Pro-Ject's T1 Phono SB is a turntable for pragmatists (NOT idealists) 

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To me, listening to vinyl records is a different way of listening to the music. Regardless of if it sounds better than something else or not, it engages me more, make me pick up more details and most importantly, I enjoy the music a lot more.

Why does the music in John's videos sound so much better than just about everyone else's?

I think this is a really smart move by Pro-ject. For YEARS their entry level essential (and the Debuts before the carbon arm versions) have always been super attractive to people who want to get into hifi, but at the same time were often a step too far for many for all of the reasons you mentioned (phono pre/manual belt for speed/that tiny anti-skate weight). This looks like it nails the sweet spot for people who want/need a plug and play solution but have read enough to know that they are going to skip the actual cheap (in price and build) class and try and get something to build a basic system around. There used to be an easy path for upgrading that built in cartridge too. When I got my Debut III 15+ years ago I quickly upgraded the stylus to the OM20 (basically the old equivalent of the current 2M Blue). You can still get them, but when I last went to replace the stylus a couple years ago the cost was now up to $300 so it made more sense to replace the whole cart. That said, for entry level users there are still OM10s on the market for not too much and it is a simply matter to upgrade the stylus without having to mess at all with the weight or wiring.

Just got this as an entry level component and it sounds very good, though I haven’t listened to the built in photo stage. Even as a pragmatist, however, I was appalled by the overall flimsiness of the whole build. You weren’t joking, this MDF plinth is LIGHT and moves around quite at lot. The plastic feet are also non-adjustable, which I didn’t realize beforehand. I paid 500€ with shipping and don’t feel I got my money’s worth in pure build and materials quality. I think I’m still going to keep it because as I said, it sounds good and I can live with the materials. I just thought I should voice my relative disappointment at the build quality for money ratio.

You hit the nail on the head with vinyl there, it’s a hobby, sometimes hobbies don’t make sense from a convenience point of view, but they are part of what makes us tick.

I've been championing this turntable for the last 6 months - unbelievable value for money, particularly without the SB. Glass platter, decent cartridge, great phono cables at a crazy low price point. Compared it side by side to Rega Planar 1 and it outperformed the Rega in my view. Great turntable from Pro-ject.

I love the fact that you did the poll with the sound files, imo that was a really smart move (btw, I voted for the turntable). I still think that 350€ for a turntable is a bit much for a "beginner", I personally would advise them to get a used TT (like an old Dual or cheap Thorens) but I can see that this turntable is definitely worth taking a look at.

You are speaking about so many interesting things about vinyl John! Awesome video 👏🏻

Did you by chance try it with a replaced cartridge as you'd suggested? Looking at a few new turntable options to not break the bank but also give me a well rounded tone

I bought the Powernode on the back of your review (absolutely loving it) and have been thinking to add a turntable. Really appreciate these reviews with kit most of us can afford. Only wish I never ditched my old vinyl collection when I changed continents.

Having the actual physical media also serves as a reminder. I have streaming (Tidal), music ripped to a hard drive, CDs and records. I find that I often overlook a lot of music if I just rely on scrolling through Tidal or my hard drive, but when I look through my shelves of CDs and records I find a lot of great stuff I totally forgot about.

The The, Radiohead, Moderat... man, you've got good taste. I have a Pro-Ject Debut III which came with that Ortofon cartridge. I replaced it with a Sumiko Pearl and for the price I'm very happy with it, more detail, more well defined bass, I recommend it.

Darko's camera work and production is always top notch for these reviews.... If anybody watches YT car reviews I'd compare his work to SavageGeese, Andie The Lab, and Carfection

You are actually starting to use the "musical" qualifier quite often lately ;) Is your coffee getting more drinkable as well ? Great content as always.

