Pro-Ject

Pro-Ject Primary E

Ranked #9 in Record Players

446 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

The best cheap turntable that is actually a turntable. Light construction caps its ceiling, but it will never harm a record.

Consolidated from 7 cited sources across 6 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

1 glowing source
6 positive sources

See the sources

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Pros & cons

✓ What Hi-Fi? Award-winner it calls the best budget turntable
✓ Proper Ortofon cartridge and correct tracking force
✓ No built-in speakers; built like a real deck
✓ Will not eat records and will survive until the upgrade

✗ Light construction caps its ceiling

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 5 articles and 2 video reviews

1 glowing source

What Hi-Fi? Article · Oct 2022

Editor's note (August 2026): When we originally reviewed the Pro-Ject Primary E turntable in 2018, its price was £150 (hence the 'tested at' price at the top of the page). That standard price has risen in the past couple of years and it now costs £249 across UK retailers, with occasional discounts bringing that down to £229. The Primary E remains unchanged since our original review, and we still highly recommend it. There are newer turntables for cheaper or similar money that offer more features and a more polished design, but the Pro-Ject Primary E remains a terrific-sounding "purist" budget turntable at this price.

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6 positive sources

Westcoasthifi Article

The Primary E is an awesome choice for those who want more of a plug-and-play setup, with the built-in Phono Stage lending itself quite useful in those scenarios with amplifiers (new and old) that lack a Phono Stage. At a similar price point, those who need a Bluetooth connection can look at thePro-Ject Primary E + Phono Box E BT5orPro-Ject T1 EVO BT!

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EvoGrid EvoGrid · 3.3K subscribers · Apr 2025

At a retail price of just £150 as of September 2018, the Primary E is a significant piece of audio engineering that pushes the boundaries of what's possible at this price point.

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What Hi-Fi? Article · Jun 2026

The Pro-Ject Primary E is the best sounding turntable you’ll find for less than £250. Paired with a decent phono stage and speakers it is capable of delivering an enjoyable presentation that nails the sonic basics. If you have an amp or system with a phono stage built in, this is the cheap turntable to get.

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KINODRIVE KINODRIVE · 3K subscribers · Feb 2022

Austrian vinyl authority Project has taken a course towards simplification and cost reduction, and the ease of use is true hi-fi, only without frills and completely ready to work out of the box.

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LinkedIn Yuri Zamazeev · reviewer · Oct 2025

Among these, the Pro-Ject Primary E stands out as the best turntable under £300, offering impressive performance for its price. If you're in the market for a new turntable or simply looking to upgrade your audio experience, check out the full review for detailed insights and recommendations.

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SlashGear Luke Mitchell · reviewer · Sept 2023

As its budget offering, the Pro-Ject Primary E offers surprisingly good sound quality and a premium-looking, minimalist design that would look good in any living space.

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