Pro-Ject E1 Phono vs U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic

Side-by-side specifications and a plain-English account of the recorded differences. Full profiles: Pro-Ject E1 Phono · U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic.

Comparison of Pro-Ject E1 Phono and U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic
Specification Pro-Ject
E1 Phono
U-Turn Audio
Orbit Basic
Price$399Highlighted difference. $249
CategoryBudgetBudget
Statuscurrentcurrent
Years2022–present2013–present
Drivebelt drivebelt drive
Speeds33/45 rpm33/45 rpm
Operationmanualmanual
Cartridge suppliedAudio-Technica AT3600LAudio-Technica AT-VM95E
Phono stageHighlighted difference. YesNo
USB outputNoNo
BluetoothNoNo
PlatterABS with anti-resonance ribsMDF
Tonearm8.6" aluminiumOA3 gimbal
Wow & flutter0.25% (33rpm) / 0.23% (45rpm)<0.125%

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: $150 separates them, with the Pro-Ject E1 Phono 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 E1 Phono 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.

Bottom line: the U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic has the lower reference price; the table shows which documented features change with the $150 gap.

Live retailer offers

Checking current in-stock offers for Pro-Ject E1 Phono…

Retailer searches

12 US retailers stock Pro-Ject — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.

Retailers selling Pro-Ject E1 Phono
RetailerTypeShippingProduct search
Amazon marketplace Free shipping on $35+ orders (free on most items with Prime, often same/next day). Search at Amazon ↗
Audio Advice hifi independent Free shipping on most orders. Search at Audio Advice ↗
B&H Photo Video electronics chain Free expedited shipping on most orders in the contiguous US. Search at B&H Photo Video ↗
Best Buy electronics chain Free shipping on orders $35+; free store pickup at most locations. Search at Best Buy ↗
Crutchfield electronics chain Free shipping on nearly all orders, with free 2-day delivery on most gear. Search at Crutchfield ↗
eBay marketplace Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. Search at eBay ↗
Elusive Disc hifi independent Free shipping on orders over $79. Search at Elusive Disc ↗
Reverb used marketplace Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. Search at Reverb ↗
Sweetwater music retail Free shipping on almost every order, no minimum. Search at Sweetwater ↗
Turntable Lab hifi independent Free shipping to the continental US on most orders (bulk/oversized items excluded). Search at Turntable Lab ↗
Upscale Audio hifi independent Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). Search at Upscale Audio ↗
World Wide Stereo hifi independent Free shipping on all orders. Search at World Wide Stereo ↗

Live retailer offers

Checking current in-stock offers for U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic…

Retailer searches

3 US retailers stock U-Turn Audio — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.

Retailers selling U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic
RetailerTypeShippingProduct search
Amazon marketplace Free shipping on $35+ orders (free on most items with Prime, often same/next day). Search at Amazon ↗
eBay marketplace Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. Search at eBay ↗
World Wide Stereo hifi independent Free shipping on all orders. Search at World Wide Stereo ↗

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