EAT Prelude vs Pro-Ject Automat A2

Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: EAT Prelude · Pro-Ject Automat A2.

Practical differences

Highlighted cells show a lower reference price, support for more listed speeds, or the presence of a convenience feature. They are not an overall score.

On price alone the Pro-Ject Automat A2 costs less, coming in $96 (about 6%) below the EAT Prelude.

Both are belt-drive, so that part of the experience should feel similar on either deck: a motor that's mechanically isolated from the platter by an elastic belt, which is the usual route to a quieter noise floor — the default choice across most of hi-fi.

The Pro-Ject Automat A2 has a built-in phono stage. Skip the phono stage and you'll need one built into your amp, or a separate box, to play through normal speakers.

The Pro-Ject Automat A2 is fully automatic — press start and the arm cues itself and lifts at the end of the side — where the EAT Prelude needs you to cue the arm by hand.

Bottom line: $96 separates these reference prices. That difference is factual; this specification comparison does not assign an overall winner.

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