Pro-Ject E1 turntable
Budget turntables · 2022–? Discontinued
$150–$250 typical US used price
Pro-Ject E1 is a discontinued belt-drive, manual operation, 33/45 rpm playback budget turntable. Typical US used-price evidence is $150–$250.
Decision snapshot
The five things to check first
- Plays
- 33/45 rpm
- System hookup
- Phono input or preamp needed
- Cueing
- Manual cueing
- Stylus path
- Mapped: Stylus 5E
- Buying status
- Used market
Setup bottom line: Budget for a phono input or separate phono preamp as well as amplification and speakers. Check model-specific stylus evidence →
The entry point of Pro-Ject's current E line: everything pre-adjusted at the factory, with an Ortofon OM 5E and electronic speed change.
entry Pro-Ject; sells around half its $329 US retail
Who it suits
Best suited to: a first turntable for casual, low-effort listening. Less ideal for: an existing hi-fi system where you want to hear more detail — the fixed cartridge and light tonearm are the limiting factors there; anyone who wants a manufacturer warranty — this model is no longer sold new.
Compatibility and setup
- Manual operation: you cue and lift the tonearm by hand at the start and end of each side — there’s no auto-return or auto-lift.
Good to know
- No built-in phono stage — use an amplifier with a phono input or add a separate phono preamplifier.
- This is a used-market purchase. Ask about condition, originality and service history — for this drive type, check the drive belt (often perished or stretched with age) and bearing, plus the stylus regardless.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Cartridge included | Ortofon OM 5E |
| Built-in phono stage | No |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | ABS with anti-resonance ribs |
| Tonearm | 8.6" aluminium |
| Warranty | 2 years (extendable to 3 with registration) |
| Years | 2022–? |
Cartridge and replacement stylus
Factory cartridge: Ortofon OM 5E · replacement stylus: Stylus 5E · around $63.
Keep the evidence layers separate
Buying evidence for this model
- Typical used value
- $150–$250. A dated guide value for comparison, not an offer or availability claim.
- Live retailer offers
- Not shown for this discontinued model; used condition and seller evidence vary.
- Retailer links
- Brand or product routes to relevant US retailers; a search link is not a stock claim.
An internally verified exact identifier may improve offer matching, but it is not published as a catalogue fact unless independently corroborated. Always confirm the exact model, final price, delivery and returns with the retailer.
Where to buy the Pro-Ject E1
4 US retailers handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at eBay ↗ |
| Guitar Center | music retail | Free standard shipping on most orders $25+. | Search at Guitar Center ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | Search at Reverb ↗ |
| Upscale Audio | hifi independent | Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). | Search at Upscale Audio ↗ |