Pro-Ject X1: A classic and easy-to-use turntable

The Pro-Ject X-Line turntables have been replaced by the Pro-Ject X1. The classic design of the Pro-Ject belt-driven turntable, according to the brand, “has been rethought and taken to a new level.” A lot has been updated. The new 1.5-kilogram non-resonant platter made of 2-cm acrylic is mounted on an auxiliary platter, which has received a premium main bearing for smooth, “fluid” rotation. The carbon-aluminum tonearm of the X1 is made as a single unit, without a resonant head, and has received all the necessary adjustments. The damped counterweight of the tonearm further reduces possible resonances. The X1 comes with the new Pro-Ject Pick It S2 cartridge, made by the experts at Ortofon.

The design of the pickup is based on the professional Concorde cartridge from Ortfon, but it has been seriously modified for optimal operation on home Hi-F players.

The narrow shape of the cartridge body makes it resistant to external vibrations. The pickup has a convenient finger holder mounted on a ring holder. An original touch in the design of the Pro-Ject Pick It S2 is a semicircular cutout above the needle, which provides convenient visual control of the accuracy of its installation on the track of the vinyl record.

The pickup is equipped with a diamond needle with an elliptical sharpening and accurately tracks the tracks of vinyl records. The body of the Pro-Ject Pick It S2 pickup is made of polycarbonate and has excellent anti-resonance characteristics. The needle block on the cartridge is replaceable, and even needles from Ortofon OM20 or OM30 pickups can be installed in its place. The cartridge is very well suited for tonearms of medium weight (from 15 to 20 grams). The recommended tracking force for the cartridge is 3 grams, and this setting falls within the standard adjustment range of almost all tonearms.
Pro-Ject Pick It S2 is equipped with an effective electromagnetic system and develops an output signal with an amplitude of up to 6 mV. This makes it compatible with any phono preamplifiers, including those built into integrated amplifiers and AV receivers. The cartridge has a dynamic and rich sound, with minimal noise and distortion.

The connection type allows for very quick installation, even for beginners. The cartridge is easy to use, has a robust construction and a nice design, and will suit many lovers of analogue sound.

Inside the Pro-Ject X1 turntable is a sophisticated DC-AC generator board, which, combined with an easy-to-use speed control panel (33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm are available with electronic switching), provides clean and stable power to the quiet motor with a level of unevenness of up to 0.15%. Height-adjustable Alu-TPE sandwich feet are essential for levelling the table and effectively isolating it mechanically from the surface on which it is installed. The Pro-Ject X turntable’s cabinet is made of high-density MDF, a material chosen for its “outstanding mechanical properties, perfectly matched to the specific application”. The design of the model is finished in “a luxurious eight layers of paint and hand polishing”. Pro-Ject X1 is available in three finishes: walnut veneer and black or white gloss.

The Pro-Ject X1 turntable “can be played within minutes of unpacking.” The package includes cables, including a semi-balanced Connect-IT E RCA with low capacitance and “excellent shielding” optimized for use with the turntable. The new Pro-Ject X1 turntable is based on the same concept as the P1, but has been improved in every aspect thanks to modern materials and new production methods.

Among the pleasant and important little things: the player comes with a Pro-Ject Connect it E phono cable — even at first comparison it seemed much better to me than the basic black plastic “noodles” for many other players. The device was already partially configured, although I rechecked everything, made sure that the tonearm was working correctly, and then all that was left was to listen.

A very pleasant player with a solid and balanced presentation. Older devices, of course, will have an increase in detail, accuracy of the scene and dynamics. But in this case, everything is not only very good for its class — both the character of the sound and all the features seem to be proportional and in balance. The device is genre-universal, not boring and not prone to simplification.

And what was especially pleasing was that it has a smoother presentation, it has less of a certain joyful bravura, which I often noticed in Pro-Ject players. The turntable seemed to have matured, became thoughtful and thorough. At the same time, a certain basis of the signature sound can be clearly traced in it.

As for the design, there are some minor inconsistencies. For example, I would definitely prefer to see not a separately implemented 78th speed, but, for example, a metal sub-disc. But this is only speculative reasoning: in fact, it is more logical to evaluate the sound as a whole, in all its manifestations, and with this here everything is quite good. I repeat: at least, better than expected. By the way, since the player is sold without a pre-installed head, I would first of all consider MC options – it is obvious that here you can easily step over the bar of budget MM.

 

Pro-Ject X1 Features

Improved chassis made from heavier, denser, less resonant MDF, finished with 8 layers of hand-polished lacquer
Improved motor isolation through new motor mount and improved decoupling
Improved new tonearm with anti-resonant counterweight and TPE damper to reduce cartridge resonance
Improved motor speed control with DC/AC generator circuit board
Improved height-adjustable sandwich feet Aluminium / TPE
Quality cartridge from Ortofon
Aluminium tonearm base with azimuth and VTA adjustment
Improved Connect it E cable
New heavyweight, non-resonant acrylic platter and premium main bearing

Rotation speed 33, 45, 78 (electronic speed variation)
Control manual
Speed ​​setting accuracy 33: 0.30% 45: 0.25%
Speed ​​deviation 33: 0.15% 45: 0.13%
Platter 20 mm, steel/polymer
Tonearm 8.6”, carbon EVO
Tonearm overhang 22 mm
Effective tonearm mass 10 grams
Tracking 0 – 30 mm
Output cable with gold-plated RCA connectors
External power supply 15 V, DC
Dimensions 415 x 125 x 335 mm (WxDxH)
Weight 7 kg

Pro-Ject Pick It S2 Specifications

Type MM
Frequency response 20 Hz – 22 kHz (+3 / -1 dB)
Recommended input impedance 47 kOhm
Recommended input capacitance 200 – 600 pF
Output voltage 6 mV
Self-inductance 450 mH
Tracking force 2.0 – 5.0 g (recommended value 3 g)
Compliance 7 µm / mN (dynamic, lateral)
Tracking angle 20 degrees
Diamond needle, elliptical, radius 13/25 µm
Body color gray
Weight 18.5 g

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