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High-Performance Turntable with Massive Acrylic Platter and Ortofon Quintet Red MC Cartridge
Pro-Ject's new X2 B turntable demonstrates how the brilliant execution of basic principles in turntable design can result in affordable high-end-caliber sound quality.
The X2 B attacks 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. The motor is shielded, TPE-isolated and fed by the cleanest power delivered by Speed Box technology for push-button speed change and spot-on stability.
This version of the X2 B also includes the superb Ortofon MC Quintet Red moving coil phono cartridge, which comes pre-installed and aligned for enjoyment right out of the box. If you've been wanting to move up to a better turntable and also enjoy the performance upgrade of a MC cartridge, this is the 'table for you!
X2 B Performance Enhancements
The difference between Pro-ject's bestselling X1 B and X2 B turntables consists of 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.
"I Wouldn't Hesitate to Recommend It"
"If you have $2000 to spend on a turntable but already own a phono stage you like, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Pro-Ject Audio Systems X2 B," reports Philip Beaudette, soundstagehifi.com, December 1, 2022.
"It’s another in a long line of solid offerings from the company. If you don’t have a phono stage, pairing the X2 B with the Phono Box S3 B is an even easier recommendation."
"Weight and Impetus"
"The deck serves the bass well," observes Jason Kennedy, hifiplus.com, June 11, 2024. "The decent platter mass clearly helps to give the sound some weight and impetus."
"I particularly enjoyed Select Cuts from Blood and Fire, Chapter Two, where the dub ebbed and flowed most cogently. The low bass remains articulate and tuneful regardless of how heavy the beats got, and on Yabby You’s ‘Rally Dub’, they get pretty meaty. These results are achieved with a near entry-level phono stage. I tend to pull out a reference phono stage in these situations to see what the turntable is capable of, but not here."
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 offers both an RCA phono output and a 5-pin mini XLR output, giving you great flexibility when pairing it with a quality cable. Pro-Ject makes pairing easy by including Pro-Ject's high-quality Connect it E RCA / ground phono cable set, which is semi-balanced, low in capacitance and thoroughly shielded.
Includes Ortofon MC Quintet Red Moving Coil Phono Cartridge
The Pro-Ject X2 B comes with everything you need for your musical enjoyment. Not only is the quality tonearm included, but also an Ortofon MC Quintet Red Moving Coil Phono Cartridge.
The Quintet Red is a perfect introduction to the world of Ortofon moving coils. It features an Elliptical diamond, which is cut and polished to Ortofon's standards. This entry-level MC cartridge has very high price-to-performance ratio and is a perfect all-rounder for the newcomers to the world of moving coil cartridges. MC Quintet Red is an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth.
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.
