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?

Safe to say Juke Box E sounds best when playing some vinyl. Pro-Ject has plenty of experience where these things are concerned. And Juke Box E has detail, dynamism and warmth to spare. Making sure you team it with sympathetic speakers is a much surer way of getting an acceptable level of low-frequency solidity than deploying the remote control’s ‘loudness’ button, which comprehensively skews the Pro-Ject’s tonal balance – and not for the better. Cambridge Audio’s Alva TT V2 is the second generation to the original (and appealing) Alva TT wireless turntable, and is a relatively safe but well-thought-out evolution. 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. 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?With a vast amount of experience and design expertise, few can beat Pro-Ject for turntable knowhow. Take a look at the design and build of this turntable and you can see that experience shine through. The CNC-machined plinth has no hollow spaces and provides excellent vibration resistance. Combined with the isolation feet and anti-resonance platter, this gives the E1 Bluetooth a well-damped, low distortion sound. The high quality, isolated DC motor gives smooth and stable pitch for lifelike sound. My first impressions of the Pro-Ject E1 were not great … but after some fine-tuning on the receiver, this thing started to sing. 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. Every childhood home had a music centre in it – usually one the child in question wasn’t allowed to touch.

With its standard Bluetooth output, the E1 BT opens up a whole new range of 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! 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. ukray2022 said:Absolutely right! I have a sizeable collection of classical orchestral, opera box sets and choral works on 78's. Some of the greatest performers in classical music and opera and many live performances Enjoy the best sound you’re your vinyl, plus the benefit of Bluetooth output, with the Project T1 BT. One thing that I was hoping to see on the E1 line is the auto-stop feature that seems to elude many turntables across all price ranges. This little accouterment can make a difference if you’re the type of person who listens to records while doing other things, and you want to save some wear and tear on your stylus by having the record stop once it’s reached the end of the side. For this price point, however, I guess it’s a feature that most can live without. Performance Derek Malcolm / Digital Trends

On the subject of system-matching, it’s worth noting the Juke Box E isn’t the out-and-out loudest system we’ve ever heard, so it’s also worth giving proper consideration to speaker sensitivity. If you're only planning on using the Bluetooth turntable with a wireless Bluetooth speaker or pair of wireless headphones, then you don't need to spend a fortune. You won't be needing any extra cables, either, and can be flexible with placing them anywhere in the room. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 29th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) Well if the pie chart published at the start of this article is even fairly accurate it seems those claims are rubbish.

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. 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 Each of the turntables in the Pro-Ject E1 line offers all the features any beginner will need, and probably a couple that will set them up for success should they upgrade down the line. To preamp or not to preamp The What Hi-Fi?team has more than 100 years of collective experience in reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics – and that includes Bluetooth turntables. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of expert reviewers do all our in-house testing. To make a diverting product pretty much compelling, Cambridge has added Bluetooth connectivity up to a hi-res aptX HD 24bit/48kHz quality. Which means you can wirelessly stream vinyl to your system, at a truly high-end standard, from a turntable that’s positioned somewhere you’d like it to be rather than where it insists on being.

No corners cut. More sound.

Bluetooth is for the iPhone generation, handy in cars, and for playing from your phone to a speaker. But you knew that, didn’t you? 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.