Pro-Ject Automat A2 Review
The Austrian manufacturer Pro-Ject has become an institution when it comes to the mass market for turntables. With the Automat A2, the manufacturer brings a modern vinyl player that pays homage to good old traditions.
by Christian Möller
The Automat A2 is the latest innovation from the renowned Vienna-based manufacturer Pro-Ject, building on the success of its predecessor, the Automat A1. However, Pro-Ject takes a different approach with the A2, using components that originate from the production halls of the former Dual factory, which is immediately evident in this turntable.
At first glance, the Automat A2 impresses with its sleek and minimalist design. The housing is carefully hand-painted in eight layers of matte black, which not only looks aesthetically pleasing but, according to the manufacturer, also effectively minimizes unwanted resonances.
The platter is stylishly recessed into the housing, protruding only a few millimeters from the plinth. This gives it a modern, clean, and tidy appearance. The craftsmanship is excellent; the heavy MDF plinth provides a solid base and, in combination with the silicone feet, decouples the turntable from external influences.
Innovation Meets Tradition
The Automat A2 relies on proven technical foundations and details from the world of turntables, especially from the once world-famous brand Dual. This guarantees solid and reliable performance that meets Pro-Ject’s high standards. The sub-chassis construction with rigid suspension effectively isolates critical elements like the tonearm and platter bearing from external disturbances, which is particularly advantageous in environments with nearby speakers.
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The Automat A2 features an ultra-light 8.3-inch aluminum tonearm reminiscent of Dual’s ULM tonearms introduced in the late 1970s. The gimbal tonearm suspension will also be familiar to Dual enthusiasts. It’s equipped with steel ball bearings to minimize friction. Our test unit showed no bearing play whatsoever. The tracking force on this tonearm is not adjusted via the counterweight, as with most others. Instead, a precise spring is used, more akin to something from the watchmaking sector. This allows the tracking force to be set much more accurately, and the process is easier to perform. The anti-skating also operates with spring force instead of thread weights.
Tried and Improved
However, the highlight of the A2 is undoubtedly its integrated full automation. This also originates from Dual and has a long constructive history behind it. It operates entirely mechanically without electronic components. Pro-Ject has made some improvements, though. The cover for the mechanical automation and the entire sub-chassis is now made of aluminum die-cast instead of plastic. This is primarily intended to improve reliability and durability.
In the test, the automation worked smoothly, reliably, and quietly. I felt transported back to my youth when I acquired my first Dual turntable in 1980. It’s always a pleasure to watch the automation move the tonearm to the lead-in groove as if by magic, gently and precisely lowering it, and bringing it back to its rest position at the end of playback. Pure delight!
Easy Operation
As befits a fully automatic turntable, you only need the mechanical start/stop lever for operation. The rotational speed can be adjusted via a rotary switch. Cleverly, you can select the record size independently of the speed. This is indispensable for a fully automatic when playing maxi-singles that are the size of an LP but run at 45 RPM. The electronic speed switching even offers 78 RPM for shellac recordings, although you would need to use a different cartridge for that. A point of criticism: The tonearm cannot be adjusted in height, so you’re reliant on certain cartridges that have the same height as the factory-installed Ortofon 2M Red. A minor drawback we noticed was the lever for the tonearm lift, which seemed a bit wobbly to us. However, with a fully automatic, you would rarely need it.
An Exceptional Listening Experience
The sound of the Automat A2 was impressive. The Ortofon cartridge delivered a largely balanced, brilliant sound image, tight bass, and silky mids for lively vocal presence. The airy highs revealed details and nuances. The soundstage was always well-defined. This vinyl player is one of those devices that immerse its listeners in the music from the first second.
Pro-Ject Automat A2 Performance Measured
Spectrum at 3.15 kHz (above): The slim peak indicates good speed stability and correct centering, satisfactory 2-sigma rated wow and flutter of ±0.1%. The peak is shifted to the right; the turntable rotates 0.89% too fast. Additionally, side maxima are recognizable, indicating the drive’s inherent noise. Rumble (below): negligible 50 Hz hum, but individual frequencies are present that stand out, especially with the measurement coupler (blue) but also from the record’s background noise (red) (peaks at 18, 36, 53, 105, 216 Hz). Rated rumble-to-noise ratio: 68 dB. The Ortofon 2M Red convinced in frequency response (+2 dB/10 kHz), channel separation (33/36 dB L/R), and high-frequency distortion (0.02/0.06% L/R).
Here is the translated and converted information from the image:
PRO-JECT AUTOMAT A2 Specs
- List Price: 1200 Euros
- Warranty: 2 years
- Dimensions (W × H × D): 43 × 15 × 36.5 cm
- Weight: 7.3 kg
- Drive System: Belt
- Speeds: 33, 45 & 78 RPM
- Speed Control: Electronic
- Tonearm Height Adjustment: No
- Adjustable Feet: No
- Pitch Control: No
- Fully Automatic / Auto Stop: Yes / Yes
- Special Features: Dynamic tracking force
CONCLUSION:
PROS & CONS
✅ Stylish design
✅ Precise full automation
✅ Excellent sound
✅ Includes dust cover
❌ Tonearm and feet are not height adjustable
- Sound Quality: 10/10 (Original: 135 points)
- Features: 9/10 (Original: “Sehr gut” = “Very good”)
- Usability: 9/10 (Original: “Sehr gut” = “Very good”)
- Build Quality: 9/10 (Original: “Sehr gut” = “Very good”)
AUDIO BENCHMARK
- Overall Rating: 10/10 (135 points converted)
- Price/Performance: Outstanding
The Pro-Ject Automat A2 is an impressive vinyl player that combines the tradition of German audio engineering with modern innovations. Great design, high-quality craftsmanship, precise technology, and outstanding sound make it a recommendation for every fan of automatic turntables.
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AUTOMAT A2 - Made in Germany
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