Turntables — Pro-Ject Debut S

The Pro-Ject Debut S is a three-speed belt-drive turntable that ships with a Sumiko Rainier cartridge already fitted. It belongs to Pro-Ject's Debut range, where its 78 rpm speed sets it apart from the other models, and it is aimed at listeners whose collections include shellac-era 78s alongside conventional vinyl.

Key specs that matter

Supported speeds are 33, 45 and 78 rpm. The 300 mm platter is a 1.7 kg steel disc with a felt mat, driven by a DC motor. Wow and flutter is specified at 0.33% while signal-to-noise reaches 67 dB. The turntable measures 415 x 118 x 320 mm and weighs 5.6 kg.

Engineering and use context

All three speeds run from the same motor and speed-selection mechanism, so a speed change is a selector operation and the belt never has to be repositioned manually. The cartridge arrives pre-installed, which removes the need to mount and align one before first use.

Pairing

As a moving-magnet design, the pre-fitted Sumiko Rainier asks only for ordinary moving-magnet phono gain, whether built into the amplifier or supplied by an external stage. That makes the Debut S fit into the same kind of system as any other Debut-range deck, with no special requirements.

Alternatives

The Debut Carbon EVO uses the same belt-drive format with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, a closely matched platter and a slightly lower profile, but it has no 78 rpm speed.