Pro-Ject George Harrison Recordplayer (global reference) review: fit and tradeoffs

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Does it fit your priorities?

Can the George Harrison Recordplayer feed line-only powered speakers directly?

No line-level route is documented. The linked Essential III guide identifies a PHONO output and calls for a compatible PHONO input or a separate phono stage before a line-level input.

Which tracking-force number should be used for the pre-mounted OM10?

The exact George Harrison page and product sheet say 18 mN, while the generic linked Essential III manual says 15 mN. Do not silently transfer one value; check the instructions supplied with the exact edition or confirm the discrepancy with the dealer before adjustment.

Does the turntable include the separate George Harrison LP box set?

The product-information file lists the box set on a separate section but does not say it is included with the turntable. Confirm any record bundle, exact adapter and seller package independently.

The George Harrison Recordplayer is a named Pro-Ject special edition built around the Essential III platform, not a general-purpose “Harrison package” with a confirmed record collection. The current global directory links to the exact model page, which describes a standalone belt-drive turntable in a George Harrison / Shepard Fairey design. Its product page and model-specific sheet document an Ortofon OM10 cartridge, acrylic platter and phono-level connection path. They do not establish a current U.S. offer or the exact local seller carton, so this page is a global model reference rather than a U.S. purchase recommendation.

The artwork changes the object, while the setup remains conventional

Pro-Ject says the limited edition uses an Essential III turntable and artwork created by Studio Number One from a design by Shepard Fairey. The plinth carries the portrait and decorative pattern; the transparent acrylic platter allows more of the design to remain visible. The manufacturer states that the edition was limited to 2,500 pieces worldwide. That is an edition statement, not evidence of present stock or a U.S. item number. The exact product information lists a belt-driven synchronous motor with silicone belt, manual 33/45 speed change, 300 mm acrylic platter and felt mat, an 8.6-inch aluminium tonearm with sapphire bearings, and a pre-mounted Ortofon OM10 moving-magnet cartridge. It gives a body size of 420 × 112 × 330 mm (about 16.54 × 4.41 × 12.99 inches) and net weight of 5.0 kg. The manual for the Essential III platform explains the user’s belt change between the two speeds, tonearm balancing, cue lift and anti-skating. The exact model page’s statement that this deck uses Essential III supports using those setup instructions for the basic operating arrangement; it does not make every seller package identical.

Plan for a PHONO-level signal

The linked Essential III manual identifies the signal lead as a phono output and says to use a suitable PHONO input. It specifically cautions that ordinary CD, tuner, tape and video line inputs are not appropriate by themselves. If an amplifier has no compatible phono input, the manual calls for a separate phono-amplifier stage before the line input. The model page and exact product sheet also list a Connect it E RCA interconnect; that cable does not turn a phono-level output into a line-level signal. In practical terms, this configuration can connect to a matching receiver or integrated amplifier PHONO input, or to powered speakers / a line-input amplifier through an added phono stage. Do not assume an onboard phono preamp, Bluetooth transmitter or USB recording path: none is documented in the exact product material reviewed here. Likewise, the maker lists 33 and 45 rpm only; 78-rpm playback is not established. The manuals show manual tonearm handling, but the exact model page does not establish automatic start/return or an end-of-record stop.

One cartridge setting conflict deserves attention

The exact George Harrison product page and its dedicated information sheet agree on an 18 mN recommended tracking force for the fitted OM10. The linked Essential III user guide, however, is a general platform manual and gives 15 mN for its fitted OM10. I would not quietly replace the edition-specific 18 mN figure with the generic instruction or pretend the two sources agree. Treat the 18 mN figure as the model-specific published value, then check the instructions supplied with the exact deck—or ask the seller or dealer—before making an adjustment. Cartridge force is a small setup detail with real consequences for stylus and record contact, so this disagreement is worth resolving rather than guessing.

Artwork, records and local package are separate questions

The product-information file also includes a section describing a George Harrison LP box set and its record titles. It does not say that those records are included with the turntable. The turntable’s own page and sheet list items such as its supply, dustcover, felt mat and RCA interconnect, but a global list is not a U.S. seller’s current carton. Confirm the actual table, supplied parts, adapter, warranty and return route on any local offer. The manufacturer’s current U.S.-selected dealer locator identifies the distributor and dealers but does not inventory this exact model. This evidence does not prove the edition is absent from the United States; it simply leaves the exact U.S. item and package unverified. This assessment uses source documents only and makes no claim of ownership, listening tests or hands-on setup.

Key specifications

Key details at a glance

Drive	Belt drive
Documented record speeds	33 / 45
78-RPM play option	No
Included cartridge	Ortofon om10, pre-mounted
Built-in phono preamp	No
Manual tonearm cueing	Yes
Platter	300 mm acrylic platter with felt mat
Platter mat	Felt
Body width	16.54 in
Body depth	12.99 in
Body height	4.41 in

Use the exact model’s instructions for operating limits, supplied equipment and version differences.

Sources for this review

Sources for this assessment

Check your phono route before choosing

Check each model's documented input route, arm operation, and body limits. Use the finder to compare supported phono-system arrangements without assuming adjacent models share features.

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