Pro-Ject X2 B turntable

EISA 2022-2023 BEST PRODUCT - VINYL SYSTEM

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

Luxury record player with Ortofon Quintet Red sound box

In 1991, Pro-Ject started a revolution in sound reproduction by introducing the Pro-Ject 1, a high-quality, low-budget turntable. We consciously went against the flow in the reign of CD players and invested in analog technology. We focused on three philosophies:

To a simple, but technically well-implemented structure
For high-quality materials
For European craftsmanship and design

Hifi enthusiasts always want better and better quality. We wanted to fulfill this wish. When designing this turntable, we took the already excellent Pro-Ject X1 as a 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 instrument even a little better. It wasn't easy because the X1 is already so excellent in every way. Fortunately, there was no need to completely reinvent the wheel.

We decided to use even better, if also more expensive, raw materials in the production of the record player. The components chosen for the X2 player are also heavier and sturdier 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, build quality and, last but not least, good sound reproduction.

More massive body, turntable and tone arm
We chose an even more massive and dense MDF board as the body of the instrument. High-quality MDF reduces unwanted resonances to an almost undetectable level. Thanks to the increased mass, the instrument is more precise and quieter. The device contains a sophisticated DC/AC power source, which, together with the electronic speed selection, produces clean and steady power for the motor.

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

The tonearm used in the X2 player is longer than in the little brother model. The nine-inch tonearm is also thicker in diameter and is made using a layered aluminum and carbon fiber construction. It follows that its internal damping properties are also better. The tonearm bearing has been redesigned to better compensate for the increased mass of the tonearm. The tracking ability, stability and accuracy of the tone arm have improved even more. The increased mass of the stem makes it particularly suitable for use with Moving Coil sound boxes with a low spring coefficient. The one-piece tonearm is also stiffer and more vibration-free than arms with a removable box carriage. The TPE-damped stem counterweight reduces the vibration of the stem/box combination by up to 50%.

Fine-tuned engine vibration damping:
The traction motor we use is very smooth and quiet when running. To get the most out of it, we've further improved its suspensions. The motor is isolated from the body of the instrument by suspending it floating with carefully sized TPE straps. This solution effectively protects the motor from external vibrations and at the same time it prevents the last motor sound from being transmitted to the body of the record player and thereby to the turntable, tone arm and sound box.

High-End sound box:
The X2 is equipped with a state-of-the-art Ortofon Quintet Red cabinet, a good choice for those who care about how well their records sound.

More audiophile features:

The mounting flange of the sound arm is made of sturdy aluminum instead of plastic, and it has adjustments for both VTA (=height) and azimuth angle (tilt).
Better turntable legs: The device's vibration-absorbing, height-adjustable legs are made of aluminum and TPE material.
Better connection cable: All our turntables are equipped with a high quality RCA intermediate cable. Connect it E is a semi-balanced intermediate cable that is excellently shielded and has low capacitance. Due to the sound box's low output voltage, the turntable's intermediate cable is significantly more sensitive to interference than line-level cables or cables intended for digital use. Therefore, you should avoid using cheap universal cables. Connect it E has been carefully designed taking into account the special requirements set by the turntable.

CHARACTERISTICS

• High-precision electronic speed selector
• Precision motor with regulated motor control and improved vibration isolation
• Precision machined washer (0.001 mm)
• Disc plate bearing made of stainless steel and equipped with a soft brass sleeve. Teflon sliding surface of the shaft
• Ultra-stiff 9" sandwich-structured sound arm made of carbon fiber and aluminum
• TPE damped counterweight
• Azimuth and VTA adjustments
• Super accurate Ortofon Quintet Red MC sound box
• Resonance-free turntable made of 2 kg acrylic
• Massive CNC precision machined 50 mm strong MDF frame
• Hand-sanded eight-layer gloss paint or waxed real wood surface
• An effectively interference-protected semi-balanced intermediate cable designed by Pro-Ject for turntable use
• Adjustable turntable feet made of turned aluminum to dampen acoustic rotation
• European craftsmanship

The Pro-Ject X2 is designed to meet the needs of even the most critical listener. It has been built with decades of professionalism without compromise, but with reason in hand, taking into account that its price does not become unreasonable.

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

The eight-fold lacquer finish of the X2 player is 3-4 times more expensive to manufacture than simple membrane surfaces. The device's internal stabilized DC/AC power source combined with a smoothly running motor guarantees quiet and vibration-free operation.

Such a combination increases costs, but it is a much better solution than the most commonly used simple AC motor. The engine suspension has also been redesigned. The vibration of the motor is even better separated from the body of the instrument. In the X2 player, the motor rotates a new heavy-duty and vibration-proof acrylic turntable via a coaster. The premium-class bearings take care of the operation of the coaster smoothly and without backlash. The structure guarantees a solid base for the player, so that you can get the most out of your valuable audio records.

The X2 is also better than its predecessor thanks to its new carbon fiber and aluminum laminated tonearm. This 9" long tonearm is an incredible combination of stiffness and lightness. The fixed, tonearm-integrated soundbox carriage does not add coloration to the sound, as removable box carriages do. For the serious listener, the X2 player's arm also offers excellent adjustment possibilities. In addition to needle force and lateral pull removal, both azimuth angle and VTA is adjustable directly from the tonearm.Finally, the tonearm is equipped with a TPE damped counterweight.TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is a material that kills the vibration by turning it into heat.

The Pro-Ject X2 turntable is designed for people who are really interested in getting the most out of their sound system. The instrument is delivered with an Ortofon Quintet Red sound box. The instrument equipped with a box is easy to put into playable condition in minutes.

The X2 is equipped with a high-quality, semi-balanced, low-capacitance intermediate cable designed for turntable use. On top of that, the legs of the instrument are also made of layered aluminum and TPE damping material to minimize vibrations.

The X2 record player has taken into account all the factors affecting the sound quality that make the record player top quality. Our long experience in turntable manufacturing has helped us make these improvements cost-effectively. As a result, we are able to offer all lovers of good music a top-quality record player at a reasonable price. X2 is a stand for good sound. The instrument is handcrafted in Europe.

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