Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono Review: The New Challenger in Audiophile Turntables

Every so often a turntable arrives that makes you reconsider what an ‘entry-level’ deck can do. In this Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono review, we look at Pro-Ject’s self-styled “new challenger”: a belt-drive deck with a 1.7kg glass platter, a 9” aluminium tonearm with a new spring-based anti-skate mechanism, a brand new dual-stage split-passive MM phono preamp built in, and a hand-crafted Sumiko Rainier cartridge fitted from the factory. It is entry-level in name only. On paper and on the platter, the T2 Super Phono is built to punch well above its category.

Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono at a Glance

Pro-Ject took the formula of its critically acclaimed T1 and improved it with sensible, audiophile-minded upgrades. The aim is simple: a turntable you can unbox, plug straight into your amplifier’s line input and enjoy, without sacrificing the engineering fundamentals that serious vinyl listeners care about. It is made in Europe by a turntable factory with decades of experience, with a clear focus on longevity and sustainability.

• Belt drive with electronic 33/45 RPM speed change
• 10mm thick, 1.7kg glass platter on a stainless steel / brass main bearing
• 9” aluminium tonearm: 230mm effective length, 22mm overhang, 9.5g effective mass
• New adjustable spring-based anti-skating mechanism
• Built-in dual-stage split-passive MM phono preamp, switchable for use with an external stage
• Sumiko Rainier MM cartridge, hand-crafted in Japan, factory fitted
• High Gloss, Satin or Wood finishes

If you’re weighing up the T2 Super Phono against other decks in your budget, our team is always happy to talk it through. Give us a call on 1300 308 711.

The Headline Act: A Brand New Built-In Phono Stage

The single biggest story in this Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono review is the phono preamp. The T2 Super Phono debuts a brand new dual-stage split-passive MM design, first seen in Pro-Ject’s acclaimed T2 W. Here, thanks to additional PCB space, Pro-Ject has been able to refine the design and layout further, with an eye on both longevity and audio performance.

Why does ‘split-passive’ matter? Records are cut with the RIAA curve, which attenuates bass and boosts treble during mastering. Your phono stage must apply the inverse curve, alongside significant gain, to restore a flat response. A split-passive topology divides that equalisation between gain stages using passive networks rather than burying it all in a single feedback loop. It’s an approach long favoured in high-end phono design for its accurate RIAA conformance and its ability to handle transients with composure. Seeing it in an integrated phono stage at this level is genuinely exciting.

The reviewers agree. AV Forums described the internal phono stage as “dead silent”, Germany’s Mint magazine found it delivered an open, balanced tonal character with improved dynamics, and Analog Planet’s Ken Micallef called it warm and detailed.

Not a Dead End: Switchable for Future Upgrades

Here’s where Pro-Ject shows real foresight. The internal phono stage can be switched off. That means if you later fall down the rabbit hole (and many of us do) and move to a moving coil cartridge, you can bypass the onboard stage and run a dedicated external MC phono preamp. The T2 Super Phono grows with you rather than boxing you in. Curious about what an upgrade path might look like for your system? Our team can map it out with you; email sales@theaudiotailor.com.au.

Sumiko Rainier MM: Hand-Crafted in Japan, Fitted from the Factory

The cartridge is the transducer that sets the tone for your entire vinyl chain, so it’s a big deal that the T2 Super Phono ships with a Sumiko Rainier already fitted. Hand-crafted in Japan, the Rainier is described by Pro-Ject as placing instruments and vocals right where they belong. That speaks to imaging and soundstage precision, the ability to hang a vocalist dead centre between your speakers while guitars, keys and percussion take their own clearly defined positions.

Factory fitting also removes one of the trickiest hurdles for newcomers: cartridge alignment. You get a properly matched arm and cartridge from day one, a real head start towards great sound.

Glass Platter, Belt Drive & Electronic Speed Change

Speed stability is the bedrock of good vinyl playback. The T2 Super Phono uses a 10mm thick glass platter weighing a substantial 1.7kg. That mass contributes flywheel effect, which supports stable rotation and helps smooth out minute speed fluctuations. Glass is also a dense, well-damped material that sits beautifully beneath the supplied felt mat.

The platter spins on a stainless steel and brass main bearing, driven by a belt. Belt drive is the classic audiophile approach for good reason: it decouples motor vibration from the platter, keeping mechanical noise out of the stylus’s path. The measured figures back it up:

• Wow & flutter: 0.19% at 33 RPM / 0.17% at 45 RPM
• Speed variance: 0.6% at 33 RPM / 0.5% at 45 RPM
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 67dB

AV Forums highlighted the excellent pitch stability, something you’ll appreciate most on sustained piano notes and held vocal lines, where any speed wobble would be instantly audible.

Convenience gets a welcome upgrade too. Speed changes between 33 and 45 RPM are handled electronically via the speed switch. No lifting the platter, no moving the belt between pulley steps. Just flick and play.

