Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono Review: The Award-Winning Plug & Play Turntable That Works With Any System

Welcome to our Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono Review, where we take a close look at what may well be the most versatile entry point into genuine audiophile vinyl playback available today. Pro-Ject's standard E1.2 has already been crowned EISA Best Value Turntable 2025–2026, and the E1.2 Phono takes that award-winning formula and adds one crucial upgrade: a switchable, high-quality built-in phono preamplifier. The result is a handmade, Czech-built turntable that will happily plug into virtually any amplifier, receiver or set of active speakers you own, with no extra boxes, no extra cables and no guesswork.

At The Audio Tailor, we speak with listeners every day who are eager to get into vinyl but are unsure where to start, or who have discovered their modern amplifier lacks a phono input. If that sounds like you, read on, because the E1.2 Phono was built precisely for this moment. And if you'd like a personalised recommendation for your system, our team is only a phone call away on 1300 308 711.

Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono at a Glance

• EISA Best Value Turntable 2025–2026
• Built-in, switchable high-quality phono preamplifier with RIAA equalisation
• 730g die-cast aluminium platter, precision-balanced
• CNC-machined aluminium tonearm with high-mass gimbal design and zero-play pinpoint bearing
• Factory-fitted and pre-adjusted Pick it MM E moving magnet cartridge
• Belt drive with electronic speed control and electronic 33/45rpm speed change
• Handmade in the Czech Republic
• Available in High Gloss Black, White and Walnut

Why a Built-In Phono Preamp Matters

To appreciate what makes the E1.2 Phono so clever, it helps to understand a little about how vinyl playback works. A phono cartridge generates an incredibly small signal, typically around 3–5mV, compared with the 150–300mV produced by a CD player or streaming device. That tiny signal also needs to be equalised to reverse the RIAA curve applied when the record was cut. Without a phono preamplifier doing both jobs, gain and equalisation, plugging a turntable into a standard line input results in a thin, distant and almost inaudible sound.

Here's the catch: most modern amplifiers, AV receivers and active speakers no longer include a dedicated phono stage. That's traditionally meant buying an external phono preamp, finding shelf space for it and adding another set of interconnects into the signal chain.

The E1.2 Phono solves this elegantly. Its switchable phono preamplifier lives inside the turntable itself, applying correct RIAA equalisation and gain right at the source. Flick the switch On and the E1.2 Phono outputs a line-level signal, ready for any line, CD or AUX input. Flick it Off and the turntable behaves exactly like the standard E1.2, sending a raw phono signal to an amplifier with its own phono input or to a dedicated external phono stage.

That flexibility is genuinely valuable. It means the E1.2 Phono works beautifully as a simple, one-box solution today, and still leaves the door open should you decide to explore a premium outboard phono stage later. It grows with you rather than locking you in. Not sure which way to set yours up? Give our team a call and we'll walk you through the best option for your amplifier or speakers.

Build Quality and Design: Handmade in the Czech Republic

Pro-Ject has long been synonymous with honest, engineering-first turntables, and the E1.2 Phono continues that tradition. Every unit is handmade at Pro-Ject's own factory in the Czech Republic, from chassis preparation and painting to motor control assembly and final assembly by skilled technicians. At this level, that degree of in-house craftsmanship is a real point of difference.

The aesthetic is clean and timeless. Whether you choose the deep lustre of High Gloss Black, the crisp modernity of White or the warmth of Walnut, the E1.2 Phono is a turntable you'll be proud to have on display. Measuring 415 × 112 × 320mm (W × H × D) and weighing 3.6kg, it sits comfortably on a sideboard, bookshelf or dedicated rack. Four damping feet decouple the turntable from its supporting surface to reduce the risk of acoustic feedback, and an acrylic dustcover is included as standard to keep your records and stylus free from dust.

The Platter: 730g of Die-Cast Aluminium

Every great vinyl front end begins with a stable, quiet, resonance-free platform, and this is where the E1.2 Phono immediately punches above its weight. Its brand-new 730g die-cast aluminium main platter is heavy enough to resist micro-vibrations and damped to absorb rather than reflect energy. Crucially, Pro-Ject precision-balances each platter in an additional manufacturing step, ensuring an evenly spinning platter free from the wobble and drift that affect lesser designs.

Beneath it sits a precision glass fibre reinforced ABS sub platter, manufactured to an impressive 0.001% tolerance, riding on a stainless steel axle and ball in a bronze bushing bearing. This is the quiet mechanical foundation from which all the musical detail flows. The low-noise rotation pays off in the form of a calm, settled background, letting quiet passages, reverb tails and room ambience emerge naturally.

