Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 Turntable

Description

About the Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 Turntable

The Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 Turntable uses a heavyweight round MDF chassis, a flywheel belt-drive system, a 10.55kg magnetically decoupled aluminium platter, an inverted ceramic main bearing, spring-loaded isolation feet, and a new 12-inch S-shaped aluminium tonearm with a 3-point pivot bearing. It also includes electronic 33 / 45 RPM speed control and a 5P DIN tonearm output.

The Signature 12.2 is supplied as a high-end turntable platform. The official Pro-Ject product information shows it pictured with the separately available Pick it MC9 cartridge, so cartridge supply should be confirmed for the specific NZ package. For a Rapallo product page, we would list the cartridge as not included unless supplied in a specific bundle.

What We Like

At Rapallo, the Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 is for customers who want the top end of Pro-Ject analogue engineering. This is not a plug-and-play turntable. It is a serious platform for a carefully chosen cartridge, phono stage, amplifier, and speaker system.

The key strength is mechanical control. The 10.55kg platter, magnetic bearing support, TPE-damped sub-chassis, flywheel belt-drive system, and spring-loaded feet all work together to reduce unwanted vibration and improve speed stability. That gives the cartridge a quieter, more stable platform to read the groove.

We also like the new tonearm design. The 12-inch S-shaped aluminium arm moves away from the older unipivot style and uses a 3-point pivot bearing. Pro-Ject says this reduces friction and improves stability. Hi-Fi News also noted that the high-mass arm is best suited to substantial, low-compliance moving-coil cartridges.

For NZ customers building a reference-level vinyl system, the Signature 12.2 should be matched with a serious MC cartridge and a high-quality phono stage. It is a turntable that rewards proper setup, good isolation, clean cabling, and careful cartridge loading.

 

 

View Manual >> View Brochure >> View Pro-Ject Audio Products >>

 

The Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 Turntable Is Ideal For

• Reference-level vinyl systems
• Serious analogue listeners
• Customers wanting Pro-Ject’s flagship turntable platform
• Moving-coil cartridge systems
• Dedicated two-channel listening rooms
• Listeners who want a large 12-inch tonearm
• Systems where speed stability, low resonance, and cartridge setup matter
• Customers upgrading from Xtension, RPM, X8, or 6PerspeX models

 

What the Experts Say

• Hi-Fi News reviewed the Signature 12.2 and described it as intelligently designed, beautifully finished, and bold, dynamic, and big-hearted in sound. It gave the turntable a sound quality score of 88%.
• Hi-Fi News Lab Report measured through-the-groove rumble at -73.8dB and described this as a state-of-the-art result. It also noted that the 12-inch tonearm is best suited to substantial, low-compliance MC cartridges due to its high effective mass.
• The Audiophile Man reported that Pro-Ject describes the Signature 12.2 as the most advanced turntable it has ever built, using more than 100 in-house CNC-machined and polished parts, plus a hand-painted MDF chassis with ten layers of piano-black lacquer.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Pro-Ject Signature 12.2?
   The Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 is Pro-Ject’s high-end flagship manual belt-drive turntable. It uses a flywheel belt-drive system, 12-inch tonearm, 10.55kg magnetically decoupled platter, TPE-damped sub-chassis, and spring-loaded feet.
2. What tonearm does the Signature 12.2 use?
   It uses a new 12-inch S-shaped aluminium tonearm with a 3-point pivot bearing, improved counterweight system, adaptive anti-skating, SME headshell, seamless VTA adjustment, and 5P DIN output.
3. What is the benefit of the 3-point pivot bearing?
   The 3-point pivot bearing is designed to reduce friction and improve stability compared with Pro-Ject’s earlier unipivot design. It also helps the tonearm support heavier high-end MC cartridges more effectively.
4. Can the Signature 12.2 be used with moving-coil cartridges?
   Yes. The Signature 12.2 is very well suited to moving-coil cartridges. Hi-Fi News noted that its high-mass tonearm is best suited to substantial, low-compliance MC cartridges.
5. Does the Signature 12.2 have a built-in phono stage?
   No, it does not include a built-in phono preamp. You will need a suitable external phono stage or an amplifier with a high-quality phono input.
6. Can the Signature 12.2 be used balanced?
   Yes, it can be used in a True Balanced setup with a suitable MC cartridge, Pro-Ject True Balanced cable, and a compatible balanced phono stage such as the Pro-Ject Phono Box RS2.
7. What speeds does the Signature 12.2 support?
   It supports 33 and 45 RPM playback with electronic speed change. It does not list 78 RPM support.
8. How heavy is the Signature 12.2?
   The turntable weighs 37kg. Its packaging weight is listed at 60kg, so delivery and installation should be handled carefully.
9. What is the platter made from?
   The platter is a 10.55kg precision CNC-machined aluminium design with TPE damping, magnetic decoupling, and a vinyl top layer.
10. What is the purpose of the flywheel belt drive?
    The flywheel belt-drive system is designed to improve speed stability and reduce vibration from the drive system.
11. Who is the Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 best suited to?
    It is best for serious vinyl listeners who want Pro-Ject’s flagship turntable platform, a 12-inch arm, cartridge freedom, low-noise mechanical design, and the ability to build a reference-level analogue system.

