Turntables — Pro-Ject RPM 3 Carbon

The RPM 3 Carbon is an accomplished belt-drive turntable from Pro-Ject, sharing the RPM 1 Carbon's 10-inch tonearm, bearing, and motor, but stepping up with an aluminium rather than fibreboard support platter. The RPM 3 Carbon brings Pro-Ject's considered engineering to a mid-tier entry point into the celebrated RPM series.

Key specs that matter

Two speeds are supported - 33 and 45rpm - via belt drive with a DC motor. A pre-installed 10-inch tonearm comes fitted with a factory-mounted Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge. The platter is a 300mm MDF design. Signal-to-noise is 71dB. At 422 x 118 x 373mm and 5.5kg, the RPM 3 Carbon maintains a manageable turntable chassis reflecting Pro-Ject's considered RPM-series engineering.

Sound and use context

Expect a meaningful step up from the entry-level RPM 1 Carbon reflecting the upgraded cartridge and platter materials, with the factory-matched Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge delivering a dependable, well-resolved playback foundation.

Pairing

The factory-matched Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge comes pre-aligned, and the RPM 3 Carbon connects to an amplifier with a built-in phono stage or an external phono preamplifier.

Alternatives

Pro-Ject's own RPM 1 Carbon offers a more accessible alternative and RPM 9 Carbon a more substantial one within the same broader RPM series.