Pro-Ject

Their engineers have designed 3 exciting new turntables, the X1 at $999, the X2 at $1299, and the Classic EVO at $1699, each prepackaged with one of Sumiko's new moving-magnet cartridges. (See last year's newsletter.) The Classic EVO replaces the highly-regarded Classic SB.

Pro-Ject's original turntable, the P1, came out in 1991. It had no fancy, unnecessary features, and every design decision was dedicated to the best possible sound quality. The X1 is based on the same concept as the P1, but it is improved in every way, thanks to modern materials and new production methods. The design is carefully tuned to offer the most critical features for the best price, and everything is put together with their decades long experience.

How do you make the best performing turntables without blowing the budget? For one thing, you use MDF for the chassis, even though MDF is 2-3 times more expensive than standard particle board (not to mention a plastic chassis), but sounds and feels much better. Then, The X1 is finished with 8 layers of hand-polished paint even though this is three to four times more expensive than typical foil or vinyl coatings. Inside, there is a sophisticated DC/AC generator board which, combined with the convenient speed control board, delivers clean and stable power to the quietly-running motor. This adds additional cost but performs many times better than a simple, direct powered AC motor. For even better performance, the motor is decoupled from the main plinth using a new motor suspension system to isolate motor vibrations from the platter and tonearm. In the X1, the motor drives a new, heavy, non-resonant ccrylic platter via a sub-platter drive system and a premium grade main bearing for liquid-smooth rotation. This is the perfect platform on which to place your precious vinyl records because it guarantees absolute reliability and sonic integrity. The X1 is also better than its predecessors because of its super-stiff, perfectly-tempered carbon/aluminum sandwich tonearm. This new 8.6-inch tonearm design is incredibly light and stiff, with improved resistance to external vibration interference. Finished as one piece, with no resonance-inducing headshell. the X1 can also be adjusted for azimuth and VTA, adjustments that are absolutely mandatory for proper cartridge alignment. The tonearm is then supplied with a TPE-damped counterweight, further reducing cartridge-tonearm resonances. Finally, the height-adjustable Aluminum/ TPE feet are a very exclusive but necessary feature to level the turntable and effectively isolate it from the surface it is place on. In the USA, the X1 is supplied with a pre-mounted Sumiko Ranier moving magnet cartridge, a $150 value. Other features include:

• Speed control using an electronic speed switch for ultimate speed stability
• Carefully isolated motor for less vibration and noise
• Sub-platter with extremely low 0.001mm bearing tolerances
• Stainless steel platter-bearing with soft brass bushing and Teflon mirrors for lowest rumble and noise and stable, accurate speed transmission
• Resonance free, 3.3 lb. heavy acrylic platter
• Kardan ultra-low friction 4 pin point precision tonearm bearing

In the X2, the raw materials used in production are of a much higher quality and are more difficult to source. Selected components are bigger, heavier, more massive and robust for improved performance and greater build quality. The X2 was designed to raise the high standards of the X1 to a new level. The X2 has more mass in the chassis, platter and tonearm. Structurally, the X2 is supported by its large, heavy, dense, and stiff MDF structure, reducing unwanted resonances to almost imperceptible levels. By adding this extra mass, the X2 is even quieter than the X1, allowing vinyl reproduction to become more detailed and precise. The tonearm is longer, 9 inches in length, and the tube has a wider diameter. Its carbon/ aluminum sandwich construction results in better internal damping. This also means that the entire tonearm bearing had to be upgraded to compensate for the extra mass. Altogether, tracking is more precise, stable, and accurate. The X2's motor chassis is carefully balanced and suspended on a precision-tuned TPE belt. The motor chassis is effectively decoupled from the main plinth for optimal performance. It is free-floating and completely level and able to operate at the highest performance levels. The X2 comes prepackaged with a Sumiko Moonstone moving magnet cartridge, a $299 value. Other improvements over the X1 include:

• Built-in SpeedBox with electronic speed control for 33/45 rpm speed change and ultimate speed stability
• 9-inch, one-piece tonearm tube with optimal internal damping by the ultra-rigid carbon/aluminum sandwich construction
• Resonance-free, 4.2 lb. heavy acrylic platter

The new Classic EVO is based on the successful EISA Award winner, The Classic, and the experience Pro-Ject earned designing and building their iconic model, the 175 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (VPO) record player. The main improvement is the sub-platter, where they used the experience gained from designing the VPO record player to add key changes to the Classic EVO, adding performance features that are rarely seen in this price category. For improved convenience, an electronic speed change was built in, which allows for switching between 33 and 45 rpm with the push of a button. Compared to the old Classic, they improved the sub-chassis. It is heavier and stiffer to reduce resonances. Isolation of the platter and tonearm from the resonances of the motor and main plinth is the goal. The heavy aluminum main platter uses advanced thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) for optimizing resonance behavior. A drawback for most old designs was the platter. Cast platters are heavy (which is good for speed constancy and low wow and flutter) but suffer from ringing effects which can caused coloration of the sound. The platter of The Classic EVO is precisely machined out of a special aluminum alloy damped with TPE, which offers special damping abilities. The main bearing construction is similar to the one on the VPO record player. The diamond-cut, precision aluminum sub-platter, as in the limited edition VPO, enables much improved tolerances. This extraordinarily-sophisticated part is accurately machined and guarantees excellent isolation from bearing noise. The radically-new Classic tonearm design is the result of 25 years of experience in mechanical construction. The tonearm tube is made out of a sandwich of carbon and aluminum, carbon for stiffness and speed and aluminum for better damping. The bearing has been upgraded to the same type that is used on the CC EVO tonearms. It facilitates frictionless vertical and horizontal movement, guaranteeing precise tracking across the entire span of the record. The Classic EVO comes prepackaged with a Sumiko Amethyst moving magnet cartridge, a $599 value. Special features include:

• Diamond-cut, precision aluminum sub-platter
• Improved sandwich sub-chassis
• Electronic speed control (33/45 rpm)
• Height adjustable decoupling feet
• Precision-balanced, TPE-damped, aluminum platter
• Metal/MDF-sandwich chassis floating on TPE suspension
• 9-inch carbon/aluminum tonearm with Moving Magnet and Moving Coil capability
• Inverted EVO bearing design with four ABEC7 spec ball races
• Solid ring type arm bearing housing. The massive outside ring is open to avoid resonances.
• Azimuth and VTA are fully adjustable
• TPE-damped counterweight

We also want to remind everyone that, at Audio Nexus, we always carefully set up and align every turntable we sell, even when that turntable comes complete from the manufacturer. We aren't comfortable handing you a turntable until we, personally, have verified that it's completely set up properly.