The E1 BT adds wireless connectivity to the built-in phono preamplifier. Connect your turntable wirelessly via the BT 5.2 transmitter to your BT speaker, -headphones, or -amplifier. Sound-wise, the Pro-Ject E1 Phono pumped out a respectably dynamic sound that kept getting better the more records I spun. Lows and mids were big and tight and not at all boomy (except when faced with the low end of Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls). Even the built-in preamp started to shine once I had the equalization sorted. Everything from Strawberry Fields Forever’s Mellotron flute intro to the whiny bendy guitar of The Smiths’ How Soon is Now sounded clear and defined, with everything properly situated in the soundstage, making for a higher, bigger sound than I was expecting. Note: I did not test the E1 running it directly through a set of powered speakers without independent EQ control, so I cannot speak to its sound without having the ability to adjust it.

Like a well-designed watch, looks are important when buying a record player. An attractive turntable can liven up a room, and that's precisely what Pro-Ject Audio's T1 BT does. After entering my apartment for the first time in more than a year, my friend's first words were “Wow, that looks pretty.” But the model he was admiring is a redesigned version of the T1 BT from Houseplant, a new company from actor and comedian Seth Rogen and his creative partner Evan Goldberg that sells cannabis and cannabis lifestyle accessories.Unlike many other turntables around this price, the Pro-Ject T1 BT has all the elements of a proper hi-fi turntable - just at a lower price. Rather than plastic, the CNC machined plinth is made from MDF. This gives lower resonance for reduced distortion. Mounted to the plinth is a steel/brass bearing that’s the same as the award-winning Essential III and, combined with the new heavy glass platter, provides smooth and stable running for perfect pitch. It’s a simple thing, but changing a stylus on a turntable is one of the best ways to improve the sound of even the most beginner level of turntables. The Ortofon OM5e has a range of stylus upgrades that can do just that, for years or until you start getting more serious. Pro-Ject is also good with replacement parts like platters, belts, and accessories. Is there a better alternative? All three of the Pro-Ject E1 models have an easily-accessible speed switch on the left side of the plinth allowing the choice of 33 1/3 or 45 RPM speeds, as well as the off position. This is great because as with many more expensive turntables, you have to switch the speed by manually moving the rubber belt, which is a pain. The E1 Phono I tested had a dead-on accurate speed of 33 1/3 RPM. No auto stop

In some ways Pro-Ject’s Juke Box E is an exercise in revisiting the nostalgia of the music centre and luring in the vinyl revivalists at the same time. But – Pro-Ject being Pro-Ject – there’s a little bit more to it than that. Juke Box E is mostly a record player. But it also has 25 watts of amplification built in, as well as Bluetooth connectivity. It’s a receiver, unlike the other three transmitters in this group) and an analogue input for hard-wiring an additional source. Every childhood home had a music centre in it – usually one the child in question wasn’t allowed to touch. The words ‘audiophile’ and ‘wireless’ are seldom seen in the same sentence together, unless the words ‘cannot be’ are included too. We test Bluetooth turntables just as we would any normal turntable – taking the time to set them up correctly on a level surface. We ensure we spend plenty of time using and listening to each turntable, noting how easy or difficult it is to use as well as testing any extra features they have. We'll try them with different partnering electronics and various genres of music, too. With Bluetooth turntables, we also test them with some of our favourite compatible wireless speakers and Bluetooth headphones at relevant price points, to gauge how they sound when streaming vinyl.Audiophilia has always included a hair-shirt element, a strong suggestion of ‘no pain, no gain’. Well, Cambridge is here to demonstrate what can be achieved when you attempt to rewrite that particular rule. With its standard Bluetooth output, the T1 BT opens up a whole range of new connection possibilities. Perfect for connecting to a Bluetooth speaker or a Bluetooth enabled hi-fi system, the wireless connection lets you place the turntable much further away from the system than would otherwise be possible. Plus, it’s clutter-free! The Pro-Ject E1, after a little EQ tweaking, sounds big, clean, and dynamic across a wide range of musical styles, and is a solid entry-level choice for the money. With its range of basic, preamp, and Bluetooth-enabled options suited to fit any beginner’s own setup configuration — whether you have yet to fork over the cash for a receiver or a have a pair of decent powered speakers — the E1 range offers choice, which is key if you’re just getting started. I would, however, recommend the E1 for those with setups that have independent EQ features, like a stereo receiver with bass, mid, and treble controls. Connecting to a system through Bluetooth might open these options as well. How long will it last? The epically long model number refers to the fact that this turntable features aptX Bluetooth 5.0. It’s for wireless streaming of your vinyl to Bluetooth speakers or headphones. Plus there’s a USB output for recording vinyl to a computer. The Audio Technica also has a switchable phono stage, meaning it can slot easily into systems of all types. But there probably wasn’t room to shoehorn a reference to that into the model number too.