Forget trendy turntables, get a monster deck with a damn good heavy plinth. Make sure it plays that bottom note properly, get a good cartridge with a bit of warmth, one that plays bass properly. Most LPs have issues, it costs THOUSANDS to get a TT and cartridge to overcome those basic problems. Then dig out those Toots and The Maytals LPs and learn what vinyl can really do. If you prefer Mozart, stick to CD. I love both....

Physical media anchors memories in a way that music alone might not. For example, I remember buying tapes and cd's - as a kid, biking to stores to buy them - getting them home, listening while checking out the artwork, notes, thoughts from the artist, etc. My mom used to work for Bang and Olufsen and we had a B&O receiver and turntable. This was around 1978, but this stuff looked like it was from 2020. Everything was very tactile - the records, the B&O receiver and turntable, even the cassette and cd's. We've gained the convenience of streaming, but have left behind the 'inconvenience' of physical stores of music.

Its good to find someone besides me who also feels its ludicrous on an audiophile grade turntable to have to remove and replace the platter to change the speed by moving the belt every time. Granted a few of these quality tables leave the pulley exposed so its not necessary to remove the platter, but for what these tables cost even that seems a bit cheap like theyre trying to save money - and leaving out something like a simple rocker switch with a two speed motor to change the speed simply isnt excusable. I understand some table designs cater to the idea of ultimate simplicity such as no full automatic mechanism with its extraneous noises that some find objectionable, but changing speeds doesnt happen during play as a rule so I dont buy into that noise idea either. Same goes for a two or three hundred dollar turntable not having any kind of auto stop or auto tonearm lift at the end of the record, any table that presents itself as one thats good for your vinyl should include some kind of auto lift or auto stop feature at the end of the record so a person doesnt have to baby sit it to keep ones stylus from being ground down just because I fell asleep at the end of a record, something many do and you should be able to do if you spend money on a quality table. There are far lesser priced tables with auto stop features like the AT-LP60X, the Insignia from best buy for $130 thats built better and sounds better than expected and even it has an auto stop feature that lifts the tonarm and stops the platter at end of play or the slightly more expensive AT-LP3 among others that have full auto operation but more to the point of this subject it lifts and returns the tonearm and shuts the platter off, why shouldnt a $550 - $1000 table at least have auto lift and/or auto stop-??

Thanks John. I wonder how it compares to the Rega planar one plus £280 here in the UK with SB and probably starter cart? Hopefully you can do a video 🙂

As much as I love my old turntable. There was no going back when CDs came along and background noise disappeared. Even more so as I also enjoy Mozart and classical as well as electronica and contemporary Jazz

I’d love to hear what you’d think about the NAD C588 turntable! And, yes, you’re right about the whole “ritualistic” thing around vinyl and turntables. Also, the way our identity is inextricably linked to the records we buy and, just as importantly, proudly display within the sacred altar of the hifi!

A good first time turntable for beginners.If they buy it in a brick and mortar store they could have a better cartridge put on at a later date and improve the sound.

One of the best álbuns ever. In a not só great turntable

I've had 3 turntables since I started getting into HiFi from the early 80's. Loved my Rega 2 but as you stated I got fed up lifting the glass platter to speed change. My next deck was a Roksan Radius but after a while the lack of dust cover and fiddling with belts became a niggle, plus the wife hated the UniPivot arm and cueing up records. So TT number 3 had to be right and a serious upgrade as I really didn't want a TT #4. Finally auditioned several and settled on the Pro-Ject Xtension10 in Polished Olive. Not only was this a fantastic sounding TT it had convenience of an Electronic speed control which can be adjusted, a fantastic Carbon Fibre tonearm and great Dust Cover. It ticked all the convenience boxes but without compromising sound quality and looks great too.

Great video John .A cartridge upgrade would be a good idea as the turntable is quite good at this price. I have the project sb 2 xperience with an ortofon cadenza blue. Classical music is one way to test the ability of a system to separate instruments. I like the idea of being able to play vinyl, it just gives you another format to listen to music and another way ....as you said....to keep buying stuff.

