Acrylic has been featured at various points throughout Pro-Ject's history, and the latest instalment is the XA B. The first acrylic turntable was the Pro-Ject 6.9 Perspective, and the 6PerspeX has been part of the brand's product range for over 15 years and is still among its best performers. There was also the limited edition Perspective Final Edition that sold out quickly.
Pro-Ject holds all those as examples of how it managed to combine the advantages of acrylic's unique look and acoustic damping. However, we are told that using this material in a turntable is more challenging than we might think. Still, they have percivered and added such an offering to the brand's X series, home to the well-reviewed X1 and X2 decks.
While the designers at Pro-Ject HQ enjoy acrylic's high internal damping ability, they must ensure all parts of a turntable work together to produce an enjoyable sound. Acrylic can overdamp the turntable, resulting in a very dry sound character.
To help resolve this, the XA B is fitted with an aluminium tonearm and platter combination. Along with the matched Pick It PRO Balanced cartridge and special feet, we are assured to make the XA B lively and "It convinces with a dynamic and detailed sound signature."
The XA B's tonearm is a premium 10-inch model (254 mm effective arm length) featuring an ultra-low friction 4 pinpoint bearing that promises precise, stable, accurate tracking. The arm comprises a one-piece aluminium tube (10g effective arm mass) instead of a carbon one, as it better complements the sound characteristics of acrylic.
Additionally, the tonearm base offers azimuth and vertical tracking angle (VTA) adjustments, crucial to extracting the most performance from your cartridge.
Meanwhile, the belt-driven, 300mm, 1.7 kg, die-cast aluminium platter has been reworked and precision balanced to obtain a perfect platter. Furthermore, the heavy platter features a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) ring inside that helps dampen all resonances and, according to Pro-Ject, minimises wow and flutter, which is stated as 33: 0.13% 45: 0.12%. The manufacturer also says that the included Record Puck E provides extra damping and stability.
Pro-Ject admits it uses "a cheap-looking" switch mode power supply in all its turntables. However, it swiftly points out that they do so because there's a precision DC-driven AC generator inside the turntable that powers the motor. This creates a clean new sine wave, guaranteeing very clean power and enhanced speed stability.
Bundled with a 15V/0.8A DC power supply, Dust cover, Connect it E Phono cable, and a felt mat, the Pro-Ject XA B lands at dealers this month, priced £1,099/ €1,299 RRP.
Visit Pro-Ject for more information
Posted in: Hi-Fi
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