Проигрыватели виниловых дисков — Pro-Ject X1 B

From Pro-Ject Audio Systems, the X1 B is a belt-driven deck bringing balanced output to the X1 design. Its mini XLR sockets let the signal travel to a phono stage in balanced form, which rejects noise picked up along the cable. Pro-Ject supplies it with a Pick it S2 MM cartridge pre-mounted, with the Pick it PRO Balanced offered as an upgrade, and finishes include high gloss and real wood, among them eucalyptus.

Key specs that matter

Three speeds, 33, 45 and 78 rpm, are selected electronically. Speed variance is 0.30 percent at 33 and 0.25 percent at 45, and wow and flutter are 0.15 percent and 0.13 percent. The platter is acrylic, 20 mm thick and 1.5 kg in mass, and it turns on a bearing combining stainless steel with brass. Having 78 rpm on board means shellac discs can also be played, provided a suitable stylus is fitted. Power consumption is 5.0 W at most and under 0.3 W in standby. The deck measures 415 x 125 x 335 mm and weighs 7 kg net, or 9.5 kg packed.

Engineering and use context

The tonearm uses a carbon and aluminium sandwich tube, with an effective length of 218.5 mm, an overhang of 18 mm and a mass of 10.0 g. The arm accepts a tracking force anywhere between 0 and 30 mN, and both azimuth and VTA are fully adjustable, which gives room to fit a different cartridge later. The bearing uses a soft brass bushing with Teflon mirrors. A DC and AC generator board feeds the motor with clean, stable power, and the motor itself is suspended to decouple its vibration from the plinth. Levelling on uneven furniture is handled by three damped aluminium feet with adjustable height. The box includes a 15 V DC power supply rated at 0.8 A, a dust cover, a Connect it E phono cable and a felt mat.

Pairing

To benefit from the balanced connection, the X1 B should feed a phono stage equipped with balanced inputs, and Pro-Ject offers matching boxes in its True Balanced Connection range, such as the S3 B and DS3 B. The supplied Pick it S2 is a moving magnet cartridge, so any MM phono input also works through a conventional cable. Choosing the Pick it PRO Balanced upgrade is most useful when the whole chain from cartridge to phono stage stays balanced.

Alternatives

The Pro-Ject X2 B is the next balanced turntable in the same range, fitted with a nine-inch carbon and aluminium tonearm and a pre-installed Ortofon Quintet Red moving coil cartridge.