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.