Audiophile-caliber Sound and Style
The A2 marks an elegant entry in Pro-Ject’s Automat series of turntables, taking up the gauntlet of the company's A1. This fully automatic, mechanical turntable advances its predecessor's foundational design and introduces a slew of enhancements that deliver style, substance, form, and function in equal state-of-the-art measure. A floating sub-chassis architecture anchors the Pro-Ject A2, methodically engineered to maximize playback fidelity and eliminate any risk of internal or structure-born resonance disruption. A robust, 8-layer MDF plinth — hand-painted for premium listening-lounge panache — commands attention with its contemporary take on iconic minimalist-inspired aesthetics. Across three playback speeds, the A2 has Sweetwater’s vinyl contingent impressed by how Pro-Ject systematically optimized every millimeter of the turntable’s architecture. From flexible later-placement options and upgraded gimbal bearing to the all-mechanical tonearm automation and comprehensive mass-reduction measures, the Pro-Ject A2 turntable masterfully will preserve the lauded warmth and character of your prized vinyl records, supplying true hi-fi sonics that are all but guaranteed to elevate your sonic sanctuary.
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Advanced aural engineering: the art of the sub-chassis
When it comes to automatic turntables, empty space is the cost of convenience. This is due to the number of mechanical components — many of which are very small — that require interior room to operate. The creation of more hollow spaces leads to more opportunities for sound to resonate throughout the internal structure, leading to disruptions and noise that’s heard at the output. This is an especially pronounced problem when your speakers are near your turntable — and the problem only grows the louder you play.
The solution? Pro-Ject’s floating sub-chassis. Rather than mounting everything to the exterior plinth, the tonearm, platter bearing, and motor are instead anchored to a dedicated sub-chassis. As a result, essential operating elements are isolated from any vibrations or disruptions that occur with the plinth. The total number of hollow spaces is diminished, and the number present within mechanical operations of the tonearm, platter bearing, and motor is reduced since they don’t need to be connected to the plinth.
Automat-series technologies: crystal clear and resonance-free
With the A2, Pro-Ject introduced a slew of fidelity-focused upgrades to its built-from-scratch components. The included anti-magnetic headshell, for example, is crafted from a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, pairing immense structural stability with extremely low weight, ensuring the tonearm and automatic system operate smoothly and accurately. When you consider uber-accurate speed-monitoring system that keeps your 33, 45, and 78 rpm records playing with unwavering consistency, as well as the included 7-inch single/EP adapter, the A2’s headshell design and upgraded tonearm are simply beyond compare.
Ultra-light-mass design: upgraded tonearm and bearing system
And what about the tonearm? The A2 improves upon the designs of both the tonearm and cardanic-bearing system that operates it. Though debate abounds surrounding whether a high-compliance MM (moving magnet) cartridge that’s attached to a lightweight tonearm is any better or worse than a low-compliance MC (moving coil) cartridge that’s attached to a heavier tonearm, one thing is clear: As an automatic turntable, a lightweight arm is imperative to not just the underlying mechanical demand, but for reliable tracking and exacting precision. Pro-Ject built the A2 with an 8.3-inch tonearm, crafted from ultra-light aluminum and featuring an expanded-diameter tonearm tube, compared with its predecessor, accommodating a greater variety of cartridges, should the pre-mounted Sumiko Rainier — a lauded MM phono cartridge in its own rite — diverge from your playback preferences. What’s more, the automatic turntable’s accommodation for both 7- and 12-inch records across three playback speeds is met by the added tonearm-positioning capabilities of the A2, with an option to select the drop-off point for the tonearm for either size of record — a truly automatic experience.
The cardanic-bearing system that undergirds the tonearm has also received an immense upgrade to further optimize and maximize the A2’s operation with the improved tonearm. The bearing is now crafted from the same hi-fi-grade aluminum as the tonearm, reducing weight and supporting a cohesive material balance across the two components. Its 4-point design features steel tip-ball bearings, which Pro-Ject has painstakingly crafted and produced from scratch. Collectively, these design attributes enable the tonearm to seamlessly glide to and from its resting position with near-zero friction, ensuring unencumbered, smooth, and precise motion that allows the A2 to track your records with unparalleled accuracy and stability. This tightness keeps your sound quality consistent, clear, and articulately voiced.
Unwavering precision: massless tracking and sonic insulation
Adding to the myriad sonic enhancements that distinguish the A2 from its contemporaries is Pro-Ject’s innovative massless tracking-force system. Rather than treating the counterweight and tracking adjustment as discrete elements, the A2 marries these into a singular system. It starts with damping the counterweight, which provides two advantages unto itself. First, it decouples the counterweight from the tonearm, eliminating the possibility of intrusive resonance frequencies traveling between the two. Second, the augmented structure increases the mass of the entire tonearm system. Altogether, this maintains the center of gravity directly above the center of the bearing, adding to the accuracy of the upgraded cardanic system. Once everything is aligned and level, a dial that’s mounted directly on the tonearm is rotated, dialing in the tracking force with a wristwatch-like spring. This same engineering is used for the ultra-detailed anti-skating system.
