- The new Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 from Pro-Ject Audio Systems can be seen as an audiophile all-in-one system based on a plug & play record player.
Highly integrated solutions are primarily known from the streaming sector, i.e. audio systems that offer as many functions as possible in one product. Pro-Ject Audio Systems proves that such a solution can also be realised around a record player with the new Pro-Ject Juke Box E1. This record player actually has an integrated stereo integrated amplifier.
All that is needed in terms of additional products to realise a complete HiFi system is a pair of speakers. The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is therefore clearly a system in the just-add speakers category.
A concept first presented in 2016
Pro-Ject Audio Systems first presented the underlying concept in 2016, as the very first prototype at the High End 2016, whereby the final solution based on it in the form of the Pro-Ject Juke Box E came onto the market in 2017 and proved to be extremely successful right from the start, appealing to all those music lovers for whom vinyl records are essential, but who still wanted an audio system that was as compact as possible and focussed on the essentials.
The company is now looking to build on this success with the latest generation. It will therefore come as no surprise to anyone that the basic concept has been left untouched. What’s more, the first and second generation are almost identical at first glance, yet the new Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 features decisive improvements.
The audiophile All-in-One system
As already mentioned in the introduction, Pro-Ject Audio Systems describes the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 as an audiophile All-in-One system, i.e. a solution comprising a record player, high-level preamplifier including phono preamplifier and Bluetooth module, as well as a power amplifier.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems naturally benefits from all the expertise it has acquired over many years in the field of HiFi electronics in compact form through the Pro-Ject Box Design Series.
Plug & Play record player
It is essential that the system is particularly easy to install and operate, Pro-Ject Audio Systems even speaks of a plug & play record player that is ready to play almost immediately after unpacking.
This is because everything is pre-assembled and optimally adjusted, including anti-skating and tracking force
The record player in detail
The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 presents itself as a classic turntable from Pro-Ject Audio Systems, with the housing made of MDF in a choice of high-gloss white, high-gloss black, high-gloss red or a walnut finish.
The drive measures 415 x 118 x 334 mm and weighs 5 kg. It rests on special feet for effective decoupling, as the manufacturer explains. A suitable dust cover is also included.
What is new is that the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 has a revised tonearm and a new headshell design, whereby it is an 8,6 inch tonearm made of aluminium that rests in the tonearm base using high-quality sapphire bearings.
As already described, the turntable is immediately ready to play, so a cartridge from Ortofon A/S is already pre-installed at the factory, namely the MM cartridge Ortofon OM5e from the Ortofon OM Series. It should be mentioned again that both the anti-skating and the tracking force are already optimally set at the factory, so the user no longer has to do anything himself.
Another new feature is that the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 now has a new platter, which is made of ABS with a diameter of 300 mm and is specially protected against sound-damaging resonances, rotating via a stainless steel axle in a bearing with a bronze bush.
The platter is driven by a silicone belt via a sub-platter by a now damped DC motor with a new electronic speed control.
The electronics in detail
As already mentioned, the new Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 features the finest electronics, first and foremost of course a phono preamp, designed for the mounted MM cartridge system. The preamplifier also offers an analogue input to integrate an external streaming client, for example, and Bluetooth is also available so that smartphones can be used directly as a source.
The amplifier has an output of at least two 50 Watt speaker systems with an impedance of 4 ohms, so it is ideally equipped to fill small and medium-sized rooms with fine sound in combination with high-efficiency speakers.
It should also be mentioned that, in addition to the connections for the speaker systems, there is also a line out on the rear panel, which only outputs the signal from the record player. There is also a phono out.
A rotary encoder is located directly on the front of the drive for easy operation, and the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 also has a high-contrast display on the top. The scope of delivery also includes a matching infrared remote control.
Optional upgrade of the power supply
Not to be left unmentioned is the option to upgrade the power supply, which is available in the form of the Pro-Ject Juke Box Highpower Supply. According to the manufacturer, it offers 50 per cent more peak power, improves the dynamics and bass response and has an earth connection via a three-pin mains plug. This can drastically reduce hum and noise in many power networks.
Complete package with speaker system
Finally, it should be noted that Pro-Ject Audio Systems also offers the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 in this second generation not only individually, but also in a package with matching speaker systems.
The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is available as a set with the Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 bookshelf speaker systems.
Prices and availability
The new Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is now available from specialist retailers, as described, either in a high-gloss lacquer finish in the colours white, red and black, or in a particularly elegant walnut finish. The manufacturer’s recommended retail price is € 649,-.
The complete Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 plus Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 package costs € 999,-.
The aforementioned power supply upgrade in the form of the optional Pro-Ject Juke Box Highpower Supply costs € 79,-.
Getting to the point
It’s an ingenious concept that Pro-Ject Audio Systems is now offering in its second generation with the new Pro-Ject Juke Box E1, which transforms a plug & play record player into an All-in-One system that can clearly be categorised as one of the popular Just add Speakers. True to this name, the Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 actually only requires one speaker system to realise a compact, fine HiFi system that focuses on vinyl.
| PRODUCT | PRO-JECT JUKE BOX E1 |
|---|---|
| Price | Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 € 649,- Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 plus Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 € 999,- Pro-Ject Juke Box Highpower Supply € 79,- |
| Brand | PRO-JECT AUDIO |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Pro-Ject Audio Systems a division of Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
| Distribution Austria | Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
| Distribution Germany | Audio Trade Hi-Fi Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH |
| Distribution Switzerland | Lakeside Audio |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
