Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable with Ortofon OM10 Cartridge

Great sound, amazing looks setup is fiddly however if you're keen on the hobby its no worse than any other. Once its set up properly you never have to worry about it again besides the occasional maintenance. The most fiddly part was the anti skate weight which falls off at the slightest touch. However, if you loop the string into itself (the provided knot) to form a makeshift constrictor knot loop it stays perfectly intact due to gravity.

It benefits greatly from a quality preamp of which I have the tubebox s however a phonobox would do just fine.

Overall extremely happy with my purchase don’t think Ill be needing to replace it any time in the next 10 years unless it breaks. An acrylic platter and a better cartridge down the line would be a nice addition to it but is more of a preference thing in the context of having an already high quality turntable.

If you’re hesitant about the color consider what surface/furniture you are placing it on. Piano black is known to pickup dust like crazy but is the most subdued, walnut will drive you insane or any wooden furniture but is classy if its contrast or matches accent pieces and white is too bold and modern for dark environments that don't have a tied theme, it will stick out like a sore thumb. I own white and it is placed atop an oak console, but each to their own.

The only flaw I can see is that the dust cover has bumpers at the front conners which are made out of the same hard plastic and not rubber or equivalent. If you are not careful you can permanently leave dents in the plinth from excess pressure or simply not guiding the cover down all the way. Will be looking at ways I can modify it, cutting it down a bit a sliding extremely small diameter surgical tube on to it to act as a bumper.