"Delivers Magnificent Listening Sessions" - TechHive"
Mass-Loaded High-End Turntable with True Balanced Connection
The X8 is Pro-Ject's most affordable mass-loaded turntable. Positioned neatly between the Pro-Ject X2 and Xtension 9 turntables, the X8 adopts its bigger siblings' features to make mass-loaded high-end design principles more accessible than ever before.
The major differences between the Pro-Ject X8 and the Xtension 9 and Xtension 10 are found in the top of the main platter and the magnetic feet. Instead of the glued-on vinyl top on the Xtnsion 9 platter, Pro-Ject went back to the use of slip mats. The X8 comes with Pro-Ject's standard felt mat instead. On the Xtension 9 and Xtension 10, you cannot experiment with different mats due to the vinyl top. This customizability comes back on the X8 with a few more options to tailor the sound to your liking.
The new feet are still made out of aluminum and are still height adjustable. The magnetic suspension has been changed to a TPE damped technology, which is very effective in decoupling the X8 from the surface it is placed on. This is a great choice for a more budget orientated turntable, because the new feet are faster and easier to set up than magnetic feet, and they also require less maintenance.
"Overall Quality and Fit'n'Finish"
"It's not just the features that make this turntable stand out," notes analog guru Michael Fremer in his September 21, 2022 review for "This mass-loaded turntable offers balanced audio outputs and an outstanding tonearm and delivers magnificent listening sessions," reports James Barber, TechHive, October 11, 2022. "If you’re looking to step up to a more capable record player, the X8 is worth a look." The X8 offers a heavy, TPE damped mass-loaded platter precision lathed from a single block of aluminum and finely balanced. The heaviness and precise balancing of this platter contribute to the exceptional speed stability via a flywheel effect. The platter comes with a standard felt mat as an interface between the platter and your LP for additional resonance control. An inverted platter bearing supported by a neodymium magnet decreases the load on the ceramic tipped bearing. Considering the massively heavy platter, this leads to a smoothly rotating base for your vinyl records and perfect speed stability. Pro-Ject is launching a whole line of new "True Balanced Connection" components that feature a balanced connection for your phono setup. The X8 is Pro-Ject's first turntable to feature this new phono technology. Turntables have a long history in the hi-fi world. Many things have changed over time, especially in the home environment. Wireless networks and countless electronic devices make your home "smarter." They also create a lot of additional electromagnetic fields, which can interfere with your turntable's music signal. This was simply not the case 30 years ago. To ensure the best connection to your phono preamplifier, Pro-Ject designed its own True Balanced Connection technology. Balanced audio connections have long been used in the professional sector for recording studios or live concerts. It is very important to have a stable and interference-free connection, as these signals will be highly amplified. The same applies to the connection from your turntable to the phono preamplifier. The big advantage of a balanced connection is its ability to remove acquired noise and interference. And best of all, cartridges by nature are already balanced signal transducers. With True Balanced technology, you are simply using everything – literally everything – that your cartridge picks up from the record groove. You are not throwing away half of the usable signal, as is done in typical single-ended RCA phono connection. The X8 Evolution comes with a custom Pro-Ject 9cc tonearm. Both the tone arm and arm tube are fashioned from a single piece of carbon-fiber. The conical carbon-fiber arm tube resists standing wave reflections for cleaner sound. The inverted tonearm bearing comprises four hardened stainless tips in ABEC7 spec ball races. Rings provide very solid arm bearing housings. The outside ring is open to avoid resonances. Adjustability features ensure the best possible playback. The design of counterweight effectively counteracts unwanted resonances. The counterweight shaft lowered to the record level reduces cantilever forces and dynamic wow when playing warped records. The solid arm base permits accurate height adjustment of the arm tube and VTA (vertical tracking angle). The included counterweight is suitable for cartridges weighing between 6 and 10 grams. The single-screw attachment of the arm tube allows rotation for easy adjustment of needle azimuth despite the fixed headshell. The internal wiring consists of flexible high-purity copper from the headshell right through to the gold-plated phono jacks. The silicone-damped arm lift can be adjusted to suit the working height of the arm. The X8 Evolution offers electronic speed control at the push of a button. No fumbling with belts and pulleys when you want to change speed. The quartz regulation and filter circuit deliver superior speed stability for smooth and undisturbed motor operation. To enjoy your vinyl records right away, you can order your X8 with a factory-installed Sumiko Moonstone moving magnet (MM) phono cartridge, which is properly aligned and ready for use. You can also order the X8 without a phono cartridge and use one of your own or order a cartridge separately. The Moonstone is an outstanding tracker with excellent frequency response and convincing dynamics that are normally only found in much more expensive cartridges. Excellent tonal balance and a coherent soundstage makes this cartridge a perfect choice for any music lover. The X8 comes with a five-pin output jack plus Pro-Ject's standard semi-balanced Connect it Phono E 5P RCA cable. By upgrading it to a fully balanced 5P to XLR cable (otional product, sold separately) and by using a balanced phono stage, such as Pro-Ject's Phono Box DS3 B or any Pro-Ject RS/RS2 phono stages, you are fully set-up for the True Balanced experience. This leads to increased dynamics, less noise, and improved signal to noise ratios. The results are like hearing parts of your music that were not there before.Massive 11.25-Pound Milled Aluminum Platter
A True Balanced Connection
Pro-Ject 9cc Carbon-Fiber Tonearm
Electronic Speed Control
Order With or Without a Sumiko Moonstone Cartridge
Output Versatility