Insulating properties are essential to any turntable, and Pro-Ject spared no effort to guarantee the A2 would be as sonically pure as possible. On top of the dampened counterweight, the die-cast aluminum platter was explicitly dampened to not only protect from additional vectors of resonance-based disruptions e wow and flutter to nearly non-existent levels — ±0.14%, with 33-rpm records and ±0.12% using 45-rpm records. Furthermore, the Pro-Ject A2 ships with aluminum feet, newly crafted for this specific turntable. At the point of attachment, internally mounted silicone-dampening material is layered into the construction, functionally uncoupling the feet from the plinth, adding yet another dimension of aural insulation that safeguards your vinyl listening from external interferences, including physical contact and wayward resonances.
Listen your way: everything you need for instant hi-fi enjoyment
The A2 ships with everything needed to tap into its premium sound right out of the box. The included Connect it E phono cable was designed to facilitate high-fidelity listening with the utmost sonic security. This semi-balanced and low-capacitance cable was developed specifically to contend with the fragile nature of audio signals that are picked up by turntable cartridges, contrasted with digital and analog signals from non-turntable sources. So, Pro-Ject developed the Connect it E cable with gold-plated-brass connectors, tin-plated-copper conductor wire, and exceptional frequency-shielding capabilities, resulting in faithful preservation of your sounds’ finest nuances and details with a true-neutral EQ balance. Just connect to the gold-plates stereo RCA connectors mounted to the side of the A2, and you’re ready to enjoy.
Pro-Ject: projecting sonic purpose and premium playback performance
Since its founding in 1991, Pro-Ject has pursued a singular mission: provide premium analog listening experiences for music lovers. During a time in which the succession of CDs and digital audio over analog and vinyl seemed all but inevitable, company founder Heinz Lichtenegger doubled down. Lichtenegger and his talented team were determined to introduce new listeners to the world of genuine, true-stereo, hi-fi audio, complete with a menu of value-laden products. Considering that the RIAA reported that vinyl outsold CDs in 2022 — the first time it had done so since 1987 — it’s clear that Pro-Ject’s long-term wager paid off. The company’s initial major success stemmed from the inaugural release of its debut turntable, the Pro-Ject 1. Since then, Pro-Ject has materialized as a worldwide window into the world of high-fidelity analog listening. The company collaborates with manufacturers, engineers, and designers around the world to produce parts from scratch, ensuring everything from the smallest screw to the most complex components maximizes quality. This all-encompassing commitment has manifested in an extensive line of turntables, speakers, cables, amplifiers, tonearms, cartridges, and more. Whether you’re a newcomer to the format or a veteran collector, Sweetwater invites you to chart your vinyl voyage with Pro-Ject — supreme style and sonic substance are only the beginning.
Pro-Ject A2 Features:
- Handcrafted in Germany with original components designed from scratch, guaranteeing bona fide hi-fi listening
- Innovative sub-chassis design isolates essential operational components, reducing hollow spaces and enhancing playback stability
- MDF plinth is hand-painted with 8 layers, delivering eye-grabbing aesthetics and robust foundations
- Upgraded tonearm with ultra-light-weight aluminum and expanded tube maximizes accuracy and operational smoothness and accommodates further cartridge varieties
- Extensive, methodical dampening across feet, counterweight, and die-cast aluminum platter expands insulation from external disruption
- Automatic tonearm system includes dedicate options for use with 7-in. and 12-in. records, for truly set-and-forget playback
- Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer headshell boasts anti-magnetic properties, unwavering rigidity, and ultra-low weight for exceptional tracking focus and detail
- Upgraded tonearm-bearing system utilizes 4-point connection and steel-tip ball bearings, for unencumbered motion, seamless movements, and laser-focused accuracy
- Belt-drive system features a DC motor and cutting-edge speed-monitoring system, keeping rotational velocity and output remarkably stable, reliable, and consistent
- Innovative massless tracking-force adjustment and anti-skating systems mean effortless adjustments and amplified sonic stability via consistent alignment of the center of gravity
- Gold-plated RCA connectors ensure premier sound quality and signal preservation
- Connect it E semi-balanced, low-capacitance cable features gold-plated-brass tips and tin-plated-copper conductor wire — purpose-built for audiophile-grade vinyl listening
- Included 7-in. adapter, dust cover, felt slipmat, and PSU ensure you're ready for true hi-fi playback right out of the box
