Pro-Ject X1 B Turntable Gloss White

Pro-Ject's True Balanced Connection technology. Both RCA and balanced outputs with 5-pin mini XLR. Ideal partners are the new Phono Box S3 B and Phono Box DS3 B. Belt-driven turntable with acrylic platter. Pre-mounted Pro-Ject Pick IT S2 MM cartridge. 33/45rpm electronic speed control. 8.6” carbon fibre/aluminium tonearm. Solid CNC-machined MDF chassis. 20mm thick acrylic platter weighing 1.5Kg. Stainless steel/bronze bearing. Adjustable azimuth and VTA. TPE damped counterweight. Height-adjustable aluminium feet. Semi-balanced 5-pin RCA phono cable supplied. Optional True Balanced 5-pin XLR phono cable. Dust cover supplied. Handcrafted in Europe

X1 B – one of the first balanced turntables

Turntables have a long history. Technology continues to progress, many things have changed, not only in terms of technique, but also in terms of environmental sustainability. Wireless networks are everywhere and countless electronic devices are making homes "smarter". This means that there are now additional electromagnetic fields, which could interfere with the turntable signal. This was not the case 30 years ago. To ensure the best connection to the phono preamp, Pro-Ject has designed a range of balanced products, "True Balanced Connection".

Why "True Balanced Connection"?

Balanced connections are popular in the professional world, such as recording studios and live concerts. It is very important in this sector to have a stable and interference-free connection, as these signals, especially microphone signals, will later need to be amplified. The same goes for the turntable, where the stylus signal will then need to be amplified by the phono stage. The advantage of a balanced connection is that it eliminates any noise and interference that may be picked up. Balanced connections use three wires per channel: ground, a hot wire and a cold wire. The cold wire is simply the hot wire with the polarity reversed. When receiving, the cold wire is inverted and added to the hot wire. If the cable detects noise, it is added to both signals. Inverting one and adding them together when receiving cancels out the noise.

The X1 B has a fully balanced mini XLR output and interfaces perfectly with the new Phono Box S3 B or Phono Box DS3 B stages.

To use the True Balanced connection, the turntable must be equipped with an MC cartridge. The X1 B comes with a PICK IT S2 MM cartridge pre-installed as standard, to keep costs down. In the future, the customer will be able to opt for an MC cartridge and take full advantage of the benefits of True Balanced.

High-end arm and cartridge

The X1 B comes standard with an 8.6" tonearm made of a carbon/aluminium alloy. The carbon layer gives the arm a high degree of rigidity, while the aluminium inner tube takes care of the damping of the arm. The Kardan arm bearing, with ultra-low friction on 4 support points, ensures precise, stable and accurate tracking. The one-piece arm design avoids vibrations caused by the detachable headshell. Its mass also makes the arm ideal for low and medium compliance MC cartridges, which can be a future upgrade to exploit the full potential of the balanced connection.

The damped TPE counterweight reduces arm-cartridge resonances by up to 50%. The X1 B is designed to satisfy all those who care about sound vinyl.

The tonearm base is made entirely of aluminium, with audiophile specifications. It allows adjustment of both azimuth and vertical tracking angle (VTA). The tonearm height can be adjusted continuously by loosening the two fixing screws. These settings allow you to

adapt the tonearm to changes in platter height depending on the mat used or the use of other cartridges to improve the sound quality.

Mini XLR and RCA output

A high quality Connect it E RCA cable is supplied as standard with the X1 B.

This is a semi-balanced, low capacitance cable with above average shielding. However, to take advantage of the balanced signal transmission, you will need one of Pro-Ject's new balanced phono signal cables, which are not supplied with the turntable. If you want to use the X1 B with a Phono Box S3 B, for example, you will need a "Connect it Phono Mini XLR / Mini XLR".

Stable and quiet rotation

The X1 B's motor is already very quiet, but to further improve performance, Pro-Ject has designed a motor suspension that isolates the motor from the chassis. This allows the motor to run stable and free from external influences. Residual vibrations are dampened and eliminated, so they are not transmitted to the chassis, platter and cartridge. The X1 B's motor is carefully balanced and suspended on a TPE spring. This effectively decouples the motor from the turntable chassis, for maximum performance.

The playback speed is electronically controlled by a DC/AC generator, ensuring accurate and stable music reproduction. You can switch between speeds at the touch of a button. Using the flat belt, you can go from 33 to 45 rpm. If you fit the supplied round belt, you can go from 45 to 78 rpm. For 78 rpm, remember to also replace the cartridge.

Heavy chassis - perfect support

Structurally, the X1 B is supported by its large, heavy MDF chassis, which reduces unwanted resonances to almost imperceptible levels and sits on four damped, height-adjustable aluminium feet. The X1 B's MDF chassis is painted with 8 coats of lacquer and hand-polished to achieve the finest possible finish. It is available in three different finishes: black lacquer, satin white with 8 coats of lacquer or walnut veneer. The new X1 B is entirely handcrafted in Europe and only with the finest materials to meet Pro-Ject's high quality standards.

FEATURES

Speeds 33, 45, 78 (electronic speed change)

Principle Belt drive

Speed variation 33: 0.30% 45: 0.25%

Wow and flutter 33: 0.15% 45: 0.13%

Plate 20 mm thick, 1.5kg heavy acrylic

Main bearing stainless steel/brass

Toucharm 8.6" carbon/aluminum sandwich

Effective arm length 218.5mm

Overhang 18mm

Effective arm mass 10.0g

Tracking force range 0 to 30mN

Accessories included Power supply 15 volts DC/0.8 A, Dust cover, Phono cable Connect it E, felt mat

Power consumption 5.0 watts max /< 0.3 watts standby

Dimensions 415 x 125 x 335 mm (WxHxD)

Weight 7 kg net / 9.5 kg gross weight