Spin the black circle with style.
Aesthetics and sound quality come together in the new X AB turntable from Pro-Ject Audio Systems in Austria. The X AB is at the more affordable end of Pro-Ject’s X-series turntables, which are “designed to give you entry into the high-end class of analogue playback” – through targeted design and use of materials. The most striking element of the X AB is its acrylic plinth (base), a material chosen for its sound-dampening properties and minimalist-looking transparency.
Through testing, Pro-Ject found that acrylic is actually a bit too good for its job and can cause “over-humid acoustics,” so they’ve equipped the XA B’s acrylic base with parts best suited to mitigate the problem. The 10-inch tonearm and platter are both made from aluminum to brighten the sound, while the Pick it PRO Balanced cartridge is designed to deliver crystal-clear signal transfer by eliminating noise and interference.
This transmission still needs to reach a receiver, so Pro-Ject also includes a Connect it Phono E 5P > RCA cable, constructed with metals in optimal configuration to ensure lossless signal transmission. The XA B stands on three dampened and height-adjustable feet to allow ideal leveling on uneven surfaces, which is a crucial part of the build. A sound