9” Aluminium Tonearm with Spring-Based Anti-Skate

The 9” aluminium tonearm offers a 230mm effective length, 22mm overhang and 9.5g effective mass. That effective mass sits comfortably in the territory that suits moving magnet cartridges, helping the arm and cartridge resonate well away from both the audio band and record warps.

New to the T2 Super Phono is an adjustable spring-based anti-skating mechanism. As a record spins, friction between stylus and groove generates an inward ‘skating’ force that pulls the arm towards the centre. Left uncorrected, that can mean uneven groove-wall pressure, channel imbalance and increased wear. The spring-based system gives you a simple, precise way to dial in the counter-force for the cartridge you’re using, optimising tracking for cleaner, more stable stereo imaging.

How Does the Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono Sound?

Put all those ingredients together and the result is a deck with a confident, grown-up presentation. The quiet internal phono stage lets the music emerge from a black background, so low-level detail, such as room ambience on a live recording or the decay of a cymbal, comes through clearly. The open, balanced tonal character noted by Mint means nothing is artificially pushed forward; the Rainier’s talent for placing instruments and vocals where they belong gives the soundstage a convincing sense of order.

Dynamics are another strength. The improved dynamics highlighted by Mint give music a sense of life and scale, with crescendos building convincingly. Meanwhile, the warmth and detail that Ken Micallef praised make the T2 Super Phono an engaging listen across genres, from intimate jazz trios and acoustic folk through to rock and orchestral works.

What the Critics Are Saying

“The Super Phono with built-in preamplification is an absolute recommendation.”
— Mint magazine, Germany (August 2024)

• AV Forums: Highly Recommended, praising a “dead silent” internal phono stage and excellent pitch stability.
• Mint (Germany): An open, balanced tonal character with improved dynamics from the built-in preamp.
• Analog Planet (Ken Micallef): The table to beat in its price range, with a warm and detailed phono stage.

Who Is the Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono For?

• The first serious turntable buyer: You want proper audiophile engineering without assembling a system piece by piece. Plug into a line input and you’re playing records.
• The upgrader: You’re moving on from a budget or all-in-one deck and want a genuine step up in speed stability, tracking and tonal refinement.
• The streamlined system builder: Running a modern integrated amplifier, active speakers or a streaming amp without a phono input? The built-in stage solves that elegantly.
• The long-term planner: The switchable phono stage means you can explore MC cartridges and external phono preamps later on.
• The design-conscious listener: High Gloss, Satin or Wood finishes let it suit your room as well as your record collection.

Not sure how it’ll pair with your amplifier and speakers? That’s exactly the kind of question Gabby, Nathan, Vaughan and Stuart love to answer. Call us on 1300 308 711 for personalised advice.

Set-Up and What’s in the Box

The T2 Super Phono ships with everything you need: dust cover, felt mat, singles adapter, power supply (15V / 800mA DC, universal) and a phono RCA cable. With the Sumiko Rainier already fitted, set-up is refreshingly straightforward. Power consumption is a modest 4.5W, and the deck measures 465 × 135 × 347mm (W × H × D, cover closed) at 5.5kg net, so it’ll sit happily on most hi-fi racks and sideboards. As with any turntable, a level, stable surface away from your speakers will help it give its best.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Brand new dual-stage split-passive MM phono stage, praised as “dead silent”
• Switchable phono stage provides a clear upgrade path to MC cartridges
• Factory-fitted Sumiko Rainier MM, hand-crafted in Japan
• Substantial 1.7kg, 10mm glass platter for stable rotation
• Stainless steel / brass main bearing and belt drive for low noise
• Electronic 33/45 RPM speed change, no belt shifting
• New adjustable spring-based anti-skate for optimised tracking
• Excellent pitch stability noted by reviewers
• Made in Europe with a focus on longevity and sustainability
• Three attractive finishes: High Gloss, Satin and Wood
• Everything included, ready to play out of the box

Cons

• No native 78 RPM, though 33 and 45 cover the vast majority of modern collections
• Choosing between three gorgeous finishes may take you longer than setting it up

Specifications

Turntable

Tonearm & Cartridge

Phono Stage

General

The Verdict: Plug In, Drop the Needle, and Meet the New Challenger

The Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is exactly what its maker promises: a new challenger. A genuinely sophisticated split-passive phono stage, a hand-crafted Sumiko Rainier cartridge, a weighty glass platter and a thoughtfully refined tonearm combine into a turntable that sounds and feels like it belongs in a far higher bracket. It’s simple enough for a first-time vinyl buyer, yet engineered with enough headroom and flexibility to keep a seasoned listener happy for years.

If you’re ready to hear what your records have been hiding, explore the Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono on our website. And if you’d like help choosing a finish, matching an amplifier and speakers, or planning a future MC upgrade, our award-winning team at The Audio Tailor is here for you. 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.