Home / Audio / Hi-Fi

Pro-Ject’s Stunning New Turntables Are for Certified Audiophiles Only

Known best for its entry-level turntables, the popular Austrian hi-fi brand can mix it up with elite audiophiles, too.

Close-up of a sleek, modern turntable tonearm and platter assembly with a polished chrome finish on a glossy black base. The tonearm is curved and mounted on a cylindrical pivot, featuring fine adjustment components and a counterweight. The platter is thick and layered, reflecting light with a metallic sheen.Pro-Ject
Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Tucker Bowe

Published

·

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Today, Pro-Ject is best known for its entry-level or midrange turntables, priced between $300 and $600, designed as the “next step up” for those looking to get a little more serious about vinyl.

However, the popular Austrian hi-fi manufacturer also makes some truly high-end turntables, like the $7,000 The Classic Reference and the company’s new flagship, the $15,000 Signature 12.2.

Both of these turntables were unveiled a year ago, but, as noted by What Hi-Fi?, they were both prototypes. Fast forward to the present day, and if you’re pockets are deep enough, both of these audiophile-grade turntables can now actually be purchased.

Pro-Ject’s most advanced turntable

A sleek, modern turntable with a glossy black base and metallic components. The tonearm is extended over a spinning vinyl record, and the turntable is positioned on a white surface near a window. The design features polished metal knobs and a clear, layered platter.
Pro-Ject’s Signature 12.2 is the brand’s new flagship turntable.
Pro-Ject

Let’s start with the new flagship turntable, the Pro-Ject Signature 12.2, which the brand claims represents “the highest level of turntable technology at the most accessible price point possible.”

The Signature 12.2 weighs over 80 pounds and is composed of more than 100 CNC-machined metal parts. It features a 25-pound record platter and a 50-pound anti-resonant MDF plinth, each of which is designed to dampen vibrations and ensure the clearest possible signal path.

High-end turntable with a sleek black base and polished silver components, including a large platter holding a black vinyl record, a tonearm with a cartridge, and multiple control knobs and mechanisms, placed on a white pedestal against a wooden floor background.
The Signature 12.2 weighs over 80 pounds and features over 100 CNC-machined metal parts.
Pro-Ject

The turntable itself has a flywheel belt-drive design. It has a 12-inch aluminum tonearm with a 3-point pivot bearing for extra stability. The removable headshell allows enthusiasts to easily swap in different moving-coil (MC) cartridges. (No, it doesn’t come equipped with a cartridge.)

A modern, high-end turntable with a sleek black base and multiple shiny metallic components, including a thick platter and a tonearm. It is placed on a white surface next to a small silver control box with knobs and switches. The background shows a window with blurred greenery outside.
The Signature 12.2 paired with Pro-Ject’s external phono preamplifier.
Pro-Ject

At $15,000, the Signature 12.2 is the most high-end and expensive turntable that Pro-Ject has ever made.

According to the brand, listeners can expect it to deliver “a deep, full and immersive sound quality that’ll deliver new sonic experiences — even from songs users have heard a thousand times.”

The elevated Classic

A close-up of a vintage turntable with a black vinyl record on it. The turntable features a polished wooden base and shiny gold and silver metal components, including the tonearm and record clamp. The surface beneath the record is reflective, adding to the luxurious appearance.
The Classic Reference is a higher-end version of the brand’s Classic Evo.
Pro-Ject

If the Signature 12.2 is too rich for your blood, but you’re still in the market for a gorgeous, truly high-end turntable … meet the Classic Reference.

Pro-Ject’s Classic line of turntables blends modern technologies with retro designs reminiscent of the 1960s and 70s. According to the brand, you can think of The Classic Reference as a “supremely upgraded” version of The Classic Evo ($1,999).

A close-up of a modern turntable with a sleek, reflective black base, a textured gray platter mat, and a shiny silver tonearm. The turntable has a minimalist design with a central spindle featuring a knurled metal knob.
The Classic Reference in silver (with a gloss black plinth) is $1,000 more affordable than the brass model.
Pro-Ject

Like the Classic Evo, The Classic Reference features a similar design and clean look, with a thick platter and a brushed metal top plate that appears like it’s built directly into the wooden plinth.

However, The Classic Reference has numerous hi-fi upgrades and incorporates pieces from the VPO 175, a special-edition turntable that Pro-Ject launched in 2018 to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

A close-up of a vintage turntable with a black vinyl record on it. The turntable features gold and chrome accents, including a gold platter and tonearm base, with a sleek, polished wooden base. The background shows soft, diffused light coming through sheer white curtains.
The Classic Reference in brass with an Acacia plinth.
Pro-Ject

Every aspect of The Classic Reference is engineered for high-fidelity playback. It features an S-shaped tonearm with high-precision bearings, and it’s mounted to a large aluminum alloy top plate. It also has a platter that rotates on an aluminum sub-platter, which is belt-driven from the AC motor.

The Classic Reference is available in two finishes: silver with a gloss black plinth or brass with an Acacia plinth, the latter of which is more expensive.

Price and availability

The Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 costs $14,999 and is only available in a “luxurious piano-black” finish.

Pro-Ject’s The Classic Reference comes in two finishes. The silver model with a gloss black plinth costs $5,999, while the brass model with an Acacia plinth costs an extra grand.

Both models are available from Pro-Ject’s online store, as well as from Henley Audio, a UK-based audio retailer

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

Read More

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

add as a preferred source on google
,