Pro-Ject has bolted a wireless transmitter onto its entry-level deck, and the result is the E1.2 BT — a plug-and-play turntable that beams your records straight to Bluetooth speakers, headphones or compatible amplifiers. It arrives alongside a second variant, the E1.2 Phono, which swaps wireless for a built-in phono stage. Both riff on the standard E1.2, keeping things budget-friendly while chasing convenience from two different angles.
The headline act is that Bluetooth transmitter. Built around a Qualcomm Bluetooth 5.4 chip, it supports the hi-res aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs, so the wireless link is meant to preserve rather than mangle the finer detail of your vinyl. It’s a genuinely tidy idea: no phono cables snaking across the room, just pair the deck with a set of active speakers or a pair of cans and go.
The Phono edition takes the wired route instead, packing what Pro-Ject calls a “high-quality phono preamp for superior signal processing and noticeably improved sound performance.” The company talks up advanced circuitry designed to knock back noise and distortion while holding onto the natural character of the record — the kind of thing you want if you’re plugging straight into a system without a phono input of its own.
Underneath, the two share plenty with the standard model. Both spin a heavy die-cast aluminium main platter — weighing in at 730g — which Pro-Ject describes as an “ideal, anti-resonant platform.” It’s been precision-balanced for more even rotation, the theory being that steadier spin translates to cleaner, more stable playback.
Tracking duties fall to a Pick It MM E phono cartridge, which uses a conical diamond tip to serve up what Pro-Ject reckons is “warm and smooth audio” with low background noise. It sits on a pre-calibrated 8.6-inch aluminium tonearm finished with a carbon-reinforced headshell and a heavy-mass gimbal bearing for smooth movement in operation.
Both are belt-driven and switch between 33⅓ and 45rpm electronically, via a single button — no faffing about lifting the platter to reposition a belt. It’s a deliberate nod to newcomers who’d rather listen than tinker.
Pricing lines up as follows:
- E1.2 BT: £399 / €399 in High Gloss Black or Walnut; £449 / €449 for the five ‘Colour’ finishes, which include Satin White and a cheery Satin Golden Yellow
- E1.2 Phono: £319 / €359 in High Gloss Black, Satin White and Walnut
Both turntables are available now.
