Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Pro-Ject Debut PRO B

The Debut PRO B is a belt-drive turntable issued by Pro-Ject Audio Systems for its 30th anniversary as the balanced version of the Debut PRO. It introduces the brand's True Balanced Connection through the Pick it PRO Balanced, which Pro-Ject presents as the first moving-magnet cartridge designed for balanced signal output. The company argues that any cartridge is a balanced transducer by nature, so a balanced link no longer requires a move to moving coil.

Key specs that matter

The 8.6 inch tonearm is a one-piece carbon and aluminium sandwich with an effective length of 218.5 mm, an effective mass of 10.0 g and an overhang of 18.5 mm. The 300 mm die-cast aluminium platter has a TPE damping ring plus a felt mat, and its bearing places a stainless steel axle inside a bronze bushing. Speeds are 33 and 45 rpm plus 78 rpm. Measured speed stability is given as 0.16 percent wow and flutter at 33 rpm and 0.14 percent at 45 rpm, with drift of 0.40 and 0.50 percent, and the S/N figure is 68 dB. Outputs are a mini XLR balanced socket and a single-ended RCA pair. The external supply is rated 15 V DC at 0.8 A, with 4 W consumed in operation and 0 W in standby. Size is 415 x 113 x 320 mm and weight 6 kg net.

Engineering and use context

An electronically regulated synchronous motor drives the belt, and a toggle switch changes speed, with a round belt included for 78 rpm. The chassis parts are CNC-milled and nickel-coated, and Pro-Ject avoids plastic parts that would degrade over time. The platter is anti-magnetic and has a notch for the record label so it works with the separately sold Record Puck PRO. Loosening grub screws in the arm base allows both azimuth and vertical tracking angle to be set. Three height-adjustable damped aluminium feet reduce acoustic feedback. Pro-Ject states that the arm combines rigidity with internal damping and is suited to a later upgrade to a moving-coil cartridge. The box holds the power supply, a dust cover, the 78 rpm belt and a 7 inch single adapter.

Pairing

For the balanced route Pro-Ject names its own True Balanced phono stages - the Phono Box S3 B, Phono Box DS3 B, Tube Box DS3 B and Phono Box RS - with the cables sold separately. Through the RCA pair the deck works with any ordinary moving-magnet phono input, so the balanced option can wait until a suitable stage is bought.

Alternatives

The Pro-Ject 6PerspeX Balanced is a higher-level belt-drive turntable of the brand with a suspended sub-chassis and the same mini XLR output option.