- Pro-Ject has unveiled its latest high-end flagship turntable, the Signature 12.2.
- The Signature 12.2 has been meticulously engineered for audiophiles to ensure the best possible playback with no interference.
- The Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 is priced at $21,999.
What separates the boys from the men when it comes to record players? A $21,999 price tag is a good start.
Pro-Ject Audio has recently announced the launch of its latest high-end flagship turntable, the Signature 12.2, which has been meticulously engineered for audiophiles. With such a significant price tag you'd certainly hope you're getting the best, but considering Pro-Ject's track record regarding turntables – we're big fans of the Debut Carbon Evo – it isn't just big talk.
From sitting on spring-loaded conical feet to rounding the edges of the MDF plinth, the Signature 12.2 has been meticulously designed to reduce any chance of surface resonance affecting your playback.
Pro-Ject has also equipped the Signature 12.2 with a new 12“ S-shape aluminium tonearm, along with a modified counterweight system and adaptive anti-skating that'll adjust itself depending on the force required to sit between the inner and outer grooves of your records. The tonearm's bearing has also been changed to a three-point pivot system to reduce friction and enhance its stability.
The turntable itself is pretty heavy, weighing in at around 37kg. The platter alone is 10kg of aluminium with a TPE damping ring and a top layer made from recycled vinyl records. The platter spins on an inverted ceramic ball-bearing with a magnetic support to minimise friction as well.
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It uses a flywheel belt drive and supports 33 1/3 and 45 RPM, which can be adjusted via a simple analogue control panel on the front of the turntable.
This basic operating system is one of the bigger changes between the Signature 12.2 and its previous iteration, which featured a small LCD display. To avoid any electromagnetic radiation potentially affecting playback, Pro-Ject has removed this display. As we said, no detail has been spared when it comes to ensuring the best audio playback possible.
The Signature 12.2 doesn't come with a cartridge, but considering the price you're paying for this, in for a penny in for a pound. Plus, if you're the kind of person who'd buy a $22,000 turntable, I'm willing to bet that you already have a strong preference for specific cartridges anyway. It does come bundled with a high-end phone cable though.
The Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 turntable is priced at $21,999 and is currently available for pre-order.
