Pro-Ject Audio Systems has built a reputation for delivering exceptional value with turntables like the Debut Evo 2. However, the Austrian brand also caters to the high-end market, and its latest flagship model, the Pro-Ject Signature 12.2, exemplifies the pinnacle of the company’s engineering prowess.
The Signature series serves as Pro-Ject’s platform for developing cutting-edge turntable technologies. The advancements made in the Signature 12.2 represent the culmination of years of research and innovation, with plans to eventually integrate these features into more affordable models across the brand’s lineup.
Priced at $14,999, the Signature 12.2 offers a luxury listening experience. Each unit requires two full days to hand-polish and assemble its approximately 100 precision-machined components. All parts are manufactured in-house and subjected to a meticulous four-step quality control process, ensuring exceptional build quality and performance.
At the heart of the Signature 12.2 is a newly developed 12-inch S-shaped tonearm, engineered to optimize anti-skating performance. The turntable features an adaptive anti-skating mechanism that increases corrective force as necessary, improving tracking accuracy. The tonearm is supported by a three-point pivot bearing system, which distributes stress across multiple points rather than relying on a traditional uni-pivot design. This minimizes friction and enhances the tonearm’s stability, allowing it to extract finer details from vinyl records.
Pro-Ject has refined the turntable’s chassis with a TPE-decoupled, resonance-optimized aluminum alloy sub-chassis, designed to isolate the tonearm and platter from external vibrations. This system is further complemented by newly developed spring-loaded isolation feet, which enhance the turntable’s ability to reject unwanted vibrations and maximize sonic clarity.
The Signature 12.2 employs Pro-Ject’s flywheel belt-drive system for smooth, vibration-free operation and features electronic speed control for precise playback at both 33 and 45 RPM. Additionally, the turntable now offers balanced output via a 5-pin DIN to XLR or mini-XLR cable, providing audiophiles with improved signal integrity and reduced noise.
While the Signature 12.2 caters to discerning vinyl enthusiasts willing to invest in top-tier audio equipment, Pro-Ject intends to trickle down its innovations to more accessible models. This promises to bring high-end performance to a broader audience in the future.
For those ready to pony up $14,999 to experience the ultimate in analog audio, the Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 is now available for purchase through the company’s website at project-audio.com.