Drive System and Speed Stability

The E1.2 Phono employs belt drive with electronic speed control, and switching between 33 and 45rpm is handled electronically, so there's no need to lift the platter and move the belt by hand. That's a genuine everyday convenience, particularly if your collection includes plenty of 45rpm singles or audiophile 45rpm pressings. A 7" single adapter is included in the box, too.

Pro-Ject quotes wow and flutter at ±0.23% (33rpm) and ±0.21% (45rpm), with speed drift of ±0.7% and ±0.6% respectively, and a signal-to-noise ratio of 65dB. Belt drive's inherent isolation of motor noise from the platter, paired with electronic speed control, helps deliver steady, confident pitch, essential for sustained piano notes and long held vocal lines.

The Tonearm: CNC-Machined, No Hollow Spaces

The tonearm is arguably the most impressive engineering story here. Rather than a conventional cast arm, the E1.2 Phono uses a CNC-machined aluminium tonearm. Machining eliminates the hollow spaces found in typical cast arms, leaving no room for unwanted resonances or vibrations to colour the sound.

It's a high-mass gimbal design with a precision pinpoint bearing and zero play, delivering solid tracking stability and smooth, controlled movement across the record. An oversized-diameter TPE decoupled counterweight sits closer to the pivot and moving parts, improving balance and tracking for better detail retrieval and bass response.

Key tonearm specifications:

• Effective arm length: 218.5mm
• Effective arm mass: 7.0g
• Overhang: 22mm
• Counterweight: TPE decoupled, oversized diameter

Best of all, every tonearm leaves the factory expertly adjusted, with the cartridge fitted, aligned and tracking force set. No protractors, no scales, no fiddling. For newcomers, that removes the single most intimidating part of turntable ownership.

The Cartridge: Pick it MM E, Factory Pre-Adjusted

Fitted as standard is Pro-Ject's Pick it MM E moving magnet cartridge. It uses a low-mass generating system with a miniature neodymium generator magnet, reducing inertia for improved tracking accuracy. A conical diamond stylus delivers the warm, smooth, high-quality presentation with low background noise that makes long listening sessions such a pleasure, and its highly damped ABS body reduces vibration-induced colouration to a vanishing level.

Conical styli are also notably forgiving of well-loved records, making the Pick it MM E a terrific partner for crate-dug vintage finds as well as fresh new pressings.

Sound Quality: Robust, Fulsome and Engaging

So how does it all come together? The EISA jury summed up the E1.2's character neatly: "Offering robust bass and fulsome vocals, this is a disc spinner that's equally suited to modern pop releases and vintage jazz." That aligns perfectly with what the engineering would suggest.

The combination of a heavy, precision-balanced platter, a resonance-free machined tonearm and the warm, low-noise Pick it MM E produces a presentation that is full-bodied and inviting. Bass lines have weight and shape, giving modern pop and electronic records a satisfying foundation, while voices come through with richness and body, drawing you into the performance. With vintage jazz, the smooth, warm tonal balance flatters the recordings of that era beautifully, keeping brass natural and cymbals sweet rather than splashy.

There's a composure to the E1.2 Phono's sound that comes directly from its quiet mechanical foundation. With less noise and resonance getting in the way, the music simply flows. It's the kind of turntable that encourages you to flip the record and keep going.

Because the phono stage is switchable, you can also tailor the sound to your setup. Use the internal stage for a tidy, all-in-one solution, or bypass it to pair the turntable with an amplifier's dedicated phono input or an upgraded external phono preamp further down the track. Our team at The Audio Tailor loves helping customers map out these upgrade paths, so feel free to email us or call to chat through your options.

"Although an affordable turntable designed to make vinyl accessible to all, Pro-Ject's E1.2 doesn't skimp on quality. Offering robust bass and fulsome vocals, this is a disc spinner that's equally suited to modern pop releases and vintage jazz. The plug 'n' play design includes a pre-adjusted Pick it MM E cartridge to take the sting out of setup, and the step-by-step manual helps vinyl novices get quickly on their way."

— EISA, Best Value Turntable Award 2025–2026

Setup: Genuinely Plug and Play

Setting up the E1.2 Phono is about as easy as vinyl gets. Because the cartridge arrives fitted, aligned and with tracking force already set, there's no specialist knowledge required. Place the turntable on a stable surface, connect the included 15V DC / 0.8A power supply, choose your phono preamp setting depending on your amplifier, connect to the appropriate input, and drop the needle.