 

Key Features

Pro-Ject Flagship Turntable

The Signature 12.2 sits at the top of the Pro-Ject turntable range. Pro-Ject describes it as its high-end flagship, with exclusive materials, luxury finish, in-house CNC parts, hand-polished metal work, and a multi-day build and assembly process.

12-Inch S-Shaped Aluminium Tonearm

The Signature 12.2 uses a new 12-inch S-shaped aluminium tonearm. It has an effective length of 304.8mm and an effective mass of 21.7g. This makes it well suited to serious moving-coil cartridge setups.

New 3-Point Pivot Bearing

The tonearm uses a 3-point pivot bearing instead of the previous unipivot design. Pro-Ject says the precise alignment of the three pivot points reduces friction and improves stability, outperforming its previous unipivot system.

Improved Counterweight System

The counterweight now uses a fine thread for smoother tracking force adjustment. This allows smaller, more precise changes during cartridge setup.

Adaptive Anti-Skating

The adaptive anti-skating system is designed to apply the correct anti-skating force between the inner and outer grooves of a record. Pro-Ject has also made the mechanism more accessible for easier setup.

Seamless VTA Adjustment

The tonearm allows seamless VTA adjustment through a set screw. This makes it easier to fine-tune cartridge height and optimise tracking angle for different cartridges and record thicknesses.

10.55kg Magnetically Decoupled Platter

The main platter is precision CNC-machined from aluminium and weighs 10.55kg. It is TPE damped, magnetically decoupled, and topped with a vinyl layer made from recycled records. This gives the record a stable, resonance-controlled playing surface.

Inverted Ceramic Main Bearing

The platter runs on an inverted ceramic ball bearing with magnetic support. This reduces bearing noise and resonance, helping the platter run more silently.

Flywheel Belt Drive

The Signature 12.2 uses a flywheel belt-drive system. Pro-Ject says this helps deliver vibration-free running and accurate, stable speeds.

Precision DC-Driven AC Generator

The motor is powered by a precision DC-driven AC generator for 33 and 45 RPM playback. This supports accurate electronic speed control.

TPE-Damped Sub-Chassis

The platter and tonearm are mounted to a TPE-decoupled aluminium alloy sub-chassis. This separates the tonearm and platter from the mass-loaded main chassis and motor block.

New Spring-Loaded Feet

The Signature 12.2 uses newly designed spring-loaded feet with conical tips. These are adjustable from the top of the chassis and are designed to redirect unwanted vibration away from the turntable.

High-End Phono Cable Included

The Signature 12.2 includes Pro-Ject’s Connect it Phono DS 5P/RCA cable. It uses 99.99% OFC copper conductors and silver-plated connectors.

True Balanced Upgrade Path

The Signature 12.2 can be used in a True Balanced configuration with the correct cable, a compatible balanced phono stage, and an MC cartridge. Pro-Ject specifically notes the Phono Box RS2 as a matching option for this setup.

