Pro-Ject - E1.2 Phono - Plug & Play Turntable with Built-In Phono Preamplifier

EISA Best Value Turntable 2025–2026. Everything the Pro-Ject E1.2 delivers — plus a switchable high-quality built-in phono preamplifier that lets you connect directly to any line or CD input, no separate phono stage required. 730g die-cast aluminium platter. CNC-machined aluminium tonearm. Factory-fitted Pick it MM E cartridge. Handmade in the Czech Republic.

All the E1.2. Plus One Crucial Addition.

The Pro-Ject E1.2 is already an award-winning, plug-and-play turntable — EISA Best Value Turntable 2025–2026, with a 730g die-cast aluminium platter, CNC-machined aluminium tonearm, and factory-fitted Pick it MM E cartridge ready to play from the moment it arrives. The E1.2 Phono takes everything that makes the E1.2 exceptional and adds one crucial feature: a switchable, high-quality built-in phono preamplifier.

This means the E1.2 Phono can connect directly to any line or CD input on any amplifier, receiver, or active speaker — not just inputs with a dedicated phono stage. If your amplifier has a phono input, switch the built-in stage off and connect as normal. If it doesn't, switch it on and plug into any line input. The choice is yours, and the E1.2 Phono accommodates both — making it the most versatile entry point into audiophile vinyl playback.

Great sound. Simple design. Quality components. Audiophile technology. Maximum compatibility. Handmade in the EU.

The Built-In Phono Preamplifier — Maximum Compatibility

A phono cartridge produces a signal far smaller than a standard line-level source — typically around 3–5mV, compared to the 150–300mV that a CD player or streaming device outputs. To connect a turntable to a standard line or CD input, that signal must be amplified and equalised by a phono preamplifier. Without one, the sound is thin, distant, and almost inaudible.

Most modern amplifiers and receivers no longer include a built-in phono stage. The E1.2 Phono solves this problem elegantly — a switchable, high-quality phono preamplifier is built directly into the turntable itself, applying the correct RIAA equalisation and gain at the source. Switch it on, connect to any line/CD input, and enjoy full-range, properly equalised vinyl playback through any system. Switch it off, and the turntable behaves exactly like the standard E1.2 — feeding a raw phono signal to an external phono stage or amplifier with a built-in phono input.

A Brand New Platter — 730g Die-Cast Aluminium

The foundation of great vinyl playback is a stable, quiet, resonance-free platform. The E1.2 Phono's 730g die-cast aluminium main platter is exactly that — heavy enough to resist micro-vibrations, damped to absorb rather than reflect energy, and precision-balanced in an additional manufacturing step to ensure an evenly spinning platter free from the wobble and drift that lesser designs exhibit.

Beneath the platter, a precision glass fibre reinforced ABS sub platter (manufactured to 0.001% tolerance) and a stainless steel axle and ball in a bronze bushing bearing ensure smooth, low-noise rotation — the quiet mechanical foundation from which all musical detail flows.

CNC-Machined Aluminium Tonearm — No Hollow Spaces, No Compromises

The E1.2 Phono's tonearm is crafted from CNC-machined aluminium — eliminating the hollow spaces found in conventional cast tonearms and leaving no room for unwanted resonances or vibrations. A high-mass gimbal design with a precision pinpoint bearing and zero play delivers solid tracking stability and smooth, controlled movement. An oversized-diameter TPE decoupled counterweight, positioned closer to the moving parts, improves balance and tracking for better detail and bass response.

Every tonearm arrives expertly adjusted at the factory — cartridge fitted, aligned, and tracking force set. Plug in and press play.

Premium Pick it MM E — Factory Pre-Adjusted

The Pick it MM E uses a low-mass generating system with a miniature neodymium generator magnet, reducing inertia for improved tracking accuracy. A conical diamond tip delivers warm, smooth, high-quality audio reproduction with low background noise. A highly damped ABS body reduces vibration-induced colouration to a vanishing level. And Pro-Ject's factory technicians pre-adjust every cartridge before shipment, so nothing needs to be done at home before the first record is played.

Handmade in the Czech Republic

Every E1.2 Phono is handmade at Pro-Ject's own factory in the Czech Republic — chassis preparation and painting, motor control assembly, and final assembly by skilled technicians. Four damping feet decouple the turntable from its surface and reduce the risk of acoustic feedback. An acrylic dustcover is included as standard.

Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono feature cards

🔌 Built-In Switchable Phono Preamplifier

Connect directly to any line or CD input — no separate phono stage required. Switch it on for maximum system compatibility; switch it off when connecting to an amplifier with its own phono input. Total flexibility, one turntable.

🏆 EISA Best Value Turntable 2025–2026

"Offering robust bass and fulsome vocals, this is a disc spinner 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." — EISA jury

💿 730g Die-Cast Aluminium Platter — Precision-Balanced

Heavy, damped, anti-resonant — precision-balanced in an extra manufacturing step for an evenly spinning platter. Sits on a precision glass fibre ABS sub platter and stainless steel axle in bronze bushing for smooth, low-noise rotation.

🎯 CNC-Machined Tonearm — Factory Pre-Adjusted

No hollow spaces, no resonances — high-mass gimbal design with zero-play pinpoint bearing and TPE decoupled counterweight. Factory-aligned with the Pick it MM E cartridge installed. Plug in and play.

Editorial Blockquote

"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

Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono finish and colour options

• High Gloss Black
• White
• Walnut

Closing Quote

"Every amplifier. Every system. Every listener. The Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono removes the last barrier between your record collection and the sound it deserves — with a built-in phono stage that makes great vinyl playback possible anywhere."