Pro-Ject Automat A2 vs Pro-Ject X1 B

Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Pro-Ject Automat A2 · Pro-Ject X1 B.

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.

There's a real gap here: $100 separates them, with the Pro-Ject Automat A2 the pricier of the two.

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 Pro-Ject X1 B needs you to cue the arm by hand.

Bottom line: the Pro-Ject X1 B has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the $100 gap.

Compare two different decks →