Another option would be to upgrade the stylus to the OM20. Although at that price point you could just buy a Fluance RT85 which comes with a Ortofon 2m Blue cart and objectively has better build quality. Good review John, the poll is something you should do more often.

Another winner! Thanks for the explanation of the mystery box. I was split down the middle on my choices. A and B. Keep up the wonderful work. Also, can anyone identify the music played at the 4:30 mark (and plays for about 30 seconds)? I could listen to that all day. Thanks again!

Watching and listening this with my Campfire IO. Man, that first tune was sweet.

I admit that I went for a project X2 instead of a Rega P3 because of the on-board speed selector button... Which I use every single day... Especially with Lp's coming out and at 45rpm 2xlp format

Ah, you audiophiles....I've been using turntables for more than 40 years now. Never used a level , just put it on a flat surface, and never bothered about 0.1 gramm more or less counterweight. Levelled it on sight and then adjusted the counterweight to the right weight. Still playing the same records I bought in the eighties. No use to freak out new turntable users with these details. Use your common sense, follow the instruction you got with the turntable. Treat your vinyl with respect, use the little brush to wipe off dust , change your needle every couple of years. And you will still enjoy your records in 2062.

Currently looking into upgrading my Pro-ject Debut 2 turntable. Very please to see in the video that you have The The's excellent "Slow Train To Dawn" on the turntable - good taste!

I wish i had seen this video a few years ago . . . Mr Darko is spot on with his suggestion about upgrading the cartridge on a cheaper turntable. Over the last few years I have purchased multiple turntables and cartridges (enjoyed and then upgraded). So I've now experienced upgrading the entire turntable and also swapping out a cartridge on a current turntable . . . Both yield results but IMO unless you spend a significant amount more on a turntable upgrade you will get more "value" and a noticeable improvement by swapping out the cartridge.

I would imagine a benefit in sound would be had if you lined the plinth with something v dense? The rig not moving every time would make it feel like a higher quality piece too

Nice presentation and thoughts. What I noticed after switching to cds( I resisted for awhile) is listening is not as relaxing. Put a record on and listen to the whole side. With a cd my anxiety goes up and I have the urge to switch tracks, almost like just getting it over with. You gotta get a good turntable with a quality cartridge and set it up right or don’t bother though. I’d recommend a Grado Black at least but I really love my Denon 301mk2 on a Technics 1500C that you reviewed. I like that it lifts the tone arm at the end very much. Some records are nearly as quiet as digital because of the cartridge. Hard to believe the difference compared to an Ortofon Red.

Not long subscribed to the channel. Loving it! A lapsed audiophile who’s getting back into it through my 18yo music mad daughter! Just ordered her, her 1st Turntable. Nearly went for this but plumped for the Pro-ject Essential 3 phono. (With acrylic platter) can’t wait for delivery!

Another cool thing about any intro gear for vinyl, is that while it may not blow streaming away. You will develop a collection and one day when you decide to upgrade your music will be there waiting for you.

I’ve heard really good play back from the Pro-Ject Carbon and the Ortofon 2M Bronze hrough a quality phono preamp. Of course this more than doubles the original purchase cost but it does demonstrate the potential with upgrading. A lot of the differences between vinyl and digital playback hinges on the quality of the source material. I find many of the more recent digital files are let down by their mastering and compression vs the vinyl equivalent. But CDs from the mid 80s through the 90s can often be quite good. Frankly used CDs from that era are today’s audio bargains.

Personally, (I may sound like a snob here), but I find there are too many compromises in these kind of turntables and it will end up putting people of vinyl records. You are correct regarding the entry level Ortofons, I found them soulless, but there is obviously an agreement between project/ortofon, Dual/Ortofon to fit them, but they really hold decks back, a Nagaoka or Grado sounds miles better.

Great video

I doubt I would recognize or be familiar with any of your vinyl BUT I sure do like your reviews! One of the best reviewers on RU-vid....

