth, silent rotation. The turntable's tried-and-true belt drive system uses a silicone belt to isolate motor vibration and prevent noise from being transmitted through to your amp and speakers. A newly designed motor control with a DC power supply further minimizes unwanted vibration. And last but not least, the Essential II's rigid one-piece aluminum tonearm with low-friction sapphire bearings and an Ortofon OM-5e moving-magnet cartridge provides superior tracking ability and resonance reduction.
Pro-Ject knows that turntable setup can be a challenge for the novice. That's why the Essential II comes out of the box virtually ready to play. Its pre-matched, factory-mounted phono cartridge and tonearm take the guesswork out of installation, and give you optimized sound quality with minimal effort. A few simple steps to dial in key settings like tracking force and anti-skating are all it takes to get this 'table primed and ready to deliver spacious, detailed music.
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