Vinyl VerandaRecords · Decks · Reviews
#41 of 64 Pro-Ject Essential III
Pro-Ject · Ranked #41 of 64

Pro-Ject Essential III

The Pro-Ject Essential III remains one of the best entry points into serious vinyl listening.

Drive BeltSpeeds 33/45 rpmPreamp ExternalUSB YesSetup ~18 min
4.4out of 5

Bench score

★★★★★

Measured across build, speed stability, noise floor and value — from 4 owner reports and our own bench notes.

◆ Our verdict

The Pro-Ject Essential III remains one of the best entry points into serious vinyl listening. Its belt-drive stability, pre-fitted Ortofon cartridge, and understated build quality deliver a warm, detailed sound that outperforms many turntables in its price class. While it lacks modern conveniences like USB output or automatic speed change, its upgrade path and sonic honesty make it a favorite among first-time audiophiles and seasoned collectors building a second system.

▤

Specifications

Drive Type
Belt-drive
Speeds
33 1/3 and 45 RPM
Cartridge
Ortofon OM 10 (pre-mounted)
Platter
MDF, 1-piece with felt mat
Wow and Flutter
±0.12% (WRMS)
◎

On the bench

Wow & flutter
0.12%
S/N ratio
62 dB
Speed deviation
0.41%
Platter mass
1220 g

Wow & flutter measured W.R.M.S. at 33⅓ rpm; S/N ratio A-weighted. Lower wow & flutter and speed deviation are better; higher S/N is better.

⚖

Pros & cons

✓What we liked

  • Excellent value for entry-level audiophile sound
  • Pre-mounted, pre-aligned cartridge saves setup hassle
  • Solid, stable platform reduces wow and flutter
  • Simple, minimalist design fits any decor
  • Upgradeable (cartridge, dust cover, speed box) for future improvements

✕What we didn’t

  • No built-in USB output for digitizing records
  • Manual speed change is less convenient than electronic switching
  • Dust cover sold separately in some regions
  • Basic gimbal bearing not as refined as higher-end Pro-Ject models
❝

What owners say

Marcus H.14 Feb 2024 ★★★☆☆

Perfect first 'real' turntable

Upgraded from a cheap all-in-one player and the difference is night and day. Setup took ten minutes and the sound is warm and full. Highly recommend for anyone starting a vinyl collection.

Elena R.02 Nov 2023 ★★★★☆

Great sound, wish it had auto-stop

The sound quality is fantastic for the price, but I do miss having auto speed change and auto-stop from my old deck. Still, no regrets — this thing sings with the right cartridge upgrade.

Tomas K.19 Aug 2023 ★★★★☆

Solid build, easy setup

Very stable platter, minimal rumble, and the pre-mounted cartridge saved me a lot of alignment headaches. Only gripe is the dust cover wasn't included in my package.

Priya S.30 May 2023 ★★★★☆

Audiophile sound on a budget

I compared this to tables twice the price and was shocked at how close it got. The built-in preamp version made it super easy to hook up to my bookshelf speakers directly.

⇄

More Belt-Drive

Belt-Drive 4.7 Rega Planar 3
Rega

Rega Planar 3

  • Exceptional musical timing
  • Minimalist rigid design
  • Clear upgrade path
Belt-drive · 33/45 rpmRead review →
Belt-Drive 4.7 Rega Planar 6
Rega

Rega Planar 6

  • Audiophile-grade detail retrieval
  • Lightweight low-resonance design
  • Stable speed via TT-PSU
Belt-drive · 33/45 rpmRead review →
Belt-Drive 4.6 Audio-Technica AT-LP3
Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica AT-LP3

  • Fully automatic operation
  • Built-in phono preamp
  • Upgrade-ready cartridge mount
Belt-drive · 33/45 rpmRead review →
Belt-Drive 4.6 Fluance D100 Turntable
Fluance

Fluance D100 Turntable

  • Rich analog sound
  • Premium wood craftsmanship
  • Beginner-friendly setup
Belt-drive · 33/45 rpmRead review →