I think that all vinyl players should have a headphone plugin and about froudo1 comment remember it only depends if you choose the right player.

this one , or Audio Technica LP5X ,, my speakers is Elac debut 5,2 with Denon 600

Hi John, may I ask what song/artist it is 4:30 in the video? Just amazing!

you know you are doing a good job, when your videos accomplishes more ten the things you talk about. He speaks about expensive stuff then do this and that, but just listening him talk in a calm voice, always finding the positive aspects, sort of calms you down, help you relax and gives you a slightly more positive looks on life.

Could you upgrade the stylus to the OM10 or, OM20. There is scope for greater performance with an upgraded stylus.

I would be curious to see a comparison between the T1 and RPM 1. Is there value in moving from entry to a bit more turntable?? The rabbit hole awaits.

I bought a T1 a month or two ago and immediately sent it back. Too expensive for how cheap it seemed.

Great Review. Cambridge Alva TT next 😄

Try the Pro-Ject Streambox S2 Ultra. It is just a transport and No built in DAC and has like 3 levels of power filtering built into the little brick and it has wifi and network capabilities and you can hook up an external USB drive. The thing is a little beast. I use it connected to my Lampizator Baltic dac! no joke it is a giant killer. As for Pro-Ject turntables their higher end ones are waaaay good past the 4-5k area.

Lifting the platter would not be a big deal for me; I play 33’s almost exclusively. The deal breakers for me on a table are no leveling adjustments and having to use spacers to set VTA.

John, what are the little discs you used to level the turntable?

May i ask what you use to level the TT. It looked like some little discs. I just got myself a Planar 2 and it’s sitting on a Kallax unit for the moment. I struggle to come up with something to use that isn’t to homemade looking.

Great video. You know your stuff

Still tempted by the REGA Planar 1

That platter looks very much like Rega RP3 one but thinner.

Do not get much if any surface noise at all. Your review is not useful.

That's exactly why I've kept my 1210. I just upgraded the arm to a Rega 301.

Man, I dropped $1800 on a Pro-Ject 2Xperience SB in like 2012 and that thing ruined me on Pro-Ject forever. Complete and utter junk. Replaced drive motor twice in 3 years b/c it would develop a vibration that was transferred thru the pulley and belt into the platter where it manifested as a low rumble. $1800 for vibration and rumble. Hard pass on Pro-Ject. Rega get all my mid-grade TT $ going forward. They're just a superior company.

Really cool music in this review.

I buy records because I want to collect music, but I do not listen, because 99% of the digital is better. Listening records and saying they sound better is not true. Just buy the record and listen the digital, saves you a lot of money and hassle.

what is amazing is that the audio technica AT-LP120XUSB sounds a lot better than the project t1 and has a better cartridge the AMAzing AUDIO TECHNICA AT-VM95E

At 9:50 you stated "if you have a more affordable turntable you are going to be exposed to more surface noise in you records". Why/How. Please explain, since the "turntable" has no influence on the "surface noise" or its "detection" and "reproduction". Of course, the cartridge detects the variation of the groove sides and translates this into an electrical signal - using the "Resolution of Vectors" for a for a "Twin Channel" (Stereo) signal pair, (subject to "crosstalk" though it maybe). "Surface Noise" results from an accumulation of "problems" with the groove surfaces (including "dust"), which is detected by the "cartridge" (of whatever "quality") and passed on as part of the "signal". Why is any turntable (or "cartridge") better at rejecting any "surface noise" which exists on the sides of the groove, since the "surface noise" IS there - on the groove "surface"?

I'm definitely one of the pragmatists this video speaks to - I own this turntable. As someone relatively new to vinyl, I was a bit put off by the sound at first as the output seems to lack bass when compared to streaming music through the same speakers. I know there are a lot of variables involved but are there any upgrades I can make to remedy this? New external phono stage? Different cartridge? Would appreciate some advice!

