Pro-ject Primary E £189
Once again, our favourite entry-level record player is Pro-ject’s excellent Primary E. No huge surprise there; this is a wonderful back-to-basics deck that does everything we would expect from a record player at this level.
The Primary E is a moderate development of the five-star Primary we reviewed back in 2017, but importantly, this new deck, which also includes an Ortofon moving-magnet cartridge, costs less than the original when introduced.
The Primary E’s priority is clearly entertainment. It confidently nails the basics, from an even tonal balance to a clear, clean delivery that’s spacious enough to keep things coherent.
Detail levels are pleasing for the money and the Pro-ject has the skill to organise information musically. Body and substance cling to every frequency as reliably as the belt does to the platter edge, and that’s made all the more enjoyable by a spirited sense of drive and momentum. You’ll have to move up to the likes of Rega’s Planar 1 to do appreciably better in these respects.
We lay down The National’s Trouble Will Find Me, and the Pro-ject promotes the LP’S warmth and sweetness. It’s sensitive to the sullenness of the heart-swelling instrumentals, demonstrating levels of insight, and passable in the company of budget amplification and speakers. We ask ourselves what more could we ask from a sub £200 deck? Not much.
Set-up is straightforward too. With the anti-skate weight and the 1.7g tracking force pre-set, all you’re required to do is attach the belt to one of the two motor pulleys (33⅓ and 45rpm).
For those who just want a capable and fuss-free affordable turntable, the Pro-ject Primary E is a brilliant buy – and a deserved Award-winner.