Applause Award - stereonet.com
Unprecedented Value Plus New Audiophile Features and Technology
Pro-Ject's new Debut EVO 2 turntable delivers unprecedented value at anywhere near its price. And it's bursting with audiophile features and Pro-Ject technology, including a new TPE-damped die-cast aluminum platter, an 8.6" carbon fiber tonearm, electronic speed control, TPE-damped feet, and much more, including a dust cover.
"An Excellent Choice… Outstanding Value for Money"
The Debut EVO 2 won an Applause Award for 2024 from StereoNet. "Despite its affordable pricing, Pro-Ject's new Debut EVO 2 turntable definitely ticks all these boxes," reports James Michael Hughes in his August 27, 2024 review. "Pro-Ject has a winner in the improved updated Debut EVO 2 turntable. It offers outstanding value for money and represents an excellent choice for anyone wanting a great basic vinyl spinner at an affordable price."
"Debut Evo 2 is one of most attractive and best value turntable packages you can buy right now," raves Lee Dunkley, audiograde.uk, September 13, 2024. "The Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 sounded tremendously engaging throughout the review period, and more assertive than I imagined. It was a joy to set up and use, and best of all it always sounded musical."
"Pro-Ject has taken a friendly, capable deck and furnished it with significant upgrades to make it a more sleek and engaging performer," observes whathifi.com, September 27, 2024. "An appealing deck in looks and sound, the friendly, enthusiastic Evo 2 delights with a delicate way with voices and smooth presentation."
Advanced 8.6" Carbon Fiber Tonearm
The Debut EVO 2 features an advanced tonearm with premium 8.6" carbon fiber armtube and massive aluminum bearing block, like the Pro-Ject Debut PRO's tonearm. The low-friction tonearm bearing guarantees precise, stable, and accurate tracking. The carbon fiber tube is both highly rigid and low in mass.
The one-piece armtube and headshell design prevents unwanted resonance and offers an ideal physical pairing with the phono cartridge. This superbly built tonearm delivers impressive sound quality characterized by soundstaging with loads of detail.
The adaptive anti-skating mechanism adjusts for perfect tracking as the skating force varies between the inner and outer grooves of a vinyl record. The CNC-milled aluminum bearing block facilitates very low friction and high rigidity, also contributing to the exceptional tracking.
TPE-Damped Die-Cast Platter
Advancing the design, Debut EVO 2 moves away from its predecessor's steel platter and welcomes moving coil cartridges, should you wish to upgrade, with its new, highly precise aluminum platter with anti-resonance damping.
The 3.75 lb., 11.8"-diameter die-cast aluminum platter is precision balanced with additional machining after casting. This facilitates perfect platter rotation while playing records. The heavy aluminum platter also adds a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) damping ring and corresponding cutout on the underside, muting any resonance created by the metal record platter and contributing to the flywheel effect.
Height-Adjustable Damped Feet
Speaking of TPM-damping, the Debut EVO 2 stands on three height-adjustable TPE-damped feet. These make for easy leveling and provide great isolation. By using three feet instead of four, Pro-Ject is able to increase stability on uneven surfaces while minimizing surface-contact.
Pick it MM EVO Phono Cartridge
The new Pro-Ject Pick it MM EVO moving magnet cartridge completes the Debut EVO 2 in all respects. It complements the tonearm both sonically and aesthetically.
Pro-Ject's phono specialists teamed up with Danish cartridge specialists to develop this design. It uses split-pole pins known for achieving a flat frequency response that's typically only attainable with moving coil designs.
High-Quality RCA/Ground Cables
Cables cannot add any information to a given signal. Instead, they're responsible for allowing as much musical information as possible through to the receiving device. This is why Pro-Ject includes its Connect it Phono E RCA cable. Optimized for phono applications, it uses quality metals and careful configuration to ensure lossless signal transmission.
Upgrade to TRUE BALANCED Performance
True Balanced operation is attainable with a Pro-Ject RCA to Mini XLR cable (optional, sold separately) and Pro-Ject's Phono Box S3B, Phono Box DS3B, or Tube Box phono preamplifier (optional, sold separately).
Additionally, to use the True Balanced Connection, your Debut EVO 2 must be equipped with an MC cartridge or Pick it PRO Balanced (optional, sold separately).
Sophisticated DC/AC Generator
Pro-Ject turntables use switch-mode power supplies for good reason. They take the unrefined AC power from your wall and convert it to DC. That DC power is then fed to a DC/AC generator within the turntable, which in turn powers the AC motor.
The advantage is that a completely new sine wave is created by the generator, fully decoupling your turntable from the dirty AC power coming from your outlet. This amounts to steady power being fed to the motor, thereby enhancing speed stability.
Two Optional Upgrades in One Box
Clean and stable power is critical for phono setups. The included power supply is a great starting point, but you can take it further. Power Box S3 Phono (optional, sold separately) provides power for the Debut EVO 2 as well as your Pro-Ject phono stage (18V). Its two outputs are specifically engineered to power Pro-Ject turntables and phono preamps simultaneously. The sophisticated DC filtration can have a dramatic impact on overall sound quality.
In addition to the sonic improvements, the optional Power Box S3 Phono also offers users a cleaner cable solution (only one wall-wart needed for the PSU).