I know this video is from a couple of years ago. I bought a Pro-ject Elemental turntable. I haven't upgraded the cartridge but I bought their much heavier acrylic platter. It does seem to make a difference, however small. It requires an external phono preamp. I'm pleased overall, but I can see a cartridge upgrade in my future.

Would you consider reviewing more turntables and/or components, like cartridges?

Love your commentary. Is it fair to compare your seven thousand dollar turntable to the T1. Your 7k tt has a much larger platter that will do wonders to quench vibration. You only showed a glimpse of your 7k tt but am betting it has a much heavier plinth. Cannot compare the two! BUT, and now for a little story time, had an experience at a high end audio store in NY called Stereo Exchange. They had low price CD players set on flimsy shelves. One day I go in with a set of Black Diamond Racing Cones, well cone shaped carbon fiber feet designed to reduce vibration. I ask the salesman to place three of the cones under any of the CD players. We listened before placing the cones and then after placing the cones. We noticed an immediate clarity to the voice and the instruments. When we removed the cones much to our chagrin, did I spell that correctly, the music was so distorted that we were shocked at the way we thought it sounded just fine before the experiment with the cones. It was actually mind blowing how much distortion there was before and how we could not hear it unit after the comparison. I gave the salesman some of the cones and he told me that he put them under his turntable and that it began to sound like a high end TT. As a result, I was thinking the TT you are reviewing needs those cones before the cartridge change.

I noticed that the Bluesound Powernode just like the Sonos AMP digitizes the line-in. Wouldnt it be more correct to keep the path from the turntable to the speaker in an analog path? Not saying that this necessarily improves sound quality :-) but to stay true to the whole vinyl idea.

Isn't there a fair price difference between this and the node? Thought the T1 was like £200 cheaper? If so, I reckon that £200 could do a lot with upgrades, maybe a new cartridge and phono stage?

This was the selling video for me. Liked your presentation. 30day return so get to test my first deck with safety

Would you say that the Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN is an adequate comparison? It also has a built-in phono stage and a speed box and the price seems to be about the same.

Your right im not into vinyl because of the sound. Even my hifi doesnt sound very well. When i want to listen do better sound then vinyl i use my expensive headphone. I buy vinyl because of the nice cover, the feeling of having the music in my hands etc.

Nagaoka mp110??? They still make those? That was my first cartridge... and I’m as old as the hills...

As a pragmatist myself,late turntable development - or the absence of it - didnt convince me in the slightest to buy a modern mainstream deck. Way to unpractical,not ergonomic,comfortless.

No surprise. I always think that today vinyl is really a cheap way to get into hi end audio because what vinyl can give can be heard even on the low end turntables. I tend to agree to Michael Fremer that the best turn tables outclass the streaming options. But of course that is very subjective and depends what you want your system to sound like. I love listening to records ever since I heard a modern turntable spinning in a friends house.did not expect that even though I grew up with vinyl as the cd was not even invented.

What's the significance of a glass platter? Is it because it's got a higher mass than aluminium or plastic? I wonder if you could get the same effect by just adding weights to a cheap one?

ive got the phono t1 but it makes cracking and popping noises when in my old turntable it didnt

A few months ago, the NAD C558 turntable was released and it looks almost like a simplified version of this one: The glass platter, the tonearm assembly, the drive mechanism, the plinth... but it has no electronic speed control (just two pulleys) and no built-in phono preamp. Back then, it was already clear to me that it used a custom set of Pro-Ject parts. Looks like they found a nice combination of parts so Pro-Ject has added some features and started to make them as well. 5:10 when a switch makes a "thumb" in your speakers, it means that the switch isn't closing and opening properly. Typical for low quality switches (and very old ones that are corroded). 9:45 I'd argue the opposite. The better the turntable and cartridge/stylus, the more revealing it gets, not just revealing details in the music, but also more surface noise. 10:10 That Ortofon OM 5E has great upgrade-ability. You can upgrade it all the way to an OM40 stylus, which is an advanced nude FG70 stylus, making it a higher mid-range cartridge. However, that stylus as a single spare is about as expensive as the rest of the complete turntable 😜

Hey, nice video. One question: can you replace the cartridge on a T1 Standard? Is it an option or we're stuck with the one pre-installed? Thanks.

