Click to see Which? 2011 award winners videocast

Search

Back to Turntables
 

Project ESSENTIAL

 

PROJECTESSENTIALBlack Turntable

  • Feature Banner

(For more features refer to the specification table below.)

Find your local storecall to order

TSP £149.95 SAVE £10

NOW £139.95

Add to your Bag
read more
read more

OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION AT CHECKOUT

The Pro-Ject Essential turntable is exactly that. A turntable that gives you the basics to play records, with no superfluous frills.

Compare the Essential with other turntables around this price and there's simply no comparison. Where rivals use thin, metal platters, plastic plinths and decidedly ordinary bearings, the Essential uses a solid MDF plinth, thick MDF platter and a well engineered bearing. Moving to the tonearm and, again, the Project Essential is leagues ahead of its rivals. A one-piece aluminium arm tube with under-slung counter weight and adjustable bias makes a mockery of the usual, non-adjustable tonearms standard on many turntables of this price. The icing on the cake is a good quality Ortofon OM3 cartridge that on its own is worth around £35.

So the Essential is built like a proper turntable, but does it sound like one? The answer is a resounding yes! Given its price, the Essential sounds superb and is the perfect first turntable or the ideal way back into playing a treasured vinyl collection. Next to its rivals, the Essential sounds crisp, clean and clear with a surprisingly powerful and deep bass response. If you thought that vinyl sounded thin, scratchy and inferior to CD then this might be the budget turntable to change your mind.

Finished in a tough, matte black paint, the Essential won't win any beauty prizes but it is certainly practical and durable. The standard lid adds further to the no-nonsense approach.

At Richer Sounds we really love this turntable and once you take a listen to it, we think you will too!

Picture approximate.

  

PRINT FEATURES

Pitch ControlIs pitch control included? Adjusts the pitch of the music - usually by around +/- 9%No
Onboard Phono StageDoes it feature an onboard phono stage? Allows the turntable to be plugged into an amp without a phono inputNo
Auto/ManualThe type of drive system. Auto turntables stop the record, lift the arm and return it to restManual
Speeds33/45
USB OutputDoes it have a USB output? This allows the turntable to be plugged directly into a computer - allowing for easy copying from vinyl to the computer's hard drive.No
DimensionsSize of unit (W x D x H) in mmNA
WeightWeight of unit,unboxed, in KgNA
Direct DriveDoes it feature a Direct Drive system?No
Belt DriveDoes it feature a Belt Drive system?Yes
Eco FriendlyDoes this product conform to energy efficient standards? These standards include the American "Energy Star", the European "Energy Flower" or "EcoLabel" and the UK EST (Energy Saving Trust) certification.No

"The Essential is yet another excellent budget Pro-ject. There's little to complain about here.

Details levels are good, and rarely does the turntable sound flustered, even when it's asked to replay something demanding.

Considering the price point there's little of substance to criticise here. The Essential is decently made, easy to set-up and sounds great.

You can't ask for much more than that, especially at this price level."

- What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision magazine 		What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision magazine
DELIVERY CHARGES

  1. Interconnects/speaker cable/Blank Media
    FREE

  2. Single units and speakers
    FREE per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (4-6 working days)
    £6.99 per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (1-3 working days)
    £15.99 per item : Saturday by 12pm (order before 11.30am Friday)

  3. Batteries
    £1 per pack

  4. Headphones and other accessories
    FREE per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (4-6 working days)
    £6.99 per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (1-3 working days)
    £15.99 per item : Saturday by 12pm (order before 11.30am Friday)

  5. Speaker stands and remote controls
    FREE per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (4-6 working days)
    £6.99 per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (1-3 working days)
    £15.99 per item : Saturday by 12pm (order before 11.30am Friday)

  6. Racks
    FREE per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (4-6 working days)
    £6.99 per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (1-3 working days)
    £15.99 per item : Saturday by 12pm (order before 11.30am Friday)

  7. LCD/Plasma Screens up to 37"
    FREE per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (4-6 working days)
    £6.99 per item : Mon - Fri 8.30 - 18.00 (1-3 working days)
    £18.99 per item : Saturday by 12pm (order before 11.30am Friday)

  8. LCD/Plasma Screens 38" and above **
    FREE per item (Mon - Fri between 8.30am and 18.00)
    £69.99 per item : Saturday by 12pm (order before 12pm Thursday)

    ** SENT BY SPECIALIST COURIER

Delivery time within 6 working days.

 
DELIVERY INFORMATION

All orders are shipped via our friends at DPD, except high value desirable items such as plasma and LCD TVs over 37 inches, which are sent fully insured with a specialist carrier.

If this is your first order with us, please ensure that the only address you enter is the credit card billing address, as this is the only address to which we can deliver. If you have previously placed an order on our website, you will be offered an alternative delivery address if your order value is
less than £500. Also, ensure you only click the submit order button once, as it will take a minute or so to process.

Delivery occurs within 6 working days (unless ordered on a 1-3 working days service). If after this time you have still to take receipt of your order email webaftersales@richersounds.com providing your order number, name, address, and brief details of what you ordered. We strive to answer all queries within a working day, although at busy times we do ask that you bear with us. Please submit your query only once, as repeated emails/telephone calls only serves to slow down our response time and can result in further delays to your order.

All deliveries must be signed for. They will NOT be left in garages, sheds, outside loos, porches etc. You must examine the goods before signing for them to ensure they are in good condition - if packaging is damaged please do not accept goods. Instead notify us as soon as possible. If there is no-one in to sign for the goods, they will be taken back to the courier depot and a card left.

If we are out of stock of an item or there is a problem, we will contact you as soon as is possible.

 
DELIVERY TRACKING

Once you have placed an order and the order has been dispatched, you will receive an e-mail (usually the day before delivery) from DPD containing your tracking information. Please note that this does not apply to plasma screens or accessories such as remote controls, cables, leads etc.

 

Cancel Add to Bag
Add to Bag
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN ADDED TO YOUR BASKET!

Prices valid in store (all including VAT) until close of business on the date below.
(some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online)

Monday 21-05-2012

Copyright © Richer Sounds PLC. 2012