Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB Turntable (OM5e)

The budget model Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB has a minimalistic Spartan design and, according to the company, is distinguished by the fact that it does not contain a single plastic part except for a protective cap for the cartridge. The developers "cut" the base, which is a narrow rigid MDF board with rounded ends. Directly below the base is a special platter made of artificial stone that provides the correct center of gravity for the turntable and also serves as a fulcrum for the main bearing. Thanks to this design, noise, rumble and vibrations of the engine are eliminated.

The 300 mm diameter platter protrudes beyond the base and successfully resists resonances. It is also made of MDF and equipped with a felt mat. The main bearing is made of stainless steel and has a bronze cup with a Teflon coated bottom.

The DC motor has a low vibration level and is equipped with a double drive pulley, on which a belt is put on to transfer torque to the platter. The rotation speed is selected manually. To do this, it is enough to move the belt from one pulley block to another. Only two options are available: 33.3 or 45 rpm. Power for the motor is provided by an external adapter.

The Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB comes with a straight, ultra-light 8.6" aluminum tonearm preloaded with an Ortofon OM5E cartridge. The turntable is fully assembled and adjusted at the factory, so it's ready to play right out of the box. To do this, it is enough to remove the bearing limiter, put the belt on the platter, remove the plastic protection of the cartridge and connect the turntable to the amplifier.

This model features a built-in MM phono stage with gold-plated RCA output jacks, allowing it to be connected directly to the line-in of a preamp or full amp. On board there is a 16-bit Delta Sigma ADC and a USB port for connecting to a computer in order to digitize vinyl records. The maximum bit depth and sampling rate of the resulting file is 16 bit/48 kHz. For digitization, it is convenient to use the free software Audacity.

The Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB turntable delivers the right tonal balance and delivers clear, precise, and smooth analog sound. The model has an excellent price / quality ratio, which distinguishes it from other budget turntables.

Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB Turntable Features

• Almost no plastic parts
• Narrow MDF base with clever center of gravity
• MM phono stage, USB port and 16-bit ADC for digitizing records
• Preinstalled Ortofon OM5E Cartridge

Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB Turntable Specifications