Pro-Ject A2 Automat Fully Automatic Record Player User Manual

Pro-Ject A2 Automat Fully Automatic Record Player

Product Information

Specifications

• Model: Pro-Ject A2
• Manufacturer: Pro-Ject Audio Systems
• Handcrafted turntable
• Includes setup guide with translations
• Power supply socket for mains connection
• Phono RCA output
• Ground terminal

FAQ

• Q: What should I do if my turntable was damaged during transit?
• A: If you find any damage or missing parts, do not operate the turntable and contact your dealer immediately for assistance.
• Q: How do I adjust the tracking force on the Pro-Ject A2 turntable?
• A: To adjust the tracking force, refer to the specific instructions provided in the user manual for precise settings and adjustments.
• Q: Can I use any amplifier with the Pro-Ject A2 turntable?
• A: It is recommended to use an amplifier or phono preamplifier suitable for turntables to ensure optimal performance.

Dear Music Lover,
Congratulations and thank you for choosing the Pro-Ject Audio Systems record player.
Your A2 turntable has been handcrafted and rigorously tested by skilled technicians to give you years of enjoyable, trouble-free service.
Please contact your dealer if you require additional assistance.
Important:
Your turntable was shipped partially disassembled to avoid damage to sensitive parts. Please check immediately to make sure that neither the packaging nor the device was damaged in transit. If you are missing parts or if the unit is damaged, please do not operate and contact your dealer.

Safety instructions

The power supply is used to connect and disconnect the unit from the mains. Make sure that the plug is easily accessible at all times. Hold the plug when unplugging the power cord. Never handle the power cord while your hands are damp.
Avoid letting liquids enter the device. Never place any item containing liquid, like a flower vase, on or near the device. Never spill any liquid on the device. Never place any naked flame sources, like lighted candles, on or near the device. The product shall not be used in damp or wet locations, next to a bathtub, sink, swimming pool or any other similar conditions.
Keep plastic bags away from children to prevent any risk of suffocation.

Please do your part to help protect the environment:
No immediate disposal of packaging material:
Pro-Ject packaging is carefully designed to protect your component from damage in transit and you are strongly urged to keep the original packaging to safely ship or otherwise transport your turntable in the future.
However, the packaging materials were chosen to be environmentally friendly, so if you must discard the packaging, please recycle.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Controls, features, and connections

1. PLATTER with FELTMAT
2. COUNTERWEIGHT
3. TRACKING FORCE ADJUSTMENT
4. ANTI-SKATING ADJUSTMENT
5. TONEARM TUBE
6. HEADSHELL WITH FINGER LIFT AND PRE-MOUNTED CARTRIDGE
7. TONEARM REST with LOCK
8. REPLAY SPEED SWITCH
9. 7″/12″ DROP OFF SWITCH
10. TONEARM LIFT LEVER
11. START/STOP LEVER
12. DUSTCOVER HINGE HOLDERS
13. PHONO RCA OUTPUT
14. GROUND TERMINAL
15. POWER SUPPLY SOCKET

In the packaging

• A: TURNTABLE
• B: CONNECT IT A PHONO CABLE WITH AN EARTHING WIRE
• C: FELTMAT
• D: DUSTCOVER
• E: SINGLES ADAPTER (not pictured below)
• F: POWER SUPPLY
• G: PLATTER
• H: SUB-PLATTER TRANSPORT PROTECTION
• I: DRIVE BELT
• J: COUNTERWEIGHT
• K: SETUP GUIDE WITH TRANSLATIONS (not pictured below)

Please also refer to your Setup Guide (k) included in your A2 packaging for step-by-step instructions for unpacking your new A2, setting it up, and playing your first record.

Unpacking and setup of the turntable

Unpack the turntable (a) and place it on a level surface. Remove the dust cover (d), the sub-platter protection (g), and the red transport spacers (see setup guide). Put the belt over the pully & sub-platter. Put the platter (g) on the turntable and secure it with the fastening clip. Put the felt mat on the platter. Put the counterweight (I, 2) on the tonearm. Plug the power supply (f) first into the power socket on the turntable (15) and then into your main power.

Connection to an amplifier or phono preamplifier

Your A2 needs to be connected to a suitable MM phono preamp or a suitable MM phono input on your amplifier (sometimes labeled gram, disc or RIAA) using our supplied Connect it E phono cable. Take care to connect the left and right channels correctly. On the Connect it E cable, the right is marked red and the left is marked white. On your A2, the right is marked red and the left is marked black. On your amplifier or phono-preamp, the right channel is usually marked red, the left channel black or white. Check the manual supplied with your amplifier for relevant information. The earthing wire should be connected to the ground terminal on your amplifier or phono-preamp (if provided) and your A2 (14).

