A2 (2M RED)

Patefonas

Fully automatic sub-chassis turntable

The A2 continues the success of our fully mechanical automatic turntables. New on the automatics of the A2, you can now select the drop off point for 7" (singles) or 12" (LPs) for 45 RPM records. We have also added 78 RPM to the system allowing you to dig back into old shellac collections. In typical Pro-Ject fashion, the motor is electronically controlled for the most accurate and stable playback speeds. Press start and the tonearm is automatically moved 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 are truly not influencing or degrading sound quality during playback!

The new heavy MDF main chassis is made and designed in Austria and carefully hand painted in a luxurious 8-layer matt black finish. It provides a very sturdy base for the sub-chassis and reduces hollow spaces to avoid resonances. The A2 employs a sub-chassis construction, where the tonearm, platter bearing and motor are mounted onto a separate floating sub-chassis. This isolates all the most critical turntable elements further and has especially big advantages, when your loudspeakers are very close to your turntable.

We have invested in a new aluminium diecast top for the whole sub-chassis and automatic mechanism. Trying to avoid plastic parts from the original German automatic design, this is the first time in all the 50 years of its existance that the original automatic design has received an improvement like this.

The A2 features an 8.3” ultra-light-mass aluminium tonearm with an improved tonearm tube. A perfect match for the Ortofon 2M Red. We retain the super fast response and all transient detail with lots of fine microdynamics, while the new 2M Red adds a lot of body and musical warmth. The tonearm bearing is now made out of aluminium and features a 4-pin-point cardanic construction with steel tip-ball bearings from our own production.

The A2 uses a new system for setting the tracking force. First you level out the tonearm with the damped counterweight. Damping the counterweight makes the tonearm more robust and decouples the counterweight reducing resonant frequencies. Afterwards, the tracking force is set by turning a dial directly on the tonearm bearing. This system is very fast, precise and efficient, and keeps the center of gravity directly on top of the bearing center. The spring based anti-skating can also be adjusted directly on the tonearm base.

Adding Pro-Ject designs and ideas, we have spent a lot of time on the A2‘s clean design language. You will see similarities to iconic designs of the German audio industry. Today, we believe that this minimalistic approach is very much modern again. Finally, the A2 comes with our Connect it E phono cable. It is a semi-balanced, low-capacitance cable, with superior shielding and unique in this price class.

• Speed: 33, 45, 78 (electronic speed change)
• Drive principle: belt drive, fully automatic
• Platter: damped aluminium platter
• Wow & Flutter: 33: +/-0.14%; 45: +/-0.12%
• Speed drift: 33: +/-0.27%; 45: +/-0.22%
• Signal to noise: 74 dB
• Tonearm: ultra-light-mass 8.3” aluminium tonearm
• Effective arm length: 211 mm
• Overhang: 19.5 mm
• Included accessories: 15 V DC / 0.8 A power supply, dust cover, 7" single adapter, feltmat, phono cable
• Power consumption: 1.5 W