There is no denying the fact that the Pro-Ject Essential III is a very nice looking turntable, especially with the dust cover off. It offers a modernist look with an extremely glossy finish. The plinth is free of switches and ornaments, as well as the logo and pulley of the drive. The power switch is located under the chassis. There is no speed switch: the transition from 33rpm to 45 is done by manually moving the transmission belt up or down one step on the pulley.
One of the great things about Pro-Ject Essential III is that while considered basic for an audiophile turntable, if your taste for vinyl grows, there are updates available. For example, the Ortofon OM10 cartridge is a solid performer, but you can replace it with something more refined or for an even easier upgrade, leave the cartridge in place and let the stylus out. Ortofon offers a number of compatible and high-performance stylus options starting with Ortofon Stylus 20.
Pro-Ject has a reputation for designing some of the best audiophile turntables on the market. And while the Pro-Ject Essential III is considered the company’s “value” turntable, it’s certainly not limped off by penny pinching. The cartridge alone is retailing for more than many of those suitcase turntables… Pro-Ject Essential III is a good-looking turntable, with great audio performance and optional upgrades that can make it even better. It’s a great choice for someone whose vinyl collection and love of analog music have surpassed entry-level turntables.
Modern classic turntable with great sound at an attractive price! Essential III turntable offers a variety of improvements over its successful predecessor, such as a diamond-cut aluminum traction pulley, resonance-optimized MDF main plate, and an MDF frame. The refined, high-precision bearing has significantly lower tolerances than the Essential II. Essential III is the audiophile input turntable! The setup is very simple, the included PHONO RCA cable, Connect it E, sounds well above its price range. Equipped with the high-quality OM10 pickup from phonographic cartridge pioneer Ortofon, Essential III delivers an animated, balanced and highly immersive sound that will delight all vinyl lovers. Essential III is available in the aesthetic colors of glossy black, red and white.
The perfect budget turntable ($400.00)
Putting engineering quality above luxuries, Pro-Ject Essential III is perfect for those who especially love their music. With a specification that includes insulating feet, a low vibration motor with DC power, and a quality Ortofon cartridge, Essential III offers much more than bases and provides classy leading sound.
Designed for sound
Unlike many other turntables around this price, the Pro-Ject Essential 3 has all the elements of a suitable hi-fi turntable – only at a lower price. The low vibration DC motor provides stable speed for precise pace and time. The main bearing is made of stainless steel and operates inside a bronze bushing with Teflon coating. This type of construction integrity is usually reserved for much more expensive designs and offers 3 remarkable sound accuracies essential for its price.
Single-piece aluminum arm
Continuing your high-fidelity credentials, Pro-Ject Essential III comes with a good quality arm. Made of a single piece of aluminum, it is light and rigid. The stiffer your tracking, more precisely, you can make listening to your records a more engaged experience. For long-lasting quality, the tone arm is equipped with sapphire bearings.
Cartridge updated to Ortofon OM10
Another major new update with Essential version 3 is an Ortofon OM10 cartridge. Replacing the previous OM5 model, the cartridge with higher specifications uses a finer stylus to drill down into the groove, giving it a wider and more detailed sound. Photo:Pro-Ject
Specs Pro-Ject Essential III:
- Nominal speeds: 33/45 r.p.m.
- Speed variance 33: ±0,70%, 45: ±0,60%
- Wow and flutter 33: ±0,21%, 45: ±0,19%
- Signal to noise: 66dB
- Effective tonearm mass: 8,0g
- Effective tonearm length: 8,6″ (218,5mm)
- Overhang: 22,0mm
- Power consumption: 4,5W
- Outboard power supply: 15V/500mA DC, suitable for your country’s mains supply