I’ve been collecting vinyl for around 15 years now, and although it’s one of those hobbies that my interest can fluctuate with, I find myself coming back time after time. Vinyl seemingly keeps increasing in popularity, year on year, and with that many of my favourite artists are releasing vinyl, where they wouldn’t previously and some artists are releasing anniversary vinyl, inevitably growing my collection.
The music is the most important side of vinyl collecting for me, but for many, the equipment is equally important to the ritual of listening to physical media.
For a while now, I’ve been sporting a fairly primitive AIWA PX-E855. An incredibly cheap deck, that has served me well. It has all the functionality I really need but let’s be honest, it's rather unremarkable - at the very least aesthetically. The sound quality is absolutely fine, however I did swap out the stylus for an Audio-Technica ATN3600LC, as the original was a little worn. The turntable cost £12.50 from eBay and the new stylus was £16.
I was fortunate enough to have been sent a review unit of the Pro-Ject E1.2 Phono courtesy of Henley Audio. I’m certainly no audiophile, so I want to compare the Pro-Ject turntable to my AIWA purely as a consumer, to figure out if it is worth spending the money on a new turntable, or if a £12 AIWA from eBay is good enough.
Functionality
The E1.2 has almost no features to speak of, you can simply lift the arm, and place it down and that’s really it in terms of physical functionality. The plus side of this, is that there’s far less to go wrong down the line, and playing a record feels very immediate and manual. When the record reaches the end, you’ll need to be around to return the arm as there is no automatic return, which keeps you more aware of what’s playing, and less likely to walk off and leave it, running the risk of the needle riding the label once the end of a side is reached.
I requested the E1.2 Phono, meaning I can use my active speakers with no pre-amp necessary. The turntable was essentially plug-and-play. Fantastic if you have less equipment but worth considering a pre-amp if you’re looking for a little more control over your setup.
After using the E1.2 for a few weeks now, I will say I do miss the auto function of the AIWA. I can put a record on, press the “Start” button and walk away, know it’ll play and will also stop when the side is done. This is particularly useful whilst I’m working. The downside however, is there are few more steps for me to pick a specific track with the AIWA. I’d have to press the “Start” button, the needle raise button and then move the arm. With the E1.2, you simply move the needle to where you want it and drop it down, a much more manual process, which gives you a little more connection to the process.
A slight downside for me is the dust cover of the turntable. It looks great and you can listen to records with it up or down, but the cover is slightly too heavy to stay open half way, so if you’re changing a record, you need to ensure there’s space behind to fully open it up. If you are to let the cover drop, it will appear to drop slowly but then will close quite abruptly, which I’d imagine would mark the unit after multiple drops.
Sound quality
The sound quality of the E1.2 is fantastic and with records new or old, it sounds incredibly clean. Comparing the E1.2 to the AIWA, the E1.2 is the clear winner.
The highs are a very clear on the E1.2 and I found that I didn’t have to fiddle with any EQ settings, whereas I find I have to boost the high end on the AIWA to ensure treble clarity.
Many of my older records sounded much cleaner on the E1.2, and listening to them again felt like it gave them a new lease of life. My newer records sounded incredible on the E1.2, brilliantly clear highs and powerful bass.
However, using the E1.2, I was having a little trouble with “Sibilance distortion” on a couple of records. Specifically with Death Cab For Cutie and Postal Service, curiously both with Benjamin Gibbard vocals, yet 2 separate projects, each with the same distortion issues. These played completely fine with the AIWA, although slightly less impactful sounding due to the muddier treble.
Aesthetics
The E1.2 is simply a great looking turntable. The review unit I received is black with a clear top. There’s very little to distract the eye and really keeps the record as the centre of attention. With a simple switch on the left, which you can rock either way for45 or 33 1/3 RPM , there is little else to note. It’s very clean and modern, and I imagine the woodgrain finish would be even more pleasing to the eye.
The top is completely clear with the Pro-Ject logo in the centre, which looks great. This allows clear view of the unit and the record currently playing.
Conclusion
After using the E1.2 for a few weeks, I must admit, I did find it hard to part with and going back to the AIWA felt like a significant step backwards. There are very few bells and whistles, but it simply works. You grab a record, flip the switch, drop the needle. Done. The sound quality is fantastic and it looks great. Comparing the E1.2 to the AIWA, the sound quality is superior and aesthetically, there’s no competition here. You also can be safe in the knowledge that what you’re buying is new, and will work. Buying a second hand turntable on eBay will always be a gamble - which may or may not pay off.
The E1.2 is priced at £319.00 (RRP), which may be hard for newcomers to justify, but if you're in the market for an upgrade, I'd say the E1.2 is an easy recommendation and should be at the very least a consideration when shopping for a modern turntable.
