Project T1
Evo BT - manual turntable with Bluetooth - walnut

Turntable - Belt drive - Made in Europe

What makes a good record player is not magic - it is the choice of materials, mechanics and the consistent avoidance of anything that damages the signal. Pro-Ject from Vienna has been pursuing this philosophy for decades and during this time has paved the way to true hi-fi analog sound for more people than any other manufacturer in the world. The T1 EVO is the logical development of this idea: a turntable that completely dispenses with unnecessary frippery and plastic - and instead features real materials, real bearings and a real MM cartridge from Ortofon. Built in Europe, in a factory with decades of experience in turntable construction.

The EVO generation brings noticeable improvements over its predecessor: speed switching between 33 and 45 rpm is now done electronically - no more annoying shifting of the belt. The cartridge supplied has been upgraded to the Ortofon OM10 with elliptical stylus, one of the most recognized MM systems in its class. And the BT version comes with a fully-fledged Bluetooth 5.0 transmitter with aptX HD, which transmits true hi-fi sound wirelessly to Bluetooth speakers or headphones - a concession to modern listening situations without compromising the audiophile substance of the device.

The CNC-milled chassis made of compressed wood fibers is completely free of plastic parts and is manufactured without cavities - a design that absorbs external vibrations rather than amplifying them. What looks like an aesthetic decision is first and foremost an acoustic one: cavities in a chassis act like resonators and color the signal. The T1 EVO does not allow this to happen. The vibration-damped rubber feet also decouple the drive from the surface, so that even footsteps or vibrations do not reach the sensitive pick-up system.

The platter made of solid safety glass is another argument that is unparalleled in this price range. Plastic or lightweight steel platters tend to generate resonances that are transmitted directly to the audio signal. Glass, on the other hand, effectively dampens resonances - a principle that Pro-Ject also uses in much more expensive models. The belt drive mechanically decouples the motor from the platter and thus ensures smooth, quiet running with minimal synchronization fluctuations.

The 8.6-inch aluminum tonearm was specially developed for the T1 EVO. Aluminum offers the ideal combination of rigidity and mass for use with MM systems such as the Ortofon OM10. The low-friction bearings ensure that the cartridge can follow the groove freely and unhindered - crucial for precise, low-distortion tracking right into the innermost grooves. The tracking force and anti-skating are preset to the OM10 at the factory.

The supplied Ortofon OM10 is not an add-on system that you can quickly swap for something better - it is a fully-fledged MM cartridge with an elliptical stylus that reads significantly more information in the groove than a spherical stylus. The elliptical geometry approximates the profile of the original stylus used to cut the record and can therefore bring out the finest high-frequency details and spatial information that a spherical cut simply cannot achieve. The OM system from Ortofon has proven itself over decades and can be easily upgraded to a higher-quality OM stylus system - such as the OM20 or OM30 - without having to replace the cartridge.

The T1 EVO BT covers three completely different setups - in a single device. If you have an amplifier with a phono input, deactivate the internal preamplifier and use the direct phono output. If you have an amplifier without a phono input or active speakers, activate the integrated MM phono pre amplifier with A/D converter and use the line output. And those who want to listen wirelessly can activate the Bluetooth 5.0 transmitter with aptX HD via a switch - a codec that transmits high-resolution audio quality up to 576 kbps via Bluetooth and is therefore significantly higher than the standard A2DP. All three operating modes can be used independently of each other and the Bluetooth transmitter can be deactivated at any time.

The Connect it E phono RCA cables from Pro-Ject included in the scope of delivery have been specially developed for record players: quasi-balanced construction, excellent shielding and low capacitance - important properties because the weak phono signal is more sensitive to capacitive cable influences than any other audio signal. Commercially available RCA cables would be a bad investment here; Pro-Ject includes the right cable right from the start.

The T1 EVO is available in three technical configurations, which are recommended depending on the existing system. The T1 EVO Standard (€399) is the purist choice for anyone who has an amplifier with its own phono input. The T1 EVO Phono (€449) adds the internal MM preamplifier - ideal for amplifiers and active loudspeakers without a phono stage. The T1 EVO BT (€499) also adds the Bluetooth 5.0/aptX HD transmitter for wireless streaming, making it the most flexible of the three versions. All versions are available in three finishes: high-gloss black, matt white and matt walnut.