PRO-JECT AUDIO SYSTEMS Essential II Digital - Essential Line

Save £90 by buying the Essential II with built-in phono stage and optical output!

The multi-award winning Essential II turntable from Pro-Ject Audio Systems has been a huge success since its launch back in 2013. The simplistic yet elegant design built on solid hi-fi principles has delivered a great turntable at an affordable price. But now Pro-Ject have taken their own traditional design, and completely revolutionised it to accommodate the needs of the modern vinyl listener. The Essential II Digital aims to be the first turntable that can be connected straight out of the box to any modern hi-fi system. The brand new integrated phono stage gives users the option between an analogue line level output or a 24-bit/96kHz digital Optical output. The Optical output uses a high-quality Analogue-Digital Converter (ADC) to send a clean, uninterrupted signal to any digital hub. So whether listening to music through a soundbar, an AV receiver, a DAC, a digital pre-amplifier or a multi-room system with different input options - the Essential II Digital should fit in flawlessly. The analogue output uses a phono stage based upon Pro-Ject's iconic Phono Box design to deliver a brilliant performance from the fitted Ortofon cartridge. The added benefit of optical transmission is that you can run longer cables without the same signal loss you would experience with long RCA leads. So if you want your turntable to sit away from your amplifier while still sounding great, that's now possible! The Essential II Digital further stands out from those around it thanks to the new black and white high-gloss paint finishes, and the "Digital" logo emblazoned on the plinth. It also boasts all the pre-existing features that have made the Essential II an international award winner. The 8.6" aluminium tonearm, heavy particle-board platter and low-voltage motor with perimeter drive belt make a winning combination; while the Ortofon OM 5E is the perfect cartridge to get instant gratification from your vinyl collection.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Despatch will be handled by the UK distributor for Pro-Ject. Delivery information only will be passed to Pro-Ject and delivery is between 1-2 working days. We are unable to accept orders for delivery outside of the UK.

* Key Features *

Ideal for connection to multiroom systems or TVs, soundbars and portable audio (see our FAQ)
Belt drive with silicone belt
Low vibration synchronous motor
Integrated motor control with DC power supply secures silent running
Main platter bearing made from stainless steel runs in bronze bushing with Teflon bottom
8.6" aluminium tonearm with sapphire bearings
Factory fitted Ortofon OM 5E cartridge
Built in phono stage based on Phono Box design
High-quality optical output
Special turntable feet for effective decoupling
Lid & felt mat included

* Technical Data *

Replacement Stylus: Ortofon Stylus 5E
Pre-Fitted Cartridge: Ortofon OM 5E
Nominal Speeds: 33 / 45 RPM (Manual)
Speed Variance: 33: 0.80% / 45: 0.70%
Wow & Flutter: 33: 0.29% / 45: 0.27%
Platter: 300mm (Particle Board)
Main Bearing: Stainless steel
Noise Floor:: >73dB
Effective Tonearm Length: 8.6" (218.5mm)
Effective Tonearm Mass: 8.0gr
Counterweight for Mass: 3 - 5.5g (Incl.)
Overhang: 22.0mm
Tracking Force Range: 0 - 25mn
Outputs: RCA or Optical
RIAA Accuracy: 20Hz - 20kHz / Max. 0.5dB
Line Output Level: 160mV / 1kHz
(at 4mV / 1kHz input)
Optical Output: 24-bit / 96kHz
Power Consumption: 4.5W
Power Supply: 15V/500mA DC
Included Accessories: Felt Mat, Dust Cover, RCA Cable
Dimensions: 420 x 112 x 330mm
Weight: 4kg

* FAQ *

How does the Essential II Digital work with multi-room systems?

Because the Essential II Digital is internally grounded and has a built-in phono stage, it can be connected direct to the AUX or LINE input on a compatible multi-room speaker/amplifier. We supply an RCA-3.5mm cable in the box for exactly these kinds of set-ups.

How does the Essential II Digital work with my mini-system or traditional hi-fi amplifier?

Like when connecting to a multi-room system, because the Essential II Digital is internally grounded and has a built-in phono stage it can be connected direct to an AUX or LINE input on any amplifier with a spare input. We supply RCA-RCA and RCA-3.5mm cables in the box, depending on what connection method is available to you.

What do I need to consider when connecting an Essential II Digital via the Optical Output?

When using the Essential II Digital's optical output, you need to ensure the digital receiver (i.e. Soundbar, DAC, digital amplifier etc.) you're connecting to has a spare optical input that supports digital stereo data streams via modern S/PDIF protocol. If the device you're connecting to does not fully support S/PDIF it may not be able to handle the supplied data stream. We have confirmed that the Essential II Digital will not work with the Sonos PLAYBAR.

Do I need to earth the turntable?

The Essential II Digital is internally earthed, so you should not need to connect a separate earth wire. However, we supply our standard RCA-RCA cables in the box so should you need additional grounding there is a lead attached to these cables.