The Sad Story of a Three-Times Faulty Pro-Ject T1 Turntable

I am assured that Pro-Ject make excellent turntables.

Lots of hi-fi stores seem to agree, since some stock little else.

I bought a white T1 from Sevenoaks Hi-Fi recently as a present for Sis, who has shelves of inherited vinyl and no deck.

Drove it half-way round the M25 to Sis' place. Installed it.

Was the drive spindle supposed to wobble like that?

(How was I supposed to know? It could be a design feature.)

Called Sevenoaks Hi-Fi on the day and asked them. They said they would ask Pro-Ject's UK distributor.

Nobody gets back to anybody for a couple of weeks.

The drive belt fell off when Sis tried to play a 45. That's not supposed to happen.

Drive half-way round the M25 to collect it for return to Sevenoaks. Who send it to Pro-Ject's UK distributor.

Who tighten the screws on the motor mount.

And return it to Sevenoaks Hi-Fi a couple of weeks later.

The spindle is still wobbling. In fact, it's worse.

Because one of the screws is in a soft patch of wood (or some other such flaw) and vibrations of any kind loosen it.

Back to the distributor.

A week or so later it comes back. The spindle was secure.

They had shifted the motor round and re-secured it in new screw holes. (I know because I called the distributor and spoke an incredibly helpful member of staff.)

Drove it half-way round the M25 to Sis' place. Installed it.

The belt fell off when we tried to play it at 45.

Called Sevenoaks immediately and said "That's enough. I want my money back".

Drove it half-way round the M25 to return it and get my money back.

Like Sis said: why didn't the distributor just say Send it back and we'll send you a new one in the first place?

I don't think it would have made a difference. I think there are design flaws.

The screws securing the drive unit to the plattern are small. Way too small.

The drive spindle has a wide lip top and bottom of the 33 rpm section. The belt is not going to fall out of it. The lip on the 45 rpm section is way too narrow.

Finally, each unit is not tested before delivery. The parts might be, but the assembled unit is not. Otherwise they would have found the loose motor mount before the unit was even shipped.

Which is why Sis does not want another Pro-Ject. (Personally I hope she takes a liking to a Technics DJ deck....)