Power consumption is a frugal 4.5W, and in the box you'll find the power supply, acrylic dustcover and 7" single adapter, everything you need to start spinning straight away.

Who Is the Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono For?

• First-time vinyl buyers who want real audiophile engineering without a steep learning curve.
• Owners of modern amplifiers, AV receivers or soundbars with analogue inputs that lack a dedicated phono stage.
• Active and powered speaker users who want a clean, compact system with no extra components.
• Returning vinyl enthusiasts rediscovering their record collections and wanting a step up from all-in-one players.
• Design-conscious listeners who want a turntable that looks as good as it sounds, in Black, White or Walnut.
• Future upgraders who appreciate being able to bypass the internal phono stage later for a dedicated external unit.

If you're unsure whether the E1.2 Phono is the right fit for your speakers or amplifier, our specialists Gabby, Nathan, Vaughan and Stuart are always happy to help. Ring us on 1300 308 711 for honest, tailored advice.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• EISA Best Value Turntable 2025–2026 pedigree
• Switchable built-in phono preamp connects to any line, CD or phono input
• 730g die-cast aluminium platter, precision-balanced for stable, quiet rotation
• CNC-machined aluminium tonearm with no hollow spaces and zero-play bearing
• Pick it MM E cartridge factory-fitted and pre-adjusted, ready to play out of the box
• Robust bass and fulsome, engaging vocals
• Electronic 33/45rpm speed change, no belt swapping
• Handmade in the Czech Republic by Pro-Ject's own technicians
• Three attractive finishes: High Gloss Black, White and Walnut
• Dustcover and 7" adapter included
• Built-in upgrade path by bypassing the internal phono stage

Cons

• No 78rpm speed, though that will only matter to collectors of shellac records
• So enjoyable you may find your record collection growing faster than your shelf space

Key Specifications

Turntable

Speed	33, 45rpm (electronic speed change)
Drive Principle	Belt drive with electronic speed control
Platter	730g die-cast aluminium, precision-balanced
Sub Platter	Precision glass fibre reinforced ABS, 0.001% tolerance
Platter Bearing	Stainless steel axle and ball in bronze bushing
Wow & Flutter	33rpm: ±0.23% / 45rpm: ±0.21%
Speed Drift	33rpm: ±0.7% / 45rpm: ±0.6%
Signal to Noise	65dB
Power Consumption	4.5W
Dimensions (W × H × D)	415 × 112 × 320mm
Weight	3.6kg (net)
Included Accessories	15V DC / 0.8A power supply, acrylic dustcover, 7" single adapter
Origin	Handmade in Czech Republic

Tonearm

Material	CNC-machined aluminium
Design	High-mass gimbal, precision pinpoint bearing, zero play
Effective Arm Length	218.5mm
Effective Arm Mass	7.0g
Overhang	22mm
Counterweight	TPE decoupled, oversized diameter
Factory Setup	Pre-adjusted, plug & play

Pick it MM E Cartridge

Type	Moving Magnet (MM)
Generator	Miniature neodymium magnet, low mass system
Stylus	Conical diamond
Body	Highly damped ABS
Character	Warm, smooth, low background noise

Built-In Phono Preamplifier

Type	Switchable high-quality phono preamplifier
Equalisation	RIAA
Switch	On (line/CD output) / Off (phono output)
Compatible Inputs	Any line, CD, or phono input

The Final Spin: Our Verdict on the Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono

The Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono removes the last barrier between your record collection and the sound it deserves. It takes an EISA award-winning turntable, with its precision-balanced 730g die-cast platter, resonance-free CNC-machined tonearm and factory-tuned Pick it MM E cartridge, and makes it compatible with virtually any system on the planet thanks to a switchable, high-quality built-in phono preamplifier.

It's simple enough for a complete beginner, engineered thoughtfully enough to satisfy a seasoned listener, and flexible enough to evolve alongside your system. Every amplifier. Every system. Every listener. That's a rare combination, and it's why we're so enthusiastic about this deck.

Ready to bring vinyl into your home? Explore the Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono Plug & Play Turntable on our website, or have a chat with our award-winning team about matching it with the perfect amplifier or speakers. Call us on 1300 308 711, email sales@theaudiotailor.com.au, or visit us at Unit 9/20 Rivergate Place, Murarrie, Qld 4172. We ship nationwide, and we'd love to help you start spinning.