How Pro-Ject Bet on Vinyl When the World Went Digital

When the world was turning away from vinyl, Heinz Lichtenegger saw an opportunity. He founded Pro-Ject Audio Systems at a time when the future of the turntable looked uncertain—and helped build a company that would eventually ride the vinyl revival to worldwide success.

This week on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast, host Jorden Guth talks with Lichtenegger, owner of Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH, about his personal journey into hi-fi, the circumstances that led to Pro-Ject's founding, and how the company navigated the decline and resurgence of vinyl.

They also explore why Pro-Ject resists the temptation to load its turntables with unnecessary features, the importance of the physical and tactile experience of listening to music, the challenges of an increasingly competitive analog market, and why Lichtenegger believes a good hi-fi system should be a lifetime investment.

Sources:

“High End 2026: The White Whale Resurfaces—Heinz Lichtenegger Brings Back Platine Verdier” by Jason Thorpe: https://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php/shows-events/high-end-2026-vienna-austria/1276-he-2026-the-white-whale-resurfaces-heinz-lichtenegger-brings-back-platine-verdier

Pro-Ject Audio Systems Debut Reference 10 turntable and Pick it Pro balanced cartridge by Al Griffin: https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1390-pro-ject-audio-systems-debut-reference-10-turntable-and-pick-it-pro-balanced-cartridge

Chapters:
00:00:00 Announcement
00:00:36 Introductions
00:05:42 The features war
00:15:10 Funding a crazy enterprise
00:18:48 A lifetime investment
00:21:51 The analog avalanche
00:26:50 The importance of touch and feel
00:29:05 A more competitive market
00:32:01 The matter of education
00:42:21 Outro music: “SG” by Fryderyk HD