Pro-Ject Automat A2 Turntable

AUTOMAT A2 Fully automatic sub-chassis turntable   Our automatic player taken to the next level A2 Technology The A2 continues the success of our 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. We 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.       Why sub-chassis? Automatic turntables have many small mechanical parts, which means you need more hollow space in the chassis to fit them. Hollow spaces are the biggest problem as they always reinforce resonances. By using a sub-chassis, you decouple the tonearm and drive from the chassis. In other words, a sub-chassis is a MUST for automatic turntables and enables them to reach excellent sound performance.     Floating sub-chassis 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 adds an extra layer of protection against outside noise, resonances and interference. This has especially big advantages, when your loudspeakers are very close to the turntable. Pro-Ject Design Philosophy 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.     Improved automatic mechanism We have invested in a new aluminium diecast top for the whole sub-chassis and automatic mechanism. We have tried to avoid plastic parts from the original German automatic design as much as possible. This is the first time in all the 50 years of its existance that the original automatic design has received an improvement like this. Due to the new aluminium diecast cover and the massive chassis, the whole sub-chassis construction is more effective and isolates unwanted resonance much better.         Massless tracking force adjustment The A2 uses a new system for setting the tracking force. As usual, you first level out the tonearm with the damped counterweight. Damping the counter- weight makes the tonearm as a whole more robust and decouples the counterweight from the tonearm reducing resonant frequencies. Afterwards the tracking force is set by turning a dial directly on the tonearm bearing. Not only is this system very fast, precise and efficient, it also 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.         Improved tonearm & cardanic bearing The A2 features an 8.3” ultra-light-mass aluminium tonearm with an improved tonearm tube with bigger diameter. The is a perfect match for the slightly heavier Ortofon 2M Red. In combination 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 has received a major upgrade, is now made out of aluminium and features a 4-pin-point cardanic construction with steel tip ball bearings from our own production. This allows for unhindered and free tonearm movement with the lowest amount of friction possible. The A2 will track your vinyl records with the utmost of precision and tightness.     Why Ultra-Light-Mass tonearm? Since forever, there has been this technical discussion about light-weight tonearms with high compliance MM cartridges vs. heavy tonearms with low compliance MC cartridges. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages and you‘ll find detailed analysis in concerned literature. However, when it comes to automatic turntables, we NEED ultra-light-mass tonearms. There is no way around it. We need the automatic mechanics to be like those in mechanical watches: small and precise. A heavy tonearm would result in a rougher mechanical design as much higher masses have to be moved. Therefore, the A2 reaches performance hights like no other automatic turntable on the market.     Audiophile Features Ortofon 2M Red New Headshell Heavy MDF main chassis Moving-Magnet Cartridge 2M Red is an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth. (*US Version comes with Sumiko Rainier) Carbon fibre reinforced anti-magnetic headshell The headshell is made of carbon fibre reinforced polymer which makes it super stable and rigid, all while keeping the weight at a lowest to work perfectly with the ultra-light-mass tonearm design. Heavy and avoids hollow spaces 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. Such a massive chassis is very unusual in this price range and the base for natural sound. Floating sub-chassis Damped Platter Connect it E With aluminium diecast top Isolating all the most critical turntable elements adds an extra layer of protection against outside noise. A must for automatic turntables. Precision balanced aluminium The damping ring on the inside adds weight and reduces resonances. In the last step the platter is turned and precision balanced to receive its fine edges and lowest wow and flutter deviations. Semi-balanced RCA cable To guarantee a perfect connection to your amp we use a high-quality phono RCA cable. Our Connect it E is a semi-balanced, low-capacitance cable, with superior shielding. 33/45/78 RPM Automat Line Ready for singles, LPs & shellacs No need to change the belt position. Easily change speed with the push of only a single button & listen to your favourite LP, single or shellac. Handmade in Germany The A2 is fully handmade in Germany and looks back on decades of experience. Paired with Pro-Ject technology, it sets new standards in automatic turntable design.     REVIEW & AWARDS Pro-Ject Audio Systems Automat A2 Turntable and Sumiko Oyster Rainier Cartridge - Read More "As I mentioned, I like automatic turntables, and the Automat A2 shows how far automatic-turntable technology has advanced. The mechanism operated almost silently, with no apparent drag on the motor. It handled records gently and played them superbly. Although the Automat A2 is not inexpensive, it impressed me as, very possibly, the best fully automatic turntable I’ve reviewed. Its reproduction of nearly every piece I threw at it was perhaps not outright exciting, but always steady and smooth. If you, too, appreciate the convenience of an automatic turntable, by all means, examine the Pro-Ject Automat A2 and see if you don’t agree." - Thom Moon   Review: Pro-Ject A2 Convenience is key - Read More "The expensive Pro-Ject A2 is the turntable to choose if ease of use is a top priority. Enjoying your record collection doesn’t get much easier. The sound is perfectly smooth and far superior to the cheaper A1 player. Unfortunately, it’s not on par with what you can get from other players in the same price range. This is important to realise. If sound quality is most important, choose something else, and if you’re looking for a player that can be easily connected without the need for a separate phono stage, there are alternatives to the A2." - Lasse Svendsen      SPECIFICATIONS Speeds 33, 45, 78 (electronic speed change) Principle belt drive, fully automatic Platter damped aluminium platter Speed drift 33: +/-0,27%; 45: +/-0,22% Wow & Flutter 33: +/-0,14%; 45: +/-0,12% Signal to noise 74dB Tonearm ultra-light-mass 8,3” aluminium tonearm Effective arm length 211 mm Overhang 19.5 mm Effective arm mass 7 g Included accessories 15V DC / 0,8A power supply, dust cover, 7‘‘ single adapter, feltmat, phono cable Power consumption 1,5W Dimensions 430 x 150 x 365 mm (WxHxD) Weight 7,3 kg net / 10 kg with packaging