Feature-Packed 'Table with Built-in Phono Preamp and Optical Digital Output
The Essential II Digital turntable from Pro-Ject comes packed with goodies. Featuring a Pro-Ject 8.6" aluminum tonearm factory fitted with an Ortofon OM5e moving magnet phono cartridge, this 'table delivers excellent sound quality at a ridiculously affordable price.
Here's an especially great feature. The Essential II Digital includes an optical digital output. This allows you to plug it directly into a receiver, integrated amp, or soundbar that has an optical input. The Essential II Digital's 24-bit/96kHz optical output gives you a hi-res data stream that really makes your vinyl comes alive and makes it easy to integrate a turntable into a modern AV system.
"Spot-On Imaging and Tremendous Instrumentation Detail"
"Pro-Ject knows how to make a good budget turntable. The many five-star reviews and Awards we’ve given the company can attest to this," reports England's What Hi-fi? magazine. "The Essential II Digital will reward you with a fine performance."
"The Pro-Ject Essential is a great choice for an entry-level turntable, delivering spot-on imaging and tremendous instrumentation detail," reports Arlen Schweiger in his review for CEPro.com. "With more pristine records, the Essential makes it so you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between vinyl and CD in terms of sound cleanliness."
Features for Accurate Playback
A resonance-optimized particleboard platter helps to quell plinth vibration. A two-step pulley drives the platter’s outside edge via a precision silicon belt. The Essential II Digital incorporates a chrome plated stainless steel axle that rests on a polished steel bearing in a bronze housing for low wow-and-flutter and speed accuracy.
Quality Tonearm Included
A single-piece fixed headshell 8.6" tonearm features hardened stainless steel bearings and rigid aluminum tube to provide superb tracking and resonance reduction. Accurate adjustment cartridge azimuth is easily accomplished.
Built-in MM Phono Stage
Another unique feature of the Essential II Digital is the addition of a built-in MM phono preamplifier. The phono preamp allows for direct connection to a preamplifier, receiver, or integrated amplifier’s auxiliary input for analog recording playback. Or use the optical digital output for connection to an amp, receiver, or soundbar with an optical digital input.