Pro-Ject Automat A1 vs Pro-Ject E1

Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Pro-Ject Automat A1 · Pro-Ject E1.

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 E1 costs less, coming in $50 (about 25%) below the Pro-Ject Automat A1.

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 A1 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 A1 is fully automatic — press start and the arm cues itself and lifts at the end of the side — where the Pro-Ject E1 needs you to cue the arm by hand.

Bottom line: $50 separates these reference prices. That difference is factual; this specification comparison does not assign an overall winner.

Compare two different decks →