Audiophiles might find the concept of an automatic turntable slightly low brow, but some of us actually have a need for one and I suspect that I’m not alone in that regard. Have you ever watched a parent suffer slowly to the bitter end from something like Parkinson’s or had to deal with the side effects of medication that causes hand tremors? There’s something scary about watching a tonearm with an exposed cartridge and stylus fall from your trembling fingers and miss the record surface altogether and become unusable. It’s happened to me more than once over the past 55 years and it’s my present reality with my right hand. Makes life interesting while one shaves or tries to type. Pro-Ject’s original AUTOMAT which we covered proved to be an interesting concept at an affordable price, but we never got the sense that it sold well. The new Pro-Ject AUTOMAT 1.2 looks like it could buck that trend if the changes result in better performance.
Touch me and just walk away?
Audiophiles might take one look at the Automat A1.2 and just walk away but why would this not make sense as a secondary table in an office or den?
What inspired the new Pro-Ject Automat A1.2 Turntable?
“The project was inspired after our team listened to our customers seeking maximum simplicity in their vinyl experience” explained Pro-Ject.
I knew it. Einfachheit.
If you don’t think there is a market for this — you are really not paying attention. Consumers want something built by a reputable brand that comes with a good cartridge and requires very little “fiddling” and set-up.
The automatic drive is still handmade in Germany by a traditional manufacturer with a wealth of experience in making automatic turntables. The assembly is done in the Czechia by Pro-Ject’s team of experienced team of technicians that have impressed us enormously with the quality of the X2 B and Debut PRO B turntables.
The most obvious to consider one is the operational simplicity that comes with this type of turntable.
AUTOMAT 1.2 for the people
If the vinyl revolution will be remembered for anything, it will be that it inspired a new generation of listeners to put down their smartphones (ironic branding as it made hundreds of millions of people slightly stupid) and actually hold a physical form of music in their hands and listen. Not to one song. But an actual record of music.
Wunderbar.
What’s next? Books?
So what’s different about this new iteration?
The new precision balanced CNC machined die-casted aluminium platter is a good place to start — greater mass, improved speed stability, and less vibration should result in improved playback performance.
The factory installed and aligned Ortofon OM10 cartridge has been replaced with a new Pro-Ject Pick it MM E cartridge. It features a lightweight design that incorporates a miniature neodymium generator magnet and conical diamond stylus.
Constructed from resonance-optimized ABS, the unit weighs approximately 5.5 grams. The frequency response ranges from 10 Hz to 20 kHz (+/- 2 dB), with an output level of 3.8 mV (3.54 cm/sec at 1 kHz).
The headshell has also been redesigned for the new cartridge and is now manufactured from a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer which helps to reduce the impact of vibrations and cuts down on the overall weight of the tonearm.
Tracking force and anti-skating are factory pre-adjusted which make the A1.2 plug & play ready.
The automatic operation of the Pro-Ject Automat 1.2 raises another issue — does the mechanism that lifts and lowers the tonearm actually impact the performance of the deck?
Pro-Ject designed it in such a manner that the electrical components and motors completely disengage from the tonearm once it has stabilized on the record surface.
The table also features a switchable phono preamplifier, making it upgradable; you are free to use the MM phono pre-amplifier in your integrated amplifier or wireless speakers if they provide better sound quality.
The table also comes with the Pro-Ject Connect it E RCA cable that includes a grounding wire.
Specifications
| Speed: | 33, 45 (electronic speed change) |
| Drive principle: | belt drive, fully automatic |
| Platter: | damped aluminium platter |
| Wow & flutter: | 33: +/-0,27%; 45: +/-0.25% |
| Speed drift: | 33: +/-0,75%; 45: +/-0.65% |
| Signal to noise: | 65dB |
| Tonearm: | ultra-light-mass 8.3” aluminium tonearm |
| Effective arm length: | 211mm |
| Overhang: | 19.5mm |
| Included accessories: | 15V DC / 0,8A power supply, dust cover, 7‘‘ single adapter, feltmat, phono cable |
| Power consumption: | 1.5W |
| Dimensions: | 430 x 130 x 365 mm (WxHxD) |
| Weight: | 5.6 kg |
The Bottom Line
Pro-Ject deserves praise for furthering this concept and making real changes that will only make this table a better option for vinyl listeners. The table is available in black and white finishes and will start shipping in April. The table is priced at £469. The turntable should be available in the U.S. soon but the price has not been published.
If the Automat 1.2 feels too basic for you, Pro-ject also offers the Automat A2 that features a number of upgraded design components; it’s an expensive table when you consider what else you can purchase from Pro-Ject or Rega for under $1,500 USD. Does the automatic operation and sub-chassis warrant the additional asking price? Not entirely sure.
The Automat 1.2 seems to offer solid value for the money – unlike the new Pro-Ject Flatten It “Vinyl Record Flattening Machine” that is going to retail for $1,000.
For more information: project-audio.com/en/product/a1-2/
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Anton
March 29, 2025 at 12:20 am
Agree that there is a valid reason for some people to use an automatic table and that table set-up is probably beyond the capabilities of a lot of newbies.
The price of this table is actually reasonable if the performance is comparable to other tables in the $500 to $600 range.
The more expensive table looks like a rip-off. Adding a sub-chassis, MDF plinth and $99 MM cartridge does not justify the $1,500 price.
Buy a Rega Planar 3 with a better cartridge for less money and I bet it destroys the A2.
Hope your tremors subside. That can’t be easy.
Mike Cornell
March 29, 2025 at 11:50 am
Automation certainly makes sense, especially for kids who are less than careful or for anyone, as you say, that has issues with hand tremors etc. The only thing I would like to see is a detachable headshell to facilitate changing/upgrading the cartridge.
ORT
March 29, 2025 at 1:48 pm
When it comes to turntables I am very much in favor of fully automatic models. When it comes to the maker of turntables I am unabashedly enthusiastic for Pro-Jett. I own 3 of their Beatles ‘tables and one of their X2 Walnut players with a thick acrylic platter weighing in at 22 lbs. all of which a Manuel.
I own a Dual automatic too but if ever I buy another auto ‘table it will be probably be from Pro-Ject because they have become my favorite brand of ‘table not only because of their excellent build quality but the help and kindness shown me by Buzz Goddard over the years as began my journey back into vinyl.
He is a gentleman and vinyl enthusiast and while i cannot call him a (Steve Martin ALERT!) “…personal friend of mine!”, I do consider him to be someone that cares enough to help a stranger as though they were just that. A friend.
The ORTicle at Helfi