Pro-Ject T2 walnut

The Pro-Ject T2 turntable represents a significant evolution in Pro-Ject’s T series, offering audiophile performance in an elegant and functional design. Launched in spring 2024, this belt-driven turntable stands out with its meticulous construction, a 10 mm thick glass platter, and a 9-inch aluminum tonearm. Equipped with the Sumiko Rainier moving magnet cartridge, it promises faithful and detailed sound reproduction for demanding vinyl enthusiasts. Available in three finishes - high-gloss black, satin white, and walnut - the T2 seamlessly integrates into any interior while delivering superior sound quality.

A design focused on performance

The Pro-Ject T2 is distinguished by its larger and more robust chassis compared to its predecessor, the T1. This size increase is not merely aesthetic: it significantly enhances overall stability and reduces unwanted vibrations during playback. The chassis, crafted with high-precision CNC machining, is designed without any hollow spaces inside, eliminating resonances that could harm sound quality.

The 10 mm thick glass platter, weighing 1.7 kg, is a notable improvement over plastic or lightweight steel alternatives. This material provides optimal tonal neutrality and stability during rotation. Paired with a felt mat, it ensures perfect record isolation and minimizes vibrations.

Specially selected absorbent feet complete this anti-vibration setup by effectively isolating the turntable from external disturbances. These features create a stable and precise playback environment, essential for extracting all the musical nuances from your vinyl records.

An optimized tonearm for precision

The T2’s tonearm represents a significant evolution compared to the T1 model. Its effective length of 230 mm (9 inches) - compared to 8.6 inches on the previous model - greatly improves groove tracking and reduces playback errors. This feature, inspired by high-end models like Pro-Ject’s X2, reflects the audiophile ambition of this turntable.

Made from rigid, single-piece aluminum, the tonearm integrates the headshell directly into its structure, eliminating additional vibrations that removable systems might generate. The new low-friction bearings ensure absolute precision in groove tracking.

A major innovation of the T2 lies in its fully adjustable spring-based anti-skating mechanism. Unlike the external counterweight system of previous models, this new device offers more precise control and intuitive use. This improvement optimizes cartridge performance and extracts maximum detail from your records.

The Sumiko Rainier cartridge: a premium choice

The Pro-Ject T2 comes with a Sumiko Rainier moving magnet cartridge, a high-quality component handcrafted in Japan. This cartridge, sold separately for around €150, offers an extended frequency response from 15 Hz to 25 kHz, capturing all musical nuances with exceptional clarity.

Equipped with an elliptical stylus, the Rainier ensures precise tracking of microgrooves, revealing subtle details often masked by lower-quality cartridges. Its 25 dB channel separation at 1 kHz guarantees a precise and immersive stereo image, while its 5 mV output level ensures optimal compatibility with most phono preamps.

A notable advantage of the Rainier cartridge is its modularity: it can be upgraded simply by replacing its stylus with higher-performance models like the Sumiko Olympia or Moonstone, without needing to replace the entire cartridge. This feature offers a future upgrade path without requiring a full investment in a new cartridge.

Precision motorization and drive

The Pro-Ject T2’s drive system relies on a quiet and precise motor paired with a belt transmission. This configuration, favored in the audiophile world, effectively isolates the platter from motor vibrations, ensuring perfectly stable and silent rotation.

Speed changes between 33 and 45 RPM are made electronically via the power button located on the side of the chassis, offering convenient operation. This solution avoids the manual belt adjustments often required on entry-level turntables.

Beneath the main platter, a refined subplatter design and carefully machined pulley demonstrate attention to mechanical detail. The system rests on an extremely precise spindle-bearing assembly, using high-quality materials (stainless steel and brass) to ensure smooth and stable rotation.

Technical performance is on point, with speed variations limited to 0.6% at 33 RPM and 0.5% at 45 RPM, as well as controlled wow & flutter at 0.19% and 0.17%, respectively. These values, combined with a signal-to-noise ratio of 67 dB, ensure faithful and detailed sound reproduction.

Connectivity and accessories

The Pro-Ject T2 comes with a high-quality semi-symmetrical RCA phono cable, specially designed to provide optimal shielding and low capacitance. This attention to connection quality significantly contributes to the purity of the audio signal transmitted to your amplifier.

Included accessories include an acrylic dust cover with adjustable hinges, a felt mat to protect your records, a 45 RPM adapter, and a universal 15V/800mA external power supply. The external placement of the power supply prevents electromagnetic interference with sensitive audio components.

Power consumption remains moderate at 4.5W during operation and less than 2W in standby mode, reflecting an environmentally conscious design.

Comparison with the previous model

Compared to the T1 model, the Pro-Ject T2 offers several significant improvements:

• A wider (approximately 5 cm) and more robust chassis for better stability
• A longer tonearm (9 inches vs. 8.6 inches) for improved groove tracking
• A new adjustable spring-based anti-skating system, more precise and easier to use
• A superior Sumiko Rainier cartridge (compared to the Ortofon OM5e on the T1)
• A thicker glass platter (10 mm) for better inertia and stability
• An overall weight increase of approximately 1.8 kg, beneficial for vibration isolation

These improvements translate into significantly superior sound quality, with better definition, a more precise stereo image, and more faithful reproduction of musical nuances.

Technical Specifications

Playback Features

• Speed: 33,45 rpm (electronic speed change)
• Principle: belt drive
• Speed variation:
  • 33 rpm: 0.6%
  • 45 rpm: 0.5%
• Wow and flutter:
  • 33 rpm: 0.19%
  • 45 rpm: 0.17%

Mechanical Components

• Platter: 10 mm thick glass, 1.7 kg with felt mat
• Main bearing: stainless steel / brass
• Tonearm: 9-inch aluminum
• Effective tonearm length: 230 mm
• Overhang: 22.0 mm
• Effective tonearm mass: 9.5 g

Audio Features

• Signal-to-noise ratio: 67 dB

Sumiko Rainier Cartridge

• Cartridge type: moving magnet (MM)
• Frequency response: 15 Hz - 25 kHz
• Output level: 5 mV / 1 kHz
• Recommended load resistance: 47 k Ohms
• Channel separation: 25 dB at 1 kHz
• Channel balance: 1.5 dB at 1 kHz
• Stylus type: elliptical
• Lateral dynamic compliance: 12 μm/mN
• Recommended tracking force: 2.0 g
• Weight: 6.5 g

Power Supply and Consumption

• Power supply: 15 V / 800 mA DC, universal power adapter
• Power consumption: 4.5 W / < 2 W in network standby

Physical Specifications

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 457 × 134 × 335 mm
• Net weight: 5.5 kg

Included Accessories

• Dust cover
• Felt mat
• 45 rpm adapter
• Power supply
• RCA phono cable