At High End Munich 2017 Pro-Ject's Heinz Lichtenegger runs you through the company's 2017 turntable lineup (minus the top-of-the line speciality turntables) plus a new $399 all discrete electronics tube-based phono preamplifier.
I own a Pro-ject 2xperience sb s-shape turntable that I love. But I do have to mention the horrible customer service support, aka non existent, of Pro-ject. Not a single reply either from the supplier and/or the main site for a getting a spare arm rest that failed prematurely. Audio technica sent me a replacement part for my first turntable (arm lock - LP1200) on the first email that I sent them directly. I wish Pro-ject paid more attention to their inbox.
Good stuff. Truth be told, you could probably do with a better mic/sound recording solution as it's often quite difficult to make out what's being said, depending on where the subject is in relation to camera.
I'm more into vintage turntables but man that classic turntable has really got something going for it. maybe if they had one with pitch adjustment I would consider getting one. please review it soon
That new preamp looks interesting, if it comes in cheaper than the current tube model, it will be a hot item. I can't say I like the super-shiny tonearms. Have you reviewed the Classic?
That Classic SP also looks like it has electronic speed switching. Is that another addition over the regular Classic? Or is it maybe an update to "The Classic" overall? Because all of the "The Classic" turntables that I have seen in photos and videos (and the model that is on their website) have a manual speed change built into the pulley.
Modern pro audio integrated operational amps are totally superior to all discrete designs. Perfectly laser matched components inside is a guarantee for the best performance. I like discrete designs but in the end its about nostalgia. .
The Flexible Range turntables are a great idea. You only get what you need in a quality product. Essential III Digital already got my attention with its design and simplicity.
I'm almost sold on the Classic SP, but my concern would be playing thick records. With that thick leather mat, it doesn't look like there is enough spindle height for that clamp to work.
I checked with our local sellers and they don't know if these will be part of the North American market. Time will tell. I am also looking at other alternatives such as Michell Gyro.
dan werbicki thanks for reply. This is the same result I yield while speaking to US suppliers. I, too, am entertaining other options. Actually, I've strongly considered the Planar 6, but am scared off by the possibilty of the dreaded Rega "hum". Having a hard time finding a table that meets all my needs at this price point... Which is crazy to me. Good luck!
The REGA Hum was mostly an issue if you went with Grado carts due to the carts being unshielded and picking up the motor that sits just behind the sub platter, using a short belt. Some Pro-Ject tables use this configuration, such as the Debut Carbon for instance and I believe the hum is still there too if you use the Grado with those. I have not heard of other carts having this issue.
I really like Pro-Ject Love the company spirit but ....once in a while they do something that makes me scratch my head and hesitate . Pro - Ject it makes zero sense to use a Aluminum pulley on the Essential line and a Plastic/Rubber one on the RPM line. Think about it.
Now I'm all confused by platters. I thought metal was bad because it rings, but here's one with rubber dampening. Then there is MDF, acrylic, and I've seen one with a solid glass platter. Any info will help. Thank you.
leather mat never tried it.. anybody whats it like? I need to know is there a main bearing that can run without being lubricated, what sort of material would it be made from.
I own the new Pro-ject classic SP. I like the leather mat as it generates no static. I used to have to peel off my felt mat when changing records. You’ll find less dust on your records as well.
"I like it but I want to pay more" That's some hilariously honest audio market analysis. Reminds me of that Dudley Moore movie where he's the ad exec who loses his mind and decides to tell only the truth in his ads! Oy vey
Great stuff. It was a good show. I'm not trying to throw any one product under the table (no pun intended) but when I saw the picture of the new Analogueworks on the cover of the new Stereophile I thought "I can't wait to read up on this table". Now, after seeing this, I'm laughing. The person behind Analogueworks just took from other manufacturers (Palmer, Nottingham) and Frankenstein'ed a table together. Where have original ideas gone? SMH
antaresbluespirit The culture of the turntable need to take time to listen what you hear from the analogic audio signal At the early stage of the seventies you had to cope with classical high end turntable like Thorens 124,Garrard 301, Ariston RD11s ,Linn sondek ,Micro DQX1000,1500... You can recognize each sound in respect of the technical issue implemeted,in general the direct drive was poor against classical belt ou idler pulley in term of rythm,dynamic, soundstage, accuracy....you take a turntable with the same arm and the same cartridge and hear the difference! In this show everybody talk about technic but they do not listen to any music??? to make any comparison in between the products...... Only marketing issue but poor in expérience! Raymond
6 лет назад
When I tested one of the very first ProJect's "Debut" a few years ago I thought it was a Chinese made TT first, so bad it sounded and equipped with a worthless - rigid arm. They still try to make a perfect REGA copy to budget price and made in Czechoslovakia. Those who never had a turntable before may be happy with such one. Have you up to 500$ buy a real REGA instead!
yeah I don't know if I can really agree with that sentiment, I mean I really think having owned numerous products from both companies that to my ear it really just comes down to presentation. I mean a debut carbon is not any worse built than a planar one, and if you seem to think so you probably never messed around with a planar one. as to sound quality like I said it really comes down to more of a presentation difference than one being really better than the other. project to me presents a very natural, warm, analog sound, whereas rega presents a very detailed presentation almost like a CD in a way. One isn't necessarily better than the other, I suppose if your idea of hi-fi is hyper detail and things along that line then the rega Will undoubtedly be better to you, but I found more often than not the projects tend to be more listenable long term.
it's because he's Austrian, I had an old boss who was Turkish, and while that's different he would do a similar thing. One day I asked him about it and he told me that he did it because of his strong accent he wasn't always sure that people understood what he was saying so he would say" yeah" at the end of every sentence so as to make sure that people understood what he was saying, and if they didn't he could simply repeat himself.
Ha, ha .... classic Lichteneger show - me, mzself and I...... MY new product, MY company, MY distributors........ Big marketing and average quality, thats ProJect audio systems. Go for Rega! Much better quality for same money!
Much better quality fo the same money how exactly? I got a lot of experience with both of them, and a wide variety of models that is, and i must say: i prefer pro-ject
+MrCarlsenth I agree. I am a Rega fan; but I have to agree that Pro-ject is a superior product all around. Outstanding Customer service with them is a plus as well.
I owned numerous products from both companies and I also prefer project. so I will say my first ever high-end turntable as I consider it, was a debut carbon. I bought it and never had a single problem with it, the motor was slightly noisy but nothing you could hear through the cartridge or speakers. anyway one day a few years ago I decided to upgrade and I ordered a planar two. anyway I went through four different turntables before I found one that didn't have a problem with it. I kept having issues with the tonearm bearings being off or hum through the tone arm because they weren't properly grounded, or one I had when I pulled it out of the box the power switch had fallen off the bottom and was broken. since that time I decided to get a planar 6 also another saga of spilled quality problems, and I actually just recently sold it at a loss to pick up a project X8 Evo and it's been fantastic. you know to my ears I find that the biggest difference between the two companies products isn't really anything other than a sound quality presentation difference. project tends to be more analog and warm sounding and rega tends to be more high resolution sounding, it's honestly not a matter of one's better than the other more it's a matter of which presentation you like.
