Turntable including arm and Pick it S2 MM cartridge . "True Balanced" balanced technology. Belt drive. Speed regulation electronic circuit 33/45/78 rpm. DC motor isolated from chassis by TPE suspension. CNC machined MDF chassis. 8.6" straight tonearm with carbon/aluminum sandwich construction. TPE damped anti-resonant counterweight. Azimuth and VTA adjustment. 20mm thick acrylic platter with felt mat. Semi-symmetrical RCA and balanced 5-pin cables supplied. Balanced output with mini XLR 5-pin and unbalanced RCA. Height-adjustable aluminum feet. Weight 7Kg.
Pro-Ject's “True Balanced Connection” balanced technology. Both RCA and balanced 5-pin mini XLR outputs. Ideal partners are the new Phono Box S3 B and Phono Box DS3 B. Belt-driven turntable with acrylic platter. Pre-assembled Pro-Ject Pick IT S2 MM head. Electronic speed control 33/45rpm. 8.6” carbon fiber/aluminum tonearm. CNC machined solid MDF frame. 20mm thick acrylic plate weighing 1.5Kg. Stainless steel/bronze bearing. Adjustable azimuth and VTA. TPE damped counterweight. Height-adjustable aluminum feet. Semi-balanced 5-pole RCA phono cable supplied. Optional True Balanced 5-pole XLR phono cable. Dust cover supplied. Handcrafted in Europe
X1 B – among the first balanced turntables
Turntables have a long history behind them. Technology continues to progress, many things have changed, not only in terms of technique, but also in terms of environmental sustainability. Wireless networks are everywhere and countless electronic devices make homes "smarter". This means that there are now additional electromagnetic fields, which could interfere with the signal from the turntable. This did not happen 30 years ago. To ensure the best connection to the phono pre-amplifier, Pro-Ject has designed a range of balanced products, "True Balanced Connection".
Why "True Balanced Connection"?
Balanced connections are known in the professional world, such as recording studios and live concerts. It is very important in this sector to have a stable and interference-free connection, since these signals, especially the microphone ones, must subsequently be amplified. The same goes for the turntable, where the stylus signal will subsequently be amplified by the phono stage. The advantage of a balanced connection is the ability to eliminate picked up noise and interference. Balanced connections use three wires per channel: ground, one hot, and one cold. The cold pole is nothing but the hot pole with reversed polarity. When receiving, the cold pole is inverted and added to the hot pole. If the cable detects noise, this is added to both signals. By inverting one of them and adding them in reception, the noise is cancelled.
The X1 B has a fully balanced mini XLR output and interfaces perfectly with the new Phono Box S3 B or Phono Box DS3 B stages.
To use the True balanced connection, the turntable must be equipped with an MC cartridge. The X1 B comes standard with a PICK IT S2 MM cartridge pre-installed to keep costs down. In the future the customer will be able to opt for an MC cartridge and fully exploit the qualities of the True Balanced.
High-end tonearm and cartridge
The X1 B comes standard with an 8.6" arm made from a carbon/aluminum alloy. The carbon layer gives the arm a high degree of stiffness, while the aluminum inner tube takes care of the arm's damping. The Kardan arm bearing, with ultra-low friction on 4 support points, ensures precise, stable and accurate tracking. The one-piece arm design avoids vibration caused by the detachable headshell. Its mass makes the arm also ideal for low and medium compliance MC cartridges, which could be a future upgrade to fully exploit the potential of the balanced connection.
The damped TPE counterweight reduces arm-cartridge resonances by up to 50%. The X1 B is crafted to please anyone who cares about the sound of vinyl.
The tonearm base is made entirely of aluminum, with audiophile characteristics. It allows you to adjust both the azimuth and the vertical tracking angle (VTA). The height of the arm can be adjusted infinitely by loosening the two fixing screws. These settings allow you to
to adapt the arm to the variations in height of the platter based on the mat used or the use of other cartridges to improve the sound quality.
Mini XLR and RCA output
The high quality Connect it E RCA cable is supplied as standard with the X1 B.
It is a semi-balanced, low capacitance cable with above average shielding. But to take advantage of the balanced signal transmission, however, you need one of the new Pro-Ject balanced phono signal cables, not supplied with the turntable. If you want to use the X1 B with a Phono Box S3 B, for example, you need a "Connect it Phono Mini XLR / Mini XLR".
Stability and silent rotation
The X1 B's engine is already very quiet by itself, but to further improve performance, Pro-Ject has engineered a suspension of the engine that isolates it from the chassis. Thus it allows the engine to run stably and free from external influences. Residual vibrations are dampened and eliminated so they are not transmitted to the chassis, platter and cartridge. The X1 B's motor is carefully balanced and suspended on a resilient TPE suspension. This way the motor is effectively decoupled from the turntable chassis, for maximum performance.
The playback speed is electronically controlled by a DC/AC generator, which ensures accurate and stable music reproduction. You can switch between speeds with the push of a button. Using the flat belt, you can go from 33 to 45 rpm. If you mount the supplied round belt, you can go from 45 to 78 rpm. For 78rpm, remember to replace the head as well.
Heavy frame - perfect support
Structurally, the X1 B is supported by its large, heavy MDF chassis, which reduces unwanted resonances to almost imperceptible levels, and rests on four height-adjustable, damped aluminum feet. The MDF frame of the X1 B is varnished with 8 coats of varnish and hand polished to obtain the best possible finish. It is available in three different finishes: black lacquer, white satin with 8 coats of varnish or walnut wood veneer. The new X1 B is made entirely by hand in Europe and only with quality materials, to meet Pro-Ject's high quality standards.
Technical features
- Speed: 33 / 45 / 78rpm (electronic speed control)
- Outputs: Phono RCA and 5-pin mini XLR
- Transmission: belt
- Plate: in acrylic 20mm high and weighing 1.5kg
- Platter Bearing: Stainless Steel/Bronze
- Speed Offset: 33: ±0.30%; 45: ±0.25%
- Wow & flutter: 33: ±0.15%; 45: ±0.13%
- Signal/Noise: 70dB
- Arm: 8.6“, Carbon/Aluminum Alloy
- Arm length and mass: 8.6“ (218.5 mm) / 10 g
- Overhang: 18mm
- Aluminum feet: Height adjustable
- Supplied accessories: Dust cover, 45gg adapter, felt mat, Connect IT Phono AND RCA cable
- Consumption: 5W / 0.3W standby mode
- Dimensions with closed lid (WxHxD): 415x125x335 mm
- Weight: 7kg