Starting and stopping record playback
Automatic start:

• Put on a record and set your replay speed (8) to the RPM of your record. Most long-play records need to be played with 33 RPM. Smaller 7″ singles with 45 RPM. Also put the singles adapter (e) on the platter (1) spindle to play 7″ singles. Select your automatic drop-off point (9). 7″ is for singles and 12″ is for regular full-length LPs. Remove the stylus protection cover. Move the lift lever (10) to the position. Push the START/STOP lever (11) to START to engage the automatics and start playing your record. The platter will start turning and the tonearm will automatically move to the selected start position and lower down to the record. When the record is finished the tonearm will be lifted and move back into its resting position automatically as well.
• The start position is different between LPs and singles. Singles with a smaller 7″ diameter are usually 45RPM. And bigger 12″ LPs can exist as 33RPM and 45RPM. Doublecheck your replay speed and the record you are playing, in case your tonearm moves to the wrong position.
• 78 RPM records in 10″ format must be started manually, as the automatics can be set to 7″ singles or 12″ LPs only. To do this, set the playback speed to 78 RPM and follow the Manual start instructions below.

Manual start:
It is also possible to start playing records manually. To do this make sure the little lever (10) is in the position. Manually place the tonearm above the part of the record or song, from where you want to start playback. The platter will start spinning automatically as soon as you move the tonearm. Move the lift lever (10) to the position to lower the tonearm onto the record. When the record is finished, the tonearm will move back into its resting position automatically. Starting playback manually is necessary for 10″/78RPM records and recommended for advanced users or when you want to play only a certain song of a record or start playing the record further into it. Take care to not damage the stylus (needle) when doing so.

Stopping playback
Push the START/STOP lever (11) to STOP to stop playing the record at any time during playback. The tonearm will move back into its resting position automatically. Move the lift lever (10) back to the position to ensure the tonearm rests in its lifted position. Playback can also be stopped manually at any time without affecting the function of the automatic system. Move the litt lever (10) to the position to stop playback at the desired point and then return the tone arm manually to the tone arm holder.

Tracking force setting

Make sure the stylus protection cover is removed. Make sure the liff lever (10) is in the position, take the tonearm out of its rest, place it somewhere between the platter and the rest and balance the tonearm by turning the counterweight on the rod left and right until the tonearm is level.

• Once it is level, put it back at rest. Turn the tracking force adjustment wheel (3) to set the desired tracking force.
• The Ortofon 2M Red requires 1.7g tracking force => set the wheel to the mark between 1.5 and 2
• The Sumiko Rainier (shipped on the USA version) requires 2g tracking force => set the wheel to 2

Anti-skating setting

• Set the anti-skating by turning the anti-skating adjustment ring (4) to the desired level. Anti-skating is generally set to the same level as your tracking force.
• The Ortofon 2M Red requires 1.7g tracking force => set anti-skating to 1.7
• The Sumiko Rainier (shipped on the USA version) requires 2g tracking force => set anti-skating to 2

Adjusting drop-off point
The drop-off point for the automatics (the exact location where the automatics lower the tonearm on the record when pushing the start button) does usually not need to be adjusted. However, there is variance from record to record, which makes it useful to be able to fine-tune the point for some records.

Next to the 12″ /7″ selector (9) there is a small hole, that allows you to reach a slotted screw to fine-tune the drop-off point. Make sure the 12″ /7″ selector (9) is in the 12″ position. The 7″ position blocks access to the screw underneath. Take a slotted screwdriver and slowly turn the screw in either direction by just a few degrees (which direction does not matter). Make only small adjustments and see where the tonearm now lands. After turning the screw 360° you will be back in the original position. This fine-tuning affects both the 12″ and 7″ drop-off locations.