I’m currently under the dilemma of either getting the Audiolab 6000CDT CD Transport to replace a “audiophile style” Philips BDP9700 Blu-ray player or get a phono stage to replace the Schiit Mani. Or even getting a Sbooster BOTW MK2 linear power supply for the little Schiit, even though the power supply is over 2 times the price of the phono

Teac has models in that same price range too, though no carbon arm but both a changeable speed by the touch of a button and an integrated phono preamp. It also converts to digital through a usb out port (never used it). Its weakness? Spin speed isn't regular enough... +1 on Nagaoka MP110! (Went with the MP150 on my SL1200mk2 eventually and Schitt Mani)

You hit it when you said that vinyl is about something more/different than sound quality alone. It’s experiential in a way digital streaming is not. I love both for what they each do well. And while you can compare the cost of the hardware, a TT without records does not make music so really comparing the two economically doesn’t make a ton of sense. The two are just different experiences, like comparing wine to beer.

You had me (meaning my like) at In Rainbows. But John, you're cleaning your records and put them back in the same, nasty paper sleeves? Tztztztz...

My biggest pet peeve with the Essential II i bought is the same as this one, the plinth is so bloody light it's constantly moving around when I manipulate the lid. Seeing the turntable not sitting straight is super annoying and you have to lift the tonearm before moving it back. Using it is just so annoying. But the playback quality is great. Also not a fan of the OM5E cart, to me it's quite a muted sounding cart.

I wonder if the Vinyl master is the same as what streamed on the Bluesound? Glad the turntable sounded clean enough that most couldn't tell the difference.

Hello Mr. Darko - what brand of espresso machine do you use? Looks cool, but how does the coffee taste?

I personally think if you want to get into records in a semi-serious way, you are better off saving for a better table... especially if you have already adopted streaming.

Thank you for this resource! I'm wondering how you connected the T1 Phono SB to the Node 2i? I don't see a dedicated analogue input, but rather a shared optical/analogue in on the back panel. Thank you for your response!

With reference to your comment about having your vinyl collection with you and for people to see. Was it not once said that "The ordinary mans' vinyl records were like his collection of art", and hence said a lot about the individual? Thank you for your very informative review of this turntable. Keep up the good work sir!

What would be the advantage to this turntable vs something like the at-lp120 which is cheaper?

I just bought this one today. I may receive it soon. What are your advive to upgrade, please (links ?) ? Is it usefull? Merci !

As the old man in the room, I forgot I can ask Google what a song name is. Sunset Drive by Follow The Trail. I love answering my own questions. LOL. Keep 'em coming.

An interesting comparison for entry level turntables would be the ProJect against one from U-Turn Audio.

Could I ask what the audio track is at 5min? Thanks in advance.

This one or the MMF-1.5 - Music Hall? Any thoughts?

Please make a review of Schiit Sol !

Ace advice....Ace impartiality....and Ace down to earth information., from the novice, to the most intrepid audiophile....but for me it’s belief....you gotta believe in a man who has Radiohead’s In Rainbows on Vinyl...and to be introduced to Moderat can only add up to a win , win situation. Well done John , keep up the good work. 💪🏻

From your review I'm taking it that Project have solved the hum (motor related) noise that some of their budget models suffered from? I am assuming there is a fixed antiscate as per Rega P1 related to VTF of the supplied cartridge? So in theory you are limited to cartridges that track at 1.75 grams.

I thought you had a P2? How does it compare to the Xpression 2 please John?

A simple mechanic feature to move the belt for changing speed is today special? interesting.

Oh no that word "organic" again.....