Pro-Ject X2 B turntable

Ortofon Quintet Red MC with cartridge

EISA 2022-2023 BEST PRODUCT - VINYL SYSTEM

Attention vinyl enthusiasts looking to upgrade from an entry-level turntable to the next: your search is over. The Pro-Ject X2 B is a new, balanced version of the well-known manufacturer's proven X2 turntable, equipped with an excellent Ortofon Quintet Red MC cartridge and a damped carbon fiber-aluminum tonearm, which together ensure a smooth and clean playback. The player's two-kilogram acrylic platter and rigid solid plinth - which, by the way, is available in four stunning finishes - ensure a smooth and resonance-free playback. The Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B turntable preamplifier is the ideal companion for the X2 B, as this versatile little box offers the benefits of balanced connection all the way from cartridge to amplifier - and sounds great!

Read the latest tests here

Luxury turntable with Ortofon Quintet Red cartridge

In 1991, Pro-Ject started a revolution in audio playback with the introduction of the Pro-Ject 1, a high-quality, budget-friendly turntable. We consciously went against the grain of the CD era and invested in analog technology. We focused on three philosophies:

- A simple but technically well-executed structure
- High-quality materials
- European craftsmanship and design

It is the nature of hi-fi enthusiasts to always want better and higher quality. We wanted to fulfill this wish. When designing this turntable, we took the already excellent Pro-Ject X1 as our starting point, but we wanted to make everything even better. We took every little detail to the design table and thought about how to make the player even better. It was not easy, because the X1 is already so excellent in every way. So fortunately, we did not have to reinvent the wheel.

We decided to use even better, albeit more expensive, raw materials in the production of the turntable. The components chosen for the X2 are also heavier and more robust to make the player as sturdy as possible. We have managed to raise the quality level by taking a little more out of even the smallest details. The X2 is made for those who enjoy fine details, quality construction and, last but not least, good sound reproduction.

The X2 B features our revolutionary True Balanced Connection

We are launching a new “True Balanced Connection” component series with balanced connections for your turntable system. The X2 B introduces this new turntable technology.

Turntables have a long history. Over time, many things have changed, not only in terms of technical possibilities, but also in terms of the environment. Wireless networks are ubiquitous and countless electronic devices are making your home “smarter”. This means that today there are many other electromagnetic fields that can interfere with the signal from your turntable. This simply was not the case 30 years ago. To ensure the best possible connection to your turntable preamplifier, we designed the “True Balanced Connection”.

WHAT IS TRULY BALANCED?

Balanced audio connections are usually known from the professional sector, such as recording studios or live concerts. It is very important that the connection is stable and free of interference, as these signals are heavily amplified. The same applies to the connection between a turntable and a turntable preamplifier. The great advantage of a balanced connection is its ability to eliminate received noise and interference. And best of all, turntables are already balanced signal converters by nature! With a True Balanced connection, you literally use everything that your turntable picks up from the record groove. You don't waste half of the usable signal, as with typical "single ended" RCA connector-type connections.

The X2 B features mini-XLR and RCA outputs, and comes standard with a semi-balanced Connect it Phono E RCA cable. By upgrading to the fully balanced mini-XLR/mini-XLR version (available separately) and using a balanced turntable preamp such as the Phono Box S3 B or DS3 B, you are fully prepared for the True Balanced experience. This results in increased dynamics, less noise and an improved signal-to-noise ratio. Imagine it as if you were hearing parts of your music that were literally not there before.

More massive body, platter and tonearm

We chose an even more massive and dense MDF board for the body of the instrument. High-quality MDF reduces unwanted resonances to an almost imperceptible level. The increased mass makes the instrument more precise and quieter. The device hides a sophisticated DC/AC power supply, which together with the electronic speed selection produces clean and consistent power for the motor.

The 30 mm thick platter used in the player is made of very inert acrylic and has a mass of no less than 2 kg.

The tonearm used in the X2 is longer than its smaller sibling. The nine-inch tonearm is also thicker in diameter and is made from a laminated aluminum and carbon fiber construction. This results in improved internal damping properties. The tonearm bearings have been redesigned to better compensate for the increased tonearm mass. The tonearm's tracking, stability and accuracy have been further improved. The increased mass of the tonearm makes it particularly suitable for use with low-modulus Moving Coil cartridges. The one-piece tonearm is also stiffer and less vibration-damping than cartridges with a removable cartridge carriage. The TPE-damped arm counterweight reduces the vibration of the cartridge/arm combination by up to 50%.

