Bluetooth and vinyl continue to coexist despite the objections of people who regard digitizing a record as something that should require permission from a tribunal in Vienna.
Pro-Ject certainly isn’t worried about it.
The Austrian turntable manufacturer has introduced the E1.2 BT, a wireless version of the entry-level E1.2 turntable from 2025. The new model combines the E1.2’s heavier aluminum platter, upgraded tonearm architecture and Pick it MM E cartridge with Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX HD, allowing records to play wirelessly through compatible headphones, powered loudspeakers or amplifiers.
There is also an E1.2 BT Colour version with a hand-painted MDF chassis and five satin finishes for people who have decided that another black rectangle is not improving the living room.
The E1.2 BT is arriving early Fall 2026 in the U.S. in the standard high gloss black and walnut finishes, along with five Colour versions in golden yellow, steel blue, fir green, satin white, and satin black.
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What Actually Changed?
The important part is underneath the Bluetooth logo.
The original Pro-Ject E1 BT used the first-generation E1 platform. The newer E1.2 replaced that model’s polymer platter with a 730-gram die-cast aluminum platter that is precision-balanced and designed to provide a more stable, less resonant platform for the record. Pro-Ject also upgraded the bearing system, sub-platter and tonearm assembly.
The E1.2’s tonearm uses a high-mass gimbal design with a precision bearing and carbon-reinforced headshell, while the Pick it MM E moving-magnet cartridge uses a conical diamond stylus and miniature neodymium generator. Tracking force and anti-skating are adjusted at the factory, so this remains very much a plug-and-play design despite being fully manual.
The E1.2 BT then adds the wireless hardware and connectivity missing from the standard version.
Pro-Ject E1.2 BT Highlights
- Manual belt-drive operation
- 33⅓ and 45 RPM with electronic speed selection
- 730g die-cast aluminum platter
- Pro-Ject Pick it MM E moving-magnet cartridge
- 8.6-inch tonearm with heavy-mass gimbal bearing
- Factory-adjusted tracking force and anti-skating
- Bluetooth 5.4 transmitter
- aptX HD support
- Phono and line-level outputs
- Handmade in Europe
- Acrylic dustcover included
- 25-year spare-parts guarantee
Why Does Bluetooth Matter on a Turntable?
Because not everyone building a vinyl system wants an integrated amplifier, phono preamplifier, passive loudspeakers and six feet of cable running across the room.
The E1.2 BT can feed a conventional wired audio system, so nobody is forcing an analog purist to transmit Blue Train through Bluetooth. But somebody with good wireless headphones, powered Bluetooth speakers or a compact secondary system can start listening without building the rest of a traditional component stack.
And yes, the analog signal has to be converted before it can travel over Bluetooth. If maintaining an entirely analog signal path is the objective, use the wired phono output.
But that misses the audience for this product.
The attraction is getting a properly engineered manual turntable that can grow into a conventional hi-fi system later, rather than buying an inexpensive wireless deck that becomes the first thing you replace when the vinyl habit gets more expensive.
Who Is the E1.2 BT For?
First-time vinyl buyers are the obvious audience, especially those already using Bluetooth headphones or powered loudspeakers.
It also makes sense in bedrooms, offices and secondary systems where running analog cables across the room is inconvenient. The factory setup removes one of the most intimidating aspects of a first turntable without making the E1.2 BT fully automatic.
Pro-Ject still expects you to remove the record, cue the tonearm and get off the sofa when the side ends. Apparently some physical interaction with physical media remains permissible.
Buyers who want one-button operation have better alternatives.
The Competition
The recently released Kanto Obi3G2 costs only $249.99 and includes Bluetooth 5.3, a switchable phono stage, aluminum platter, adjustable tracking force and anti-skate, electronic speed selection and auto-stop. Kanto has not specified aptX or another higher-quality Bluetooth codec, and its supplied AT3600L cartridge is more basic, but its lower price and additional user adjustment make it a formidable beginner option.
The Audio-Technica AT-LP70XBT, currently around $299, goes even further toward convenience with fully automatic operation, a built-in phono stage and aptX Adaptive. Its integrated AT-VM95C cartridge cannot be replaced as a complete cartridge, but owners can upgrade it with Audio-Technica’s elliptical, MicroLine or Shibata VM95 styli. For buyers who want to push one button and walk away, it is arguably the easier choice.
Sony’s newer PS-LX3BT is another direct rival at $399.99. It offers fully automatic operation, Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive, a switchable phono EQ and USB output for digitizing records. Sony is selling convenience; Pro-Ject is putting more emphasis on the mechanical turntable itself.
Things become even more interesting inside Pro-Ject’s own catalog. The T1 EVO BT uses an Ortofon OM10 cartridge, heavy 8mm glass platter, more substantial CNC-machined chassis and aptX HD Bluetooth, but carries a higher $649 price tag. That makes the new E1.2 BT’s pricing slightly awkward until the older inventory clears.
What Is Unique About the Pro-Ject E1.2 BT?
Not Bluetooth.
Pro-Ject has been building Bluetooth turntables for years, and Audio-Technica, Sony, Kanto, Technics and others are doing the same thing.
The E1.2 BT’s combines a 730-gram aluminum platter, legitimate bearing and tonearm engineering, a better entry-level cartridge, factory setup, aptX HD wireless connectivity, wired upgrade potential, European manufacture and a 25-year spare-parts commitment at a relatively attainable price. That gives this model more credibility than simply sticking Bluetooth inside another cheap record player.
The Bottom Line
The Pro-Ject E1.2 BT is not trying to convince experienced analog enthusiasts to replace their phono stages with Bluetooth headphones. It takes one of Pro-Ject’s better recent entry-level platforms and removes another barrier for people who want to start buying records without immediately building an entire traditional hi-fi system around them.
At $549, the E1.2 BT faces serious pressure from Audio-Technica, Sony and Kanto — and even discounted examples of Pro-Ject’s own T1 EVO BT. Ultimately, Pro-Ject is betting its decades of expertise in turntable engineering combined with wireless connectivity could make this one of the more sensible ways into vinyl for listeners who want convenience now without buying something disposable later.
Price & Availability
U.S. availability is expected by Fall 2026:
- E1.2 (standard model) – $399
- E1.2 Phono (adds built-in phono preamp) – $449
- E1.2 BT (adds Bluetooth) – $549 (all colors)
Related Reading:
- TEAC TN-400BT-X Turntable Review: Vinyl Playback Meets Bluetooth Convenience
- Sony Expands Vinyl Lineup With PS-LX3BT And PS-LX5BT Bluetooth Turntables
- Turntables And Bluetooth? Yes, You Can Have Your Vinyl And Stream It Too
- Kanto Obi3G2 Turntable Arrives Less Than A Year After The Original. What Changed?
ORT
August 20, 2026 at 11:52 pm
If I had not already ordered a Pro-Ject Peanuts 75th Anniversay Edition Turntable I would consider one of these E1.2BT ‘tables. I think I, being a total Shallow Hal would prefer this tables “Pick It MM” cartridge just on looks alone. I have never liked the (despite the very cool name!) looks of ORTofon cartridges but they sound just fine. I am shallow so I just don’t look at the cartridge when I am playing records. *SHUDDER*
Pro-Ject is my favorite builder of quality turntables and I own 4 of them so far, 3 Beatles Editions and 1 cool 22+ lbs. turntable and the Peanuts 75th will make it 5!
ORTnofon T. Able