---

Suggested System Pairing

• Cartridge: Pro-Ject Pick it MC9, Ortofon Cadenza Series, Ortofon MC X Series, Hana Umami, Hana ML, Audio-Technica AT-OC9 Series, or another suitable low-compliance MC cartridge
• Phono Stage: Pro-Ject Phono Box RS2, Pro-Ject Tube Box DS3 B, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3 B, Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL, or another high-end MC phono stage
• Amplifier: Musical Fidelity M6si / M6xi, Marantz MODEL 10, Marantz MODEL 30, Rotel Michi, Luxman, or another high-current integrated amplifier
• Speakers: Bowers & Wilkins 700 Series, Focal Kanta, Focal Aria Evo X, Paradigm Founder, ELAC Vela, Triangle, SVS Ultra Evolution, or Klipsch Heritage
• Cables: Pro-Ject True Balanced phono cable where suitable, or a high-quality RCA phono cable
• Accessories: Digital tracking force gauge, cartridge alignment tools, record cleaning brush, stylus cleaner, and a stable hi-fi rack

---

Product Comparison Snapshot

Model	Best For	Key Difference
Pro-Ject Xtension 10 Evolution	High-end mass-loaded vinyl systems	Smaller platform, 10cc Evolution arm, 10.3kg platter
Pro-Ject RPM 10 Carbon	High-end RPM-style open platform systems	10cc Evolution arm, Ground It Carbon base, open chassis design
Pro-Ject Signature 10	Signature-style high-mass systems	Smaller Signature platform
Pro-Ject Signature 12.2	Reference Pro-Ject analogue systems	12-inch 3-point pivot arm, 10.55kg platter, flywheel drive, flagship build

 

Specifications

Brand: Pro-Ject

Model: Signature 12.2

Product Type: High-End Manual Belt-Drive Turntable

Drive System
Flywheel belt drive

Operation
Manual

Speeds
33 RPM
45 RPM

Speed Change
Electronic speed change

Speed Variance
33 RPM: ±0.09%
45 RPM: ±0.08%

Wow and Flutter
33 RPM: ±0.01%
45 RPM: ±0.01%

Signal-to-Noise Ratio
-75dB

Motor Control System
Precision generator
DC-driven AC generator

Tonearm
12-inch S-shaped aluminium tonearm
3-point pivot bearing

Effective Tonearm Length
12 inches
304.8mm

Effective Tonearm Mass
21.7g

Overhang
13.2mm

Tonearm Features
Improved counterweight system
Adaptive anti-skating
Seamless VTA adjustment
SME headshell
5P DIN output

Cartridge
Not included unless supplied in a specific bundle

Platter
10.55kg magnetically decoupled aluminium platter
TPE damping ring
Vinyl top layer

Main Bearing
Inverted ceramic main bearing
Ceramic ball and plate
Magnetic support

Sub-Chassis
TPE-damped aluminium alloy sub-chassis for platter and tonearm

Chassis
Heavyweight round MDF chassis
Hand-painted piano-black lacquer finish
Rounded edges to reduce standing waves
CNC-machined construction

Feet
Spring-loaded isolation feet
Conical tips
Adjustable from top of chassis

Output
5P DIN tonearm output

Included Phono Cable
Connect it Phono DS 5P/RCA cable

Balanced Upgrade Path
True Balanced capable with suitable MC cartridge, True Balanced cable, and balanced phono stage

Power Input
15V / 1.6A DC

Power Supply
Universal power supply

Power Consumption
15W
0.5W standby

Dimensions
580mm (W) x 220mm (H) x 480mm (D)

Weight
37kg

Weight Including Packaging
60kg

Finish
Piano Black

Country of Manufacture
Handmade in Europe

Rapallo Product Data

MPN: SIGNATURE-12-2

SKU: PROJ-SIGNATURE-12-2

EAN / UPC / GTIN: 9120129865753

 

Why Buy From Rapallo

✔ Expert turntable and cartridge matching advice
✔ Professional cartridge setup and alignment support
✔ Help matching phono stages, amplifiers, and speakers
✔ NZ support and after-sales service
✔ Trusted hi-fi and home entertainment specialists
✔ Practical guidance for isolation, cabling, record care, VTA, anti-skate, and system tuning