Pro-Ject

Pro-Ject Audio Systems, an Austrian manufacturer of high-fidelity audio gear, was founded in 1991 by Heinz Lichtenegger and is based in Mistelbach. The company handles design in Austria, while production takes place at facilities in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Its lineup includes a well-known series of turntables, often considered benchmark entry-level models. The Debut turntable, launched in 1999, helped revive interest in vinyl records by delivering quality analog playback at a reasonable price, making such turntables widely accessible. Since 2015, Pro-Ject has issued limited-edition Artist Collection turntables in partnership with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Metallica, Hans Theessink, Parov Stelar, and the Vienna Philharmonic. The company also produces a range of micro Hi-Fi components, including amplifiers, CD transports, phono stages, streaming devices, and loudspeakers. Pro-Ject operates as a division of Audio Tuning, which also owns Musical Fidelity, REKKORD AUDIO, and TONE Factory.

Heinz Lichtenegger started producing and selling turntables under the Pro-Ject name in 1991. The first model, the Pro-Ject 1, was essentially an improved version of the Czech-made Tesla NC-500, using better materials and engineering to create an affordable, high-quality turntable. That same year, the Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) awarded it "Best Buy Turntable." In 1993, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, Pro-Ject partnered with a former Tesla factory in the Czech Republic, which still manufactures its turntables. The Pro-Ject 6, introduced in 1994, was the company’s first high-end turntable. The Debut series arrived in 1999, aiming to make hi-fi more accessible; it has since sold nearly one million units. New factories in the Czech Republic and Slovakia were added in 2000 to support electronics production. Pro-Ject entered the digital market in 2007 with the Pre Box, Amp Box, and DAC Box. In 2017, the company opened a new headquarters in Lower Austria, housing offices, logistics, administration, and R&D. Its 30th anniversary in 2021 was marked by the release of the Debut PRO turntable. In 2023, Pro-Ject released 24 high-precision tonearms, all handmade in Europe.