Pro-Ject Audio Systems Primary E Turntable

Fantastic sounding turntable and perfect for any budding audiophile!I originally started out with an Ion Pro 80 a few weeks ago which was perfect for getting me into the hobby whilst I was slowly building my collection but I felt with my system there was a lot more potential.I am running a Rotel RA01 with a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 loud speakers and Chord cables with banana plugs. With this combination using the Rotels inbuilt phono stage I get a sound that's dynamic, big and detailed. There's a lack of sound stage depth compared to my Schitt Modi DAC and Roon streaming setup but for an entry level turntable with it's factory fitted cartridge this is more than good enough for anyone to get up and running with vinyl and is providing satisfying results that have me listening over and and over and over and over again! A word of warning however, this record player is very finnicky and requires some extra patience as there's no auto stop or button to change speeds, this has to be done manually with the belt but if you're careful and crave excellent sound quality at a reasonable price look no further! This is a fantastic step in anyone's vinyl journey and I'm very excited to continue to build my collection and making small upgrades to this turntable to get the best sound I can!

I have had vinyly for many years but swithched to CDs years ago. Given the resurgence in yinyl I wanted to get a new deck to add to mys system. I chose this based on a good review in What HiFi?I could have gone for a higher priced model but this seemed to fit my price range and promised a good listening expeience.All I can say is I am not disappointed. The sound is warm and clear and I had forgotten just how good real records sound. The deck is easy to set up, already pre vcalibrated and looks really good. I am very pleased as it is great value for money.By all means spnd an extra £100 on a higher priced deck but I doubt you will get £100 in added value compared to this turntable. I heartily recommend.

I bought this turntable as an upgrade to a cheap USB model that I had bought in order to get back in to vinyl. I paired it with the Project Phono Box MM preamp and Ruark MR1 speakers. The turntable was easy to set up, although fitting the drive belt to the platter was a little fiddly (might be annoying if you wish to switch RPM often). As long as you have used a turntable before the Primary E is very easy to use, and the instructions provide plenty of guidance should you need to adjust the counterweight or tracking force (this should not be required unless you replace the cartridge). The sound was great, with low noise and a full, rich sound with plenty of bass. Ok so there aren't any fancy gadgets, but this means that all the money has been spent on making it sound a good as it can, which for the price is pretty darn good.

The belt driven design is very basic and prone to slipping off. To change the RPM you have to move the belt on the capstan. I found fitting the belt a fiddle, theres no groove to keep the belt in place on the turn table and if you are not careful it can slip off when changing the speed from 33 to 45 or when taking an LP off the turntable. You have to be careful not to catch the belt with your finger.There is some basic self assembly required before it can be used. The turntable, drive belt and dust cover needed fitting which was easy. It comes with a tone arm balance gauge should it be needed. Being factory set up the balance was perfect. The spring pressure of the lid hinges is a tad on the high side. When lifting the lid care is needed not to tip the deck which has a tripod levelling system. Hence the back corners are not supported and can tip if lifting the lid with even pressure.The output from the deck is low. I don’t have a dedicated turntable input on my amp so I needed to buy a pre amp. It cost £70 but it’s worth it as the sound is improved massively. So bare that in mind you might need one. The deck looks good. The material quality looks good. The workmanship looks good. And, it sounds good. Happy days.

The media could not be loaded. This record deck kicks like a mule on steroids!Ready for action straight out of the box; the Ortofon Om cartridge delivers the high and low frequencies with ease and it brings out the vocals and instruments with great definition.I tested this deck with “Dark Side of the Moon”, “Aladdin Sane” and “Let it Bleed”, and the sound and definition was noticeably better than I was used to, and given the £199 price tag, the Pro-Ject Primary E punches well above its weight.So, in my opinion, if you are getting into vinyl, and have a small or limited budget, this has to be the “go to” choice. 11/10

Disappointing. The driver belt broke down on the second day. Horrible experience.

This is my second turntable purchased after an Audio Technica LP3 which was returned elsewhere as it had speed issues. In terms of looks and quality, the Primary E beats it hands down despite it not having the automated functions of the LP3.Sound quality is also excellent and I'm sure it will sound even better after some time running in. From that perspective it would be a 5 star review.So why three? Because the Primary E has a major design flaw. It only has three feet- two at the front and one centrally at the rear. This makes the unit unstable and whilst likely done for cost saving, the negative effects far outweigh the benefits. If your record has finished, you have to open the (stiff) lid ridiculously carefully. If you don't and you inadvertently lift the front of the unit slightly due to the stiffness, then your needle will skate across the middle of the record filling the room with the horrific sound that makes your heart drop.Fortunately I've not knocked it over the vinyl yet but I've done it twice already, despite trying to be careful. The band is also easy to knock off when removing a record although that's a well known issue and is more annoying than anything else.All round a good turntable but a real flaw that stops it from being outstanding.