- The new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono presents itself as an audiophile record player for beginners, designed as a complete package.
The new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is a very special turntable from Pro-Ject Audio Systems, as it is a solution that can justifiably be described as a complete package. The vinyl lover will receive a turntable that fulfils audiophile criteria and also proves to be extremely elegant, so that it can be seamlessly integrated into any modern living environment.
It is also equipped with a fine pick-up system ex works, but that’s not all: it also has a high-quality phono preamp so that it can be easily connected to any audio system and used immediately without any further investment.
A new addition to the Pro-Ject T Line
When Pro-Ject Audio Systems presented the Pro-Ject T Line for the first time in 2019, they had one goal in mind: to offer a record player that would prove to be a worthwhile alternative to the countless turntables from the Far East in the entry-level segment. No plastic, no compromises on sound quality – this was the company’s bold description of the idea behind this product line, which was clearly in line with the corporate philosophy with which Pro-Ject Audio Systems started out many years ago, namely to deliver the best possible quality at an affordable price and thus allow as many users as possible to enjoy high-quality music playback.
With the Pro-Ject T1 turntable, which founded the Pro-Ject T Line, the company even went so far as to speak of an audiophile turntable that was set at an affordable entry level for many music lovers and was available ex works equipped with a cartridge system.
The fact that turntables with a particularly extensive range of features are naturally important in this special environment was met with models such as the Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable or Pro-Ject T1 BT Turntable. The Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Turntable not only came from the factory equipped with a cartridge, it also had a matching phono preamp. This also applied to the Pro-Ject T1 BT turntable, which also featured an integrated Bluetooth module.
A particularly exciting model was also presented with the Pro-Ject T2 W turntable, which even featured an integrated WiFi module for streaming. As the name suggests, the Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is based on exactly this principle.
Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono – The particularly elegant turntable
As with the Pro-Ject T2 W turntable just mentioned, the concept of the new Pro-Ject Super Phono is to offer a turntable that presents itself as a particularly elegant solution. Once again, of course, Pro-Ject relies on complete equipment, so this turntable is also equipped with a cartridge system ex works and has an integrated phono preamp.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems itself refers to the Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono as a larger, more powerful drive from the Pro-Ject T Line, which is equipped with a new tonearm and a new, particularly high-quality phono preamp. Accordingly, the cartridge system is also based on a very fine model, resulting in a turntable that sets new standards in its price class, as the manufacturer promises.
High-quality materials
Plastic is frowned upon in all Pro-Ject T Line models, including the new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono. Instead, a CNC-milled chassis is used, which, as with the Pro-Ject T2 W turntable, is larger than that of its little brother, the Pro-Ject T1 turntable. Compared to some turntables from the Far East, there is no need to worry about wooden spaces inside the housing that could lead to sound-damaging vibrations. It comes in a choice of high-gloss black, satin white or walnut.
The turntable rests on feet specially designed for the new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono to effectively protect it from vibrations.
The glass disc of the new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is also thicker and therefore heavier, ensuring a resonance-free design. It now measures 10 mm in thickness and thus weighs 1.7 kg.
The platter is driven by a newly developed sub-platter via a belt, whereby the sub-platter rotates on an ultra-precise main bearing with a hardened steel axle and a brass bushing, as the manufacturer states for the record.
In contrast to many solutions from the competition, which rely on unregulated DC motors with large speed fluctuations, the new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono has a system that has been tried and tested at Pro-Ject Audio Systems for years, consisting of an electronically regulated AC motor with a precise speed, which can be switched between 33 and 45 revolutions per minute at the touch of a button.
New tonearm and cartridge from Sumiko Audio
The tonearm now used in the new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is slightly longer than in previous models, with an effective tonearm length of 9 inches based on a rigid aluminium construction with integrated headshell.
The tonearm also features new, particularly low-friction tonearm bearings and a newly designed adjustable, spring-based anti-skating mechanism.
The new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is fitted ex works with a very fine cartridge system, namely a Sumiko Rainier MM cartridge with an elliptical cut diamond stylus from the Sumiko Oyster Series by specialist Sumiko Audio.
Two-stage split-passive MM phono preamplifier
Another special feature of the new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is its phono preamplifier. According to Pro-Ject Audio Systems, this is a two-stage split-passive MM phono preamplifier, which is already familiar from the Pro-Ject T2 W turntable.
However, as there is no integrated WiFi module here, there is more space available on the phono PCB, which has been used to further improve the design of the circuit. The new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono should therefore stand out from the Pro-Ject T2 W turntable in terms of quality.
It should be noted at this point that the internal phono preamp can of course be deactivated if an external solution is chosen or if the turntable is to be fitted with an MC cartridge system in the future.
Semi-balanced phono cable
Once again, Pro-Ject Audio Systems claims that the new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is equipped with a super-shielded semi-symmetrical phono cable with low capacitance.
Prices and availability
The new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono will soon be available from specialist retailers in a choice of high-gloss black, satin white or walnut, as described. The recommended retail price is listed at € 650,-.
Finally, it should also be mentioned that the Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is supplied with a matching dust cover and a felt mat as a support for the turntable.
Getting to the point
Like the Pro-Ject T2 W turntable, the new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is also intended to be the big brother of the Pro-Ject T1 turntable, whereby particular attention was paid to high-quality materials, an elegant appearance and, of course, impeccable sound quality for this new turntable in the Pro-Ject T Line. From Pro-Ject Audio Systems‘ point of view, the new Pro-Ject T2 Super Phono is an entry-level turntable that sets new standards in this class.
| PRODUCT | PRO-JECT T2 SUPER PHONO |
|---|---|
| Price | € 650,- |
| 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 |
