Pro-Ject’s Automatic Player Taken to The Next Level
The A2 continues the success of Pro-Ject’s fully mechanical automatic turntables. With the A2, you can now select the drop off point for 7“(singles) or 12“ (LPs) for 45 RPM records. They have also added 78 RPM to the system allowing you to dig back into old shellac collections. To enjoy listening to your A2, just press start and the tonearm automatically moves to the lead in groove of the record. Once playing, the automatics are completely taken out of the equation. And because the automatics are working entirely mechanically – no additional electronics needed – they truly do not influence or degrade sound quality during playback! At the end of the record, the tonearm is automatically brought back and gently lowered into its resting position and the motor shut off.
Features
- Sub-chassis Design
- Improved Tonearm & Gimbal Bearing
- Black-Aluminum Ultra-Light-Mass Tonearm
- 33/45/78 RPM Electronic Regulated DC Motor
- Pre-Adjusted Sumiko Rainier Cartridge Included
Improved Tonearm & Gimbal Bearing
Pro-ject’s A2 automatic record player features an ultra-low-mass 8.3″ aluminum tonearm. They use an arm tube with a larger diameter to accommodate more cartridges. Pro-Ject proudly supplies the A2 with a Sumiko Rainier ($149 value), which positions you to upgrade to Olympia, Moonstone, or Wellfleet with a simple swap of the stylus.
The suspended sub-chassis design yields a fast response loaded with transient detail and alluring micro-dynamics while the Sumiko Rainier lends its warmth & smoothness- a match made in heaven. The tonearm bearing features a 4-pinpoint gimbal with steel-tip ball bearings made in-house by Pro-Ject. This design yields the lowest amount of friction possible and A2 will trace your record grooves with the utmost precision.
Heavy MDF Plinth, Floating Sub-Chassis
The heavy MDF plinth is carefully hand-painted in a luxurious 8-coat matte black finish. Its mass greatly reduces unwanted resonance and isolates the turntable from external vibration. The A2 then employs a system wherein the tonearm, platter bearing and motor are affixed to a separate, floating sub-chassis. This isolates the most critical components of the turntable from external noise, resonance & interference. This can be especially advantageous when, for example, your loudspeakers are near your turntable in proximity.
Massless Tracking Force Adjustment
Damping the counterweight makes the tonearm as a whole more robust. It also decouples the counterweight from the tonearm which reduces resonant frequencies. Tracking force is set by adjusting a precision spring (as from the wristwatch industry!) affixed to the tonearm bearing. This keeps the center of gravity directly above the bearing center.
Why a Suspended Sub-Chassis Design?
The automatic mechanism is sizable and comprised of many parts. Thusly it requires a substantial cutout from the main plinth. Enclosed hollow spaces in turntables are cavernous propagators of vibration & resonance. By employing a suspended sub-chassis, they decouple the tonearm, cartridge and drive mechanism from the solid, high-mass main chassis, eliminating hollow spaces and their adverse effects on sound quality.
Handmade in Germany
A2’s automatic mechanism is fully handmade in Germany and builds on decades worth of experience in the manufacturing of turntables. Upwards of 98% of its parts & components are made and produced in Germany (either within the factory or in its immediate vicinity). The main chassis is designed & made in Austria and assembly takes place in Germany.
