Turntables — Premiera ULTRA X

The ULTRA X is the entry point of the three-model ULTRA series of belt-driven record players from Premiera, a Russian brand. It is the purely analogue member of the range, with no phono stage, no Bluetooth and no digital output, and was listed at 18,800 roubles against 21,800 for the ULTRA XL and 23,800 for the ULTRA XXL. Owners can choose a matte black lacquer, matte white lacquer or walnut-pattern PVC finish.

Key specs that matter

The ULTRA X relies on a DC servo motor with electronic speed stabilisation, coupled by belt, at 33.3 or 45 rpm, and speed drift is specified at no more than 0.25 percent wow and flutter to DIN 45507 and IEC 60386. The platter is non-magnetic aluminium with a flatness tolerance of plus or minus 0.6 mm and can be lifted off. An Audio-Technica AT3600L moving magnet cartridge with a conical stylus comes fitted, covering 20 Hz to 20 kHz, with a recommended tracking force between 2.2 and 3.5 g. The single RCA stereo pair delivers at least 3.0 mV into 47 kohm. Mains input is 220 to 240 V at 50 Hz, and consumption stays at up to 5 W. The deck measures 434 x 125 x 370 mm and weighs 5.1 kg net.

Engineering and use context

Dense MDF forms the plinth, a material chosen for high damping, and a removable transparent dust cover is supplied. Operation is semi-automatic, meaning the arm is placed by hand, while an auto-stop circuit stops rotation after the final track of a side and turns the motor off. Downforce and bias compensation are set on the arm itself. Because the three ULTRA models share the same chassis, arm, motor and cartridge, the difference lies entirely in the electronics, and the X omits all of them to keep the signal path as short as possible. That makes it the version intended for owners who already have, or plan to buy, dedicated external components. Its lower power draw compared with its siblings reflects the absence of an internal preamplifier and radio module.

Pairing

The raw cartridge output needs RIAA equalisation and gain before reaching a line input, so the ULTRA X must connect to an amplifier offering a moving magnet phono input or to a separate moving magnet phono stage. Plugging it straight into an ordinary AUX socket on a receiver or powered speaker would leave the signal far too weak and without the required equalisation. In a system built around a dedicated phono preamplifier, the deck can be upgraded later by fitting a different cartridge, since the arm allows the tracking force to be reset.

Alternatives

The Premiera ULTRA XL uses the same deck but adds a switchable built-in MM phono stage and Bluetooth 5.3 output.