Platine vinyle manuelle Pro-Ject T1 EVO

 Following the success of its Pro-Ject T1 turntable, the Austrian manufacturer decided to upgrade it to offer greater flexibility of use and improved performance, while offering benchmark build and playback quality for the price. Of course, this means producing a turntable that is entirely made in Europe and that competes against ‘Made in China’ rivals! And that's commendable, but not necessarily obvious...

Pro-Ject T1 EVO: chassis and finish

The whole system rests on a lacquered or veneered MDF plinth, depending on the finish. This is rigid and not very sensitive to resonance.

There's no plastic to spoil the party, unlike some of its competitors. Absorbent feet limit vibrations from the stand inside the vinyl record player.

We have in our hands the wood finish of this Pro-Ject T1 EVO. And we have to admit, this ‘little’ turntable looks great! The wood finish is worthy of models costing twice as much.

Pro-Ject T1 EVO: platter and drive

For economic reasons, Pro-Ject has opted for an 8mm thick glass platter for this T1 EVO.

We know that in terms of resonance, glass is not the best choice. However, it has a number of advantages: it's easy to machine and to make perfectly flat, its mass gives it excellent inertia and it looks great! All at an affordable price...

Pro-Ject points out, however, that the silica has been treated to limit the platter's resonance. Above all, the sub-platter is insensitive to resonance.

The axle and bearing are made of stainless steel and brass. They are machined to a tolerance of 0.001 mm!

The platter is driven by a DC motor via a belt. The major difference with this new T1 EVO is that the gear change (33 and 45t) is electronic. This is done via a switch under the plinth on the left. The electronic control of the motor has been particularly optimised by the manufacturer.

Pro-Ject T1 EVO: tone arm and phono cartridge

The arm chosen by the manufacturer is none other than that of the Essential III turntable, but here in a slightly simplified version.

This 8.6’ long tone arm is made of perfectly machined aluminium in a single piece. It is fitted with low-friction bearings.

The phono cables are Pro-Ject Connect It E of excellent quality. They are very effectively shielded and offer very low resistance and capacitance.

The Pro-Ject T1 EVO is fitted as standard with the famous cartridge, the classic Ortofon OM10.

Pro-Ject T1 EVO accessories

The Pro-Ject T1 EVO is of course supplied with a translucent cover and a felt plate cover, as well as a phono cable and external power supply.

Pro-Ject T1 EVO: set-up

It's easy to set up: just plug it into a phono input and press the power button.

For our part, we naturally check the settings of the phono cartridge and tone arm, which are often rather approximate, before sending it to you.

Pro-Ject T1 EVO: test and listening

The reproduction is surprising for a turntable of this range and simplicity. Not only is it beautiful to look at, it's also very effective!

The bass is surprising in its density and presence. Of course, this doesn't detract from the excellent midrange and treble.

The soundstage is not the widest on the market, but it is realistic and precise.

We also appreciate the fluidity of the message and the excellent overall balance. The most surprising thing is certainly the dynamic range, which is unrivalled in this range!

As you can see, this Pro-Ject T1 EVO turntable is a bargain at this price! And, above all, it stands up to the soulless, unmusical entry-level products that leave users disappointed.

Recommended for demanding music lovers with little money!

Note that this model is available in two other versions: PRO-JECT T1 EVO PHONO and PRO-JECT EVO BT.