Pro-Ject Automat A2 Fully Automatic Turntable - Black - Sumiko Rainier Cartridge

Full Automation, Without the Usual Sonic Penalty

Flip the start switch on the Automat A2 and the tonearm moves to the lead-in groove on its own, lifts at the end of the side, returns to rest, and shuts the turntable down — no cueing, no watching the clock, no stylus riding the run-out groove.

The automatic mechanism is entirely mechanical and fully disengages during playback, so nothing is drawing power or moving in the arm path while your record actually plays, meaning the convenience costs you nothing in sound quality.

A floating sub-chassis carries the tonearm, platter bearing, and motor, isolated from the plinth, while a factory-mounted Sumiko Rainier cartridge (the US-market version of this Germany-built design) comes ready to play out of the box.

A Fifty-Year-Old Mechanism, Genuinely Improved

An Isolated Sub-Chassis in a Hand-Painted Plinth

The tonearm, platter bearing, and motor all mount to a separate floating sub-chassis, isolated from the heavy MDF plinth, an advantage that matters most when your speakers sit close to the turntable itself.

That plinth gets an eight-coat, hand-applied matte black finish, and Pro-Ject rebuilt the automatic mechanism around a new aluminum die-cast top, replacing the plastic parts of the original German design for the first time in the mechanism's fifty-year history.

A Tonearm with Dial-Set Tracking Force

The 8.3-inch ultra-low-mass aluminum tonearm uses a 4-point gimbal bearing with steel-tip ball bearings made in-house, and a carbon-fiber-reinforced headshell accommodates a genuinely wide range of cartridges beyond the stock Rainier.

Tracking force is set with a dial directly on the tonearm bearing rather than a sliding counterweight, keeping the center of gravity right over the bearing for a faster, more repeatable adjustment every time.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Reviewing the Automat A2's shared automatic mechanism and sub-chassis design, Christian Möller found that "the automation worked smoothly, reliably, and quietly," adding that watching it cue and return a record is "pure delight."

Who Is the Automat A2 Best For?

• You want to play records, not set up a turntable — the cartridge is mounted, tracking force is pre-adjusted, and automatic operation handles the rest
• You want genuinely isolated engineering — the floating sub-chassis keeps speaker vibration out of the tonearm and platter bearing
• You want electronic 33/45/78rpm speed selection — no belt to reposition by hand when you change speeds
• You need a phono input somewhere in your system — the A2 has no built-in phono stage of its own
• You want one deck for every speed — all three, with a dedicated 78 stylus giving shellac the profile it was cut for

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect the included semi-balanced, low-capacitance RCA cable to a phono input on your amp or receiver, or to an outboard phono preamp if your system doesn't have one built in.

Set the size dial for 7-inch singles or 12-inch LPs so the arm drops in the right place, then select your speed electronically at the push of a button, with no belt-swapping required.

Pairs Well With

Where the Automat A2 goes from here:

• Phono preamplifiers — required, since none is built into this turntable
• Integrated amplifiers — with a phono input suited to moving-magnet cartridges, or paired with a separate phono preamp
• Audio racks — a rigid, level shelf gives the floating sub-chassis a stable foundation
• Record cleaning accessories — clean records sound better and protect the stylus

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the automatic mechanism hurt sound quality?

It doesn't, and that's the A2's central design argument. The mechanism is entirely mechanical and disengages completely once the arm reaches the lead-in groove.

Do I need a phono preamp?

Yes, unless your amp or receiver already has a phono input. The A2 outputs a phono-level signal and has no built-in stage of its own.

How do I upgrade the sound later?

Swap the stylus, not the cartridge. The Rainier body accepts a Sumiko Olympia, Moonstone, or Wellfleet stylus, so you can step up without remounting or realigning anything.

Can it play 78rpm records?

Yes, with the right stylus. Sumiko's RS 78 stylus (sold separately) is cut for the wider grooves of shellac records; 10-inch 78s also need manual tonearm placement.

Is the cartridge already installed?

Yes. The Sumiko Rainier moving-magnet cartridge is factory-mounted and aligned, with tracking force pre-set on the tonearm's dial.

What's the warranty?

A two-year limited manufacturer warranty covers the Automat A2.

See It in Action

An independent look at the Automat A2's build and automatic mechanism:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about turntable setup, cartridge upgrades, or choosing a phono preamp? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.