Cartridge installation, stylus exchange

Your A2 turntable comes with a cartridge that has already been factory-aligned and is ready for playback immediately.
For advanced users, in case you want to switch cartridges, install your new cartridge into the headshell, using the appropriate hardware included with your new cartridge. All cartridges with half inch mounting holes can be fitted.
Connect the cartridge as indicated below:

• White: left channel L+
• Red: right channel R+
• Green: right channel R-
• Blue: left channel L-

For correct cartridge alignment, use a cartridge alignment protractor of your choice (not included with your A2 turntable). If unfamiliar with this setup, please refer to your dealer.
A damaged or worn stylus may harm your record collection and should be replaced.
Please remove the stylus protection before pulling the stylus from the cartridge and replace it with a new one.
Exchange stylus for the pre-mounted cartridge Ortoton 2M Red: Stylus 2M Red. If in doubt, consult your local dealer or distributor.

Maintenance and cleaning

Your record player requires little or no regular maintenance. Remove dust with a slightly moistened antistatic cloth. Never use a dry cloth because this will create static electricity which attract more dust! Antistatic cleaning fluids are available at specialist stores but must be applied sparingly to avoid damage to rubber parts. It is recommended to fit the needle cover before cleaning or maintenance is carried out to avoid damage. Always disconnect the record player from the mains power supply as a precaution before maintenance!

Technical specifications Pro-Ject A2

• Nominal speeds: 33/45/78 RPM
• Speed variance: 33: ≤0.27% 45: ÷0.22%
• Wow and flutter:   33: ≤0.14% 45: ÷0.12%
• Signal to noise: 74dB
• Effective tonearm mass: ULM (ultra-light mass) design principle
• Effective tonearm length: 8.3″ (211 mm)
• Overhang: 19,5mm
• Power consumption: 1,5W
• Outboard power supply: 15V/800mA DC, suitable for your country’s mains supply
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 430 x 150 x 365 mm
• Weight: 7,3 kg net / 10 kg with packaging

Technical specifications MM-Cartridge Ortofon 2M Red

• Frequency range: 20-22.000Hz
• Channel separation: 22dB/1 kHz
• Output voltage: 5.5mV
• Recommended load impedance: 47kohms/ amplifier connection – MM-input
• Compliance/stylus type: 20um/mN – elliptical
• Recommended tracking force: 17.5mN
• Weight: 7.2g

Potential incorrect use and fault conditions
Pro-Ject turntables are manufactured to the highest standards and undergo strict quality controls before leaving the factory. Faults that may occur are not necessarily due to material or production faults but can sometimes be caused by incorrect use or unfortunate circumstances. Therefore, the following list of common fault symptoms is included.

The platter doesn’t turn although the unit is switched on:

• The unit is not connected to the main power supply.
• No mains at the socket.
• The drive belt is not fitted or has slipped off.

No signal through one or other channel or both channels:

• No signal contact from the cartridge to the internal tonearm wiring or the arm leads to the phono box or between that and the amplifier. This could be due to a faulty plug, broken wire or solder joint, or simply a loose plug/socket connection.
• Phono input not selected at the amplifier.
• The amplifier is not switched on.
• Amplifiers or speakers are defective or muted.
• No connection to the loudspeakers.

Strong hum on phono input:
No earth connection from cartridge or arm or arm cable to the amplifier, or earth loop.
Distorted or inconsistent sound from one or both channels:

• A record player is connected to the wrong input of an amplifier, or the MM/MC switch is incorrectly set.
• Needle or cantilever damaged.
• Wrong RPM., drive belt overstretched or dirty, platter bearing without oil, dirty or damaged

Service
Should you encounter a problem that you are not able to alleviate or identify despite the above information, please contact your dealer for further advice. Only when the problem cannot be resolved there should the unit be sent to the responsible distributor in your country.
Guarantee repairs will only be affected if the unit is returned correctly packaged. For this reason, we recommend keeping the original packaging.
Never return a record player without making sure that is it safely disassembled and correctly packaged in the original packaging according to the diagrams on the last page of this user guide. Please remove these parts and pack them separately: lid, counterweight, anti-skating weight and belt.
Fit the cartridge protection cap and the transport lock for the tonearm tube, prior to carefully packaging the record player.

Warranty

• The manufacturer accepts no responsibility for damage caused by not adhering to these instructions for use and/or by transportation without the original packaging. Modification or change to any part of the product by unauthorized persons, release the manufacturer from any liability over and above the lawful rights of the customer.
• Pro-Ject Audio Systems is a Registered Trademark of H. Lichtenegger.
• This guide was produced by: Pro-Ject Audio Systems Copyright • 2023. All rights reserved.
• The information was correct at the time of going to press.
• The manufacturer reserves the right to make changes to the technical specification without prior notice as deemed necessary to uphold the ongoing process of technical development.

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