Pro-Ject XA B Turntable

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XA B A clear view For 33 years we have been developing turntables which focus on sound and not on features, and we are never afraid of experiments to achieve an even better sound. We have crafted a beautiful acrylic entry-level record player for the X-Series. This player shares features of its more expensive brethren while maintaining an extremely light look. The technical parts seem to be floating atop an almost invisible slab of acrylic. Top that off with True Balanced Connection capabilities and you got yourself a truly ethereal player! A clear view For 33 years we have been developing turntables, which focus on sound and not on features, and we are never afraid of experiments to achieve an even better sound. Acryl was always part of the Pro-Ject history. The first ever acrylic turntable was the Pro-Ject 6.9 Perspective which was a huge success. Also, the 6PerspeX is part of our product range since over 15 years already and still one of our best performers. The limited edition Perspective Final Edition was a great success as well and sold out in a very short time.These turntables were examples where we combined the advantages of the special look and acoustical damping of acryl. A perfect combination The use of acryl is not as easy as you would think. The high internal damping ability is a good characteristic, but to get a sonical perfect result, all parts of a turntable need to work together. From measurements and listening tests we know, that acryl can overdamp the turntable which results in a very dry sound character. The combination with the aluminium tonearm and platter and the matched Pick it PRO Balanced cartridge, paired with the special feet, make the XA B lively and it convinces with a dynamic and detailed sound signature. The development of an acrylic turntable is more complex, but we accepted the challenge once again. The result is a wonderful sounding & looking, but still affordable turntable. What's True Balanced? The "B" in XA B stands for balanced. Balanced audio connections are standard among professional musicians, recording studios, and live concerts. It is essential to have a stable & interference-free connection as these signals, The significant advantage of a balanced connection is its ability to remove picked up noise and interferences. The XA B comes with our balanced MM cartridge - the Pick it Pro Balanced - and a balanced 5P DIN phono output. Cartridges are balanced signal transducers by nature! Due to the internal wiring of typical MM cartridges, until now, you needed to upgrade your turntable with an MC cartridge. But not with the new Pick it Pro Balanced! Our special Pick it PRO Balanced has been modified to access the entirety of that balanced signal. Together with our separately available True Balanced Connection cables and true balanced phono stages - for example the Phono Box S3 B or DS3 B - you'll be able to access high-end features that were previously only available on the most expensive of turntable setups. Premium Tonearm The XA B turntable features a premium 10“ aluminium tonearm with a massive bearing construction. The ultra-low friction 4 pinpoint tonearm bearing guarantees a precise, stable and accurate tracking. We use the one-piece aluminium tonearm tube instead of a carbon one, as aluminium complements the sound characteristics of acryl. The full aluminium tonearm base offer you real audiophile features. It allows you to adjust both the azimuth and the vertical tracking angle (VTA). Setting and experimenting with the VTA & Azimuth is crucial in extracting every last bit of performance out of your cartridge. A Clear Line In Sight Adaptive anti-skating Counterweight 4 pin point bearing Technically correctAs the skating force varies between the inner and outer grooves of the vinyl record, our anti-skating mechanism adjusts accordingly. TPE dampedThe TPE insert decouples the counterweight from the tonearm and reduces resonances. Cardan ultra-low frictionThe precise cardanic tonearm bearing with 4 stainless steel tips offers very low friction and best stability. A Clear View to High-End Pick it PRO Balanced Aluminium Platter Record Puck E Ready for True Balanced ConnectionPre-adjusted Pick it Pro Balanced cartridge Anti-MagneticThe heavy 1,7kg die-cast aluminum platter gets reworked and precision balanced in an extra step to obtain a perfect platter. Damping and stabilityRecord pucks use weight to secure a playing vinyl record against the turntable platter. Sound performance will improve in timing and depth of sound. 33/45 RPM Acrylic Chassis Height Adjustable Feet Sophisticated DC/AC power generatorThe playback speeds are electronically controlled with precision, which guarantees the most accurate and stable music reproduction. Change between speeds easily with the toggle switch. A clear viewThe development of an acrylic turntable is more complex, but we accepted the challenge once again. The result is a wonderful sounding & looking, but still affordable turntable. Damped & height adjustableThe new XA B stands on three height adjustable damped feet to guarantee the perfect stand. By using 3 feet we are able to increase the stability on uneven surfaces, because a perfectly level turntable is essential for real high-end sound. True Balanced Handmade in EU Unleash the full powerThe XA B is ready for our new True Balanced Connection. Single-ended RCA connections, quite literally, only use half of your cartridge's output. With one of our new True Balanced phono cables wired to a Phono Box S3 B, Phono Box DS3 B, Phono Box RS or RS2 you'll be able to hear your MC cartridge in its entirety! Since 1991Made in Europe by a turntable factory with decades of experience. Clearly, expert craftsmanship dwells deep within the XA B. REVIEW & AWARDS Pro-Ject Audio Systems XA B Turntable and Pick it Pro Balanced Cartridge - Read More "This is the fourth Pro-Ject turntable I’ve reviewed, and I confess that I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. Although its clean, neutral demeanor embodies Pro-Ject’s house sound, it’s the XA B’s intriguing design that sets it apart from those other models. Even when it’s not spinning records, it’s a conversation piece, and it’s certain to elicit attention even from non-audiophiles. For $1499, anyone buying an XA B will have the pleasure of owning a turntable that can likely hold its own sonically against anything at its price point, and, as I found in my comparison, quite a bit higher. However, they’ll also have the pleasure of purchasing something that is almost certainly going to look better than much of the competition. Don’t get me wrong: Pro-Ject’s XA B is first and foremost a great performer, and that’s the main reason you should add it to your list of decks to audition if you’re shopping anywhere around and even above this price point. The cherry on top is that it looks stunning as well, proving that sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. Enthusiastically recommended. " - Philip Beaudette Award for Innovation & Design 2024 - Read More "Although its clean, neutral demeanor embodies Pro-Ject’s house sound, it’s the XA B’s intriguing design that sets it apart from those other models. " This is a striking turntable – and a very capable one. - Read More "Fielding multiple Pro-Ject technologies and built in Europe, the XA B is an excellent choice for vinyl lovers now and for the future." SPECIFICATIONS Speeds 33, 45 (electronic speed change) Drive principle belt drive Included phono cable Connect it E 5P -> RCA, 1.23m Feet Height adjustable & TPE damped Platter 1,7kg die-cast aluminium & TPE damped Main bearing Stainless steel/brass Speed drift 33: 0.30% 45: 0.20% Wow & Flutter 33: 0.13% 45: 0.12% Tonearm 10" aluminium Effective arm length / mass 9“ (245 mm) / 10 g Overhang 18mm Included accessories 15V DC / 0,8A power supply, dust cover, 7“ single adapter, felt mat, phono cable, record puck Power consumption 4,5W / Show more