ProJect X1 Turntable - Satin Black - Open Box

Pro-Ject’s classic turntable design reimagined and lifted to new price/performance heights!

In 1991 Pro-Ject started a revolution in Hi-Fi with the introduction of the Pro-Ject 1 turntable. A new high-end, low-budget turntable at a time when CD was king. Despite the challenges, we successfully sparked interest in analogue audio at a time when others were abandoning it, thanks to three key philosophies:

– Simple yet technically correct design
– High-quality, valuable materials
– Fully handcrafted by expert engineers, made in the EU

There are no fancy, unnecessary features; it was a strictly manual turntable design, and all of these decisions resulted in unbelievable sound at a fantastic price. The X1 is based on the same concept as the P1 but improved in every aspect thanks to modern materials and new production methods.

Performance

The ProJect 1 was Heinz Lichtenneger's first turntable as ProJect Audio and was an unashamedly cheap and cheerful entry-level deck that went straight for the mass market. It was crude but got the balance right. Hand-assembled in the former Soviet Czech Republic, it was inexpensive to make and had no fancy bits. The upside of it being fully manual was its simplicity; it was the epitome of the “less is more” credo.

Rather than simply tweaking the old product in order to celebrate the original, however, the company has reimagined it, remaking it with better materials. Every facet of the deck’s design has been improved, starting with the plinth. This uses a new, denser MDF material that’s less resonant than what was originally used. Lichtenegger says the air trapped inside lower-grade particleboard contributes to a soggy bass sound, hence the change—despite it costing twice as much. The plinth then gets eight layers of paint with a hand-polished gloss finish. Better, height-adjustable feet are fitted, with useful isolation properties.

The 1.5 kg platter is also improved, being a heavier, low-resonance acrylic design. The motor is better isolated and now gets its juice from a DC/AC generator rather than being powered directly from the mains, and there’s a push-button three-speed control.

The new 8.6-in. tonearm has been upgraded with carbon and aluminium sandwich construction, claimed to be light and stiff. It’s a one-piece design and comes with ProJect’s TPE-damped counterweight. It has a Kardan ultra-low friction four-pin point precision bearing, and there are options of cartridges manufactured by Sumiko or Ortofon. The company’s Connect-IT E shielded RCA cable is bundled. 

Ject’s X1 is an impressive turntable package for the price It makes music in a happy, engaging, and big-hearted way and has no real weak points to spoil your enjoyment. This is an affordable turntable that doesn’t sound anything like one. Any shortcomings aren’t such that they interfere with the enjoyment of the music; instead, you’re left focusing on just how good vinyl can sound when given half the chance.  Don’t be fooled by the similarities to that first ProJect; this is worlds apart and shows just how far the turntable market has evolved, making it an enjoyable audition for those looking for great value.

Product Features

• Speed control with electronic speed switch for ultimate speed stability
• Carefully isolated motor for less vibration and noise
• Sub-platter with extremely low 0.001mm bearing tolerances
• Stainless steel platter-bearing with soft brass bushing and teflon mirrors for lowest rumble and noise, and a stable, accurate speed transmission
• Resonance free, 1.5 kg heavy acrylic platter
• 8.6” carbon/aluminium sandwich tonearm with best internal damping and TPE damped counterweight
• Kardan ultra-low friction 4-pinpoint precision tonearm bearing
• Massive and heavy, precision CNC‘d MDF chassis
• Luxury 8 layers of painting and hand-polished finish or real-wood, satin-waxed veneer
• Super shielded, semi-symmetrical, low-capacitance phono cablespurpose-designed by Pro
• Height adjustable, aluminium feet for massively reduced risk of acoustical feedback
• Handmade in Europe