High-Performance Turntable with Balanced Connections and Massive Acrylic Platter
Pro-Ject's new X2 B and X1 B turntables are brothers in arms. This award-winning pair has shown the audio world how brilliant execution of basic principles in turntable design can result in affordable high-end-caliber sound quality.
Both the X2 B and the X1 B attack the problems of isolation and resonance from multiple angles featuring height-adjustable TPE-damped aluminum feet, massive plinths of top-quality MDF, solid acrylic record platters, and one-piece carbon-wrapped aluminum tonearm tubes with precision bearings. Their motors are also shielded, TPE-isolated and fed by the cleanest power delivered by Speed Box technology for push-button speed change and spot-on stability.
Both turntables also offer a True Balanced connection via mini XLR jacks and come with a Sumiko Rainier MM moving magnet phono cartridge.
X2 B Performance Enhancements
The difference between the two models lies in the X2 B's three performance-enhancing upgrades compared to the X1 B. The X2 B boasts a tonearm with an effective length of 9.0" compared to the 8.6" X1 B tonearm. Additionally, the X2 B includes a massive 1.2"-thick acrylic platter weighing 4.4 lb. compared to the X1 B's 3.3 lb., 0.78"-thick acrylic platter. Finally, the X2 B has an overall weight of 22 lb., while the X1 B weighs in at 15.43 lb. These X2 B enhancements result in a nice sonic upgrade when compared with the already excellent X1 B.
So, if you are looking for an affordable no-holds-barred turntable, and you can spend a bit more than the price of the X1 B, we highly recommend the Pro-Ject X2 B for ultimate compelling listening experience, no matter what kind of music you enjoy.
Times Have Changed
Since the beginning of hi-fi reproduction, our homes have changed. The increase in personal electronic devices and home networks mean a lot more potential sources of interference for record players. To ensure the best connection to your phono preamplifier, Pro-Ject designed its "True Balanced Connection" product range.
The X2 B comes outfitted with the elegant Sumiko Rainier MM cartridge, factory-mounted and aligned so that you can enjoy your records immediately. To take advantage of the X2 B's True Balanced Connection, however, you need to have both a moving coil cartridge and a phono stage with balanced inputs. Inherently balanced where MM cartridges are not, an MC cartridge allows an entirely balanced signal transmission from cartridge to phono stage, where noise-suppression is most crucial.
Why True Balanced?
In the early days of music recording and reproduction, balanced operation was necessary for reducing noise. Balanced is how it began. As demand increased for easier, more affordable at-home listening, unbalanced (RCA) connections were developed and implemented for cost-cutting and ease-of-manufacture. Balanced connection in music reproduction became a thing reserved for the high-end.’ For Pro-Ject, the question became, "Why not position our customers to hear the difference?
Balanced connections are common among professionals in recording studios and at live events where it's critical to have a stable, interference-free connection. The same applies to the connection from your turntable to your phono preamp. The main advantage in taking the balanced approach is the removal of accrued noise and interference from the phono signal.
For out-of-box compatibility with the widest array of equipment – and to keep the price highly affordable – the X2 B includes an MM cartridge with standard RCA/ ground interconnects. X2 B owners, however, have an easy upgrade path to the dramatically improved performance of balanced audio by switching to a moving coil cartridge, a phono stage with balanced inputs, and an appropriate balanced cable.
High-End Tonearm and Cartridge
The X2 B uses a two-layer, 9" carbon / aluminum tonearm for both maximum rigidity and optimal armtube damping. The ultra-low-friction four-pinpoint tonearm bearing guarantees precise, stable, and accurate tracking. The one-piece design resists vibration and eliminates the extra break in the signal caused by a detachable headshell.
The tonearm is an excellent fit for modern high-performance cartridges like the Sumiko moving magnet and moving coil offerings. The TPE-damped counterweight reduces arm / cartridge resonance by as much as 50%, further illustrating how X2 B is designed for anyone who prioritizes the sound of their vinyl.
The full aluminum tonearm base offers true audiophile features like variable azimuth and vertical tracking angle (VTA). Tonearm height can be continuously adjusted by loosening and retightening two screws, allowing for use of your preferred turntable mat and / or for any phono cartridge that strikes your fancy. Experimenting with VTA and azimuth settings is recommended when it comes to fine-tuning cartridge positioning to optimize the sound quality.
Mini XLR and RCA Outputs
The X2 B comes with Pro-Ject's high-quality Connect it E RCA / ground phono cable set, which is semi- balanced, low in capacitance and thoroughly shielded.
In order to take full advantage of balanced signal transmission, just pair the X2 B with a balanced cable that is compatible with the X2 B's mini XLR connection.
Upgradeable Sumiko Rainier Phono Cartridge
The included Sumiko Rainier is high-value moving magnet design in Sumiko's Oyster cartridge series and has great synergy with the majority of moving magnet phono stages on the market, including preamps built into amplifiers and receivers.
Rainier achieves even-handed, honest, rich and full sonics with no sacrifice in detail retrieval. This is done through resonance control, which delivers the sonic signature of Sumiko's latest Oyster cartridges that have taken the world by storm. Consistent with Pro-Ject's advocacy for a hands-on experience for the listener, Rainier leaves plenty of room for those what want to take it a step further. Olympia and the famous Moonstone stylus upgrades are easily installed in the place of Rainier's stylus, providing increasingly wide frequency responses via reductions in the moving mass of the cantilever assembly.
Quiet Motor and Stable Speed
The X2 B's motor is ultra-quiet. To further enhance its performance, Pro-Ject designed a suspension for additional isolation. This allows the motor to run stably and isolates it from outside influences. Vibration is damped and eliminated, rather than being transferred to the chassis, platter, or cartridge.
The motor chassis is carefully balanced and suspended on a precision-tuned TPE belt. In this way, the motor chassis itself is decoupled from the main plinth for optimal performance. It is free-floating and horizontally level. The playback speeds are electronically controlled by a sophisticated DC / AC generator that guarantees the most accurate and stable rotation. Change between speeds easily with the push of a button.
With the supplied flat belt you can switch between 33-1/3 rpm and 45 rpm. With the included round belt, you can toggle between 45 rpm and 78 rpm. Remember that 78 rpm discs require a 78-specific stylus that has a larger profile than conventional styli for 33-1/3 rpm and 45 rpm, such as Sumiko's RS 78 stylus (optional, sold separately).
Massive Chassis, Perfect Platform
Structurally, the X2 B is supported by a large and heavy MDF chassis that reduces unwanted resonance to a nearly imperceptible level. Due to its mass, X2 B enables vinyl reproduction to be more detailed and precise. The plinth stands on height-adjustable, TPE-damped aluminum feet for precise leveling and optimal isolation.
The X2 B's MDF plinth is coated with eight layers of paint and polished by hand to achieve a beautiful finish. The new X2 B is entirely handmade in Europe using only premium materials that meet the highest standards in quality.