Finely tuned engine vibration damping:
The drive motor we use is very smooth and quiet. To get the most out of it, we have further improved its suspension. The motor is isolated from the body of the player by suspending it floating using carefully dimensioned TPE straps. This solution effectively protects the motor from external vibrations and at the same time prevents even the last bit of motor noise from being transmitted to the body of the turntable and through it to the platter, tonearm and cartridge.

High-End Sound Box:
The X2 is equipped with a high-end Ortofon Quintet Red cartridge, a good choice for those who care about how well their records sound.

More audiophile features:

- The tonearm mounting flange is made of sturdy aluminum instead of plastic and has adjustments for both VTA (=height) and azimuth angle (tilt).
- Better turntable feet: The vibration-damping, height-adjustable feet of the device are made of aluminum and TPE material.
- Better connection cable: All our turntables are equipped with a high-quality RCA cable. Connect it E is a semi-balanced cable that is excellently shielded and has low capacitance. Due to the low output voltage of the cartridge, the turntable cable is significantly more sensitive to interference than line-level or digital cables. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid using cheap universal cables. Connect it E has been carefully designed with the special requirements of the turntable in mind.

FEATURES

• High-precision electronic speed selector
• Precision motor with regulated motor control and improved vibration isolation
• Precision machined washer (0.001 mm)
• Platter bearing made of stainless steel and equipped with a soft brass bushing. Shaft sliding surface made of Teflon
• Ultra-rigid 9” sandwich-structured tonearm made of carbon fiber and aluminum
• TPE damped counterweight
• Azimuth and VTA adjustments
• Super-accurate Ortofon Quintet Red MC cartridge
• Non-resonant 2 kg acrylic platter
• Massive CNC precision-machined 50 mm strong MDF frame
• Hand-sanded eight-layer gloss paint or waxed real wood surface
• Pro-Ject's highly shielded semi-balanced interconnect cable designed for turntable use
• Adjustable, acoustically-dampening turntable feet made of machined aluminum
• European craftsmanship

The Pro-Ject X2 is designed to meet the needs of even the most discerning listener. It is built with decades of uncompromising craftsmanship, yet with the common sense to ensure that its price is not prohibitive.

A turntable body made of MDF is 2-3 times more expensive to manufacture than regular fiberboard – not to mention plastic – but it feels and sounds clearly better than the latter.

The X2 player's eight-layer lacquer finish is 3-4 times more expensive to manufacture than simple membrane surfaces. The device's internal stabilized DC/AC power supply combined with a smooth-running motor ensures quiet and vibration-free operation.

This combination increases costs, but it is a much better solution than the most commonly used simple AC motor. The motor suspension has also been redesigned. The vibration of the motor is even better isolated from the body of the player. In the X2 player, the motor rotates a new heavy-duty and vibration-free acrylic platter via a backing plate. Premium-class bearings ensure that the backing plate operates smoothly and without play. The structure guarantees a solid base for the player, so that you can get the most out of your valuable records.

The X2 also improves on its predecessor with its new carbon fiber and aluminum laminated tonearm. This 9" tonearm is an incredible combination of stiffness and lightness. The fixed, integrated cartridge carriage does not add coloration to the sound, as removable cartridge carriages do. For the serious listener, the X2's tonearm also offers excellent adjustment options. In addition to stylus force and side-pull removal, both the azimuth angle and VTA can be adjusted directly from the tonearm. Finally, the tonearm is equipped with a TPE-damped counterweight. TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is a material that kills vibration by converting it into heat.

The Pro-Ject X2 turntable is designed for people who are really interested in getting the most out of their sound. It comes with an Ortofon Quintet Red cartridge. With the cartridge, the player can be easily set up in minutes.

The X2 is equipped with a high-quality, semi-balanced, low-capacitance connection cable specifically designed for turntable use. On top of that, the player's feet are also made of a layered structure of aluminum and TPE damping material to minimize vibrations.

The X2 turntable has taken into account all the factors that affect sound quality that make a turntable of the highest quality. Our long experience in manufacturing turntables has helped us to make these improvements cost-effectively. The end result is that we are able to offer all lovers of good music a top-quality turntable at a reasonable price. The X2 is a statement for good sound. The player is handmade in Europe.

Pro-Ject X2 player finish options: Waxed genuine walnut veneer, gloss black, white or black satin.