A fully automatic turntable that is still a Pro-Ject underneath — German-made drive mechanism, Ortofon OM10 cartridge, electronic speed change, and a tonearm that lifts and returns itself at the end of the side. Fully automatic turntables largely disappeared from serious hi-fi when the industry decided that mechanical linkages near a tonearm were an unacceptable compromise. Pro-Ject disagreed, and the Automat A1 is the result. Press start and the arm lifts, swings to the lead-in groove and lowers itself. At the end of the side it lifts, returns and switches the motor off. You never touch the arm if you do not want to, and the deck will not sit spinning against the run-out groove all night because you fell asleep. The drive and automatic mechanism are, by Pro-Ject’s own account, handmade in Germany. Pro-Ject’s current page for the A1’s successor describes the drive as German-made with final assembly in the Czech Republic; the documentation for the A1 itself simply says handmade in Germany. Either way, this is not an automatic mechanism bought in from a generic supplier. The tonearm is an ultra-light-mass 8.3-inch aluminium design with an Ortofon OM10 fitted and aligned. Speed change between 33 and 45rpm is electronic, by button, with no belt to move. The whole thing is a deliberate answer to a real question: what do you buy for someone who wants records to be easy, without buying them something disposable? Features Fully automatic start, lift and return — the arm cues itself and shuts the motor off at the end of the side Ortofon OM10 moving-magnet cartridge, fitted and pre-adjusted 8.3-inch ultra-light-mass aluminium tonearm Electronic 33/45rpm speed change by button Damped, CNC-machined die-cast aluminium platter Drive mechanism handmade in Germany Dust cover, felt mat, 7-inch adapter and phono cable in the box Specifications Type: Fully automatic belt-driven turntable Cartridge: Ortofon OM10 moving-magnet, pre-adjusted. Pro-Ject does not republish Ortofon’s cartridge specification on this product Automatic function: Automatic tonearm cueing at start, automatic lift and return at end of side, automatic motor shut-off Tonearm: 8.3″ ultra-light-mass aluminium Effective tonearm length: 211mm Overhang: 19.5mm Effective tonearm mass: Not published Anti-skate: Pre-adjusted. Pro-Ject does not publish the mechanism type Platter: Damped die-cast, CNC-machined aluminium Speeds: 33 and 45rpm, changed electronically by button. No 78rpm option is published Wow and flutter: ±0.27% at 33rpm; ±0.25% at 45rpm Signal-to-noise ratio: 65dB Power supply: External 15V DC / 0.8A universal supply Power consumption: 1.5W Dimensions: 430 x 130 x 365 mm (W x H x D) Weight: 5.6kg net Supplied accessories: Dust cover, felt mat, 7″ single adapter, phono cable, power supply Country of manufacture: Handmade in Germany per Pro-Ject’s A1 documentation. Pro-Ject’s page for the current A1.2 revision describes the drive as handmade in Germany with assembly in the Czech Republic Warranty: Two years from date of purchase, extendable to three years by registering the product with Pro-Ject and subscribing to their newsletter. Cartridges, styli and drive belts are wear items and are excluded. Pro-Ject states that warranty is administered by the local distributor and that terms can vary by region; no separate United States term is published. Coverage requires purchase from an authorised dealer — The ’In Groove is one.
