Our Verdict
Pro-Ject's accessory range addresses every aspect of vinyl performance, from record care and vibration control to precision setup tools. Most are affordable, all are genuinely useful, and together they ensure your records and stylus deliver their best for years to come.
Quick Take
- Record pucks and clamps stabilise the vinyl on the platter, improving groove contact, reducing vibration, and enhancing tracking accuracy.
- Carbon fibre brushes remove surface dust and static before every play. Regular use extends both stylus and record life significantly.
- Pro-Ject's Align-IT, Set-IT, and Measure-IT tools cover cartridge alignment, tracking force measurement, and overhang adjustment. Correct setup is the single biggest factor in sound quality and stylus longevity.
- Cork, leather, and rubber mats offer different sonic characters compared to standard felt. Cork and rubber reduce static; leather tends to tighten bass response.
- Ground-IT isolation platforms decouple your turntable from floor and rack-borne vibration, producing a cleaner, more consistent presentation.
Vinyl playback is as much about care and fine-tuning as it is about the turntable itself. Pro-Ject, best known for its award-winning turntables, also offers a wide selection of accessories designed to elevate your listening experience. Whether you're just starting your vinyl journey or looking to maximise performance, here are the top five Pro-Ject accessories every enthusiast should consider.
1. Record Pucks and Clamps
A record puck or clamp helps stabilise vinyl during playback, improving contact with the platter and reducing unwanted vibrations. Pro-Ject's designs are simple to use and can noticeably enhance tracking accuracy and sound quality.
2. Record Cleaning Brushes
Dust and static are vinyl's worst enemies. Pro-Ject carbon fibre brushes are an everyday essential, removing surface particles before playback. Regular use not only preserves sound quality but also extends the life of both records and stylus.
3. Set-Up Tools (Align-IT, Set-IT, Measure-IT)
Pro-Ject offers a full range of setup tools to ensure your turntable is performing at its best. The Align-IT PRO alignment protractor, Set-IT cartridge alignment tool, and Measure-IT stylus balance make it easier to optimise cartridge setup, extend stylus life, and maximise sound quality.
4. Turntable Mats
Swapping the standard felt mat for a Pro-Ject cork, leather, or rubber mat can transform playback. Each material offers different sonic benefits, from reducing static to tightening bass response, allowing you to fine-tune your system affordably.
5. Ground-IT Isolation Platforms
Vibration control is critical to accurate playback. The Pro-Ject Ground-IT isolation platform provides a stable base for your turntable, reducing resonance from external sources. This leads to cleaner sound and more consistent performance.
Which to Buy First? A Priority Guide
If you are building up these accessories gradually rather than purchasing all five at once, here is the order FutureShop recommends, based on where each accessory makes the most immediately audible or practical difference.
First: setup tools (Measure-IT stylus balance, then Align-IT PRO). Correct cartridge setup is the single biggest variable in vinyl sound quality, and it costs nothing beyond the price of the tools. A cartridge with incorrect tracking force or misaligned azimuth produces more distortion, higher record wear, and shorter stylus life than any other problem in a vinyl system. The Measure-IT E electronic stylus balance is the highest-priority purchase in the Pro-Ject accessory range: setting tracking force to within 0.05g of the cartridge manufacturer's recommendation is the most cost-effective improvement available to any turntable owner. The Align-IT PRO protractor is the second priority, ensuring overhang and azimuth are correct. Together these two tools establish a reliable, accurate baseline that everything else in the accessory range is built on. Buying a better mat or isolation platform before confirming the cartridge is correctly set up is always the wrong order.
Second: carbon fibre brush (every listening session, before every record). The Brush-IT is the most regularly used accessory in this list and the one that provides ongoing protection rather than a one-time improvement. A single pass of the carbon fibre brush across a record before every play removes the surface dust and static charge that are the primary causes of surface noise and stylus contamination. Stylus contamination from accumulated dust is one of the most common causes of premature cantilever damage: the stylus picks up compacted debris that causes the cantilever to deflect asymmetrically under tracking force. A brush that costs under £20 prevents a cartridge repair that costs hundreds. Priority: buy it immediately after the setup tools, and use it before every single record.
Third: record puck or clamp. A record puck or clamp provides an immediately audible improvement in systems where the standard platter mat and label area allow any vertical movement of the record during playback. The improvement is most noticeable with older or warped records where the label area lifts slightly from the platter: the puck applies downward pressure that flattens the record against the mat and improves groove-to-stylus contact across the full playing surface. For records that are flat and well-pressed, the improvement is subtler but still audible as a slight reduction in bass resonance and a marginal improvement in tracking stability. Pucks and clamps are typically the third accessory purchase because their benefit is most audible in a system that has already been correctly set up: a misaligned or over-weighted cartridge is not resolved by adding a puck.
Fourth: turntable mat. The mat is an affordable and effective way to tune the tonal character of your turntable once setup, record care, and groove contact are addressed. Cork-rubber mats (the Cork and Rubber-IT) are the most broadly neutral upgrade from a standard felt mat: they reduce static charge buildup and provide better mechanical damping than felt without significantly altering tonal balance. The Leather-IT produces a slightly warmer, fuller bass character that suits turntables and systems with a leaner presentation. The Cork-IT is the lightest option and suits turntables where static is the primary concern. Note that changing the mat affects the stylus-to-record height and therefore the tonearm's vertical tracking angle: where possible, check the tonearm is level with the mat fitted before evaluating the sonic change.
Fifth: Ground-IT isolation platform. The Ground-IT is positioned last not because its effect is least significant, but because it addresses a problem that only becomes clearly audible once the setup, record care, groove contact, and platter interface are all optimised. In a system where the turntable is already on a solid, low-resonance surface and the floor does not flex under footfall, the Ground-IT's contribution is subtle. In a system where the turntable is on a shelf with audible feedback, or in a room with a suspended timber floor, the Ground-IT's isolation effect is more immediately obvious as a reduction in bass smearing and a cleaner, more focused soundstage. For the most challenging suspended floor situations, a wall-mounted shelf on a load-bearing wall is the most effective isolation solution and the Ground-IT is then used under the turntable on the shelf itself for the final layer of decoupling.
TL;DR: Pro-Ject Essentials
- Record Pucks and Clamps: stabilise vinyl and improve tracking.
- Carbon Fibre Brushes: everyday dust and static control.
- Cork, Leather and Rubber Mats: affordable sound tuning and static reduction.
- Setup Tools (Align-IT, Set-IT, Measure-IT): precision adjustments for better playback.
- Ground-IT Platforms: isolation for reduced vibration and cleaner sound.
Final Thoughts
The right accessories can make a big difference to both sound and longevity. From cartridges to cleaning tools, Pro-Ject's range helps ensure your records not only sound their best today but remain in excellent condition for years to come. At FutureShop, we stock a curated selection of these essentials, making it easy to upgrade your system with confidence.
If you are new to turntable setup or looking to refine your cartridge alignment, our Mastering Vinyl guide covers every step from fitting a cartridge to setting tracking force. And if a cartridge upgrade is on your list, our Hana Cartridge Range guide is a good place to start.
Browse the full range of Pro-Ject accessories at FutureShop. Not sure which tools are right for your setup? Get in touch with our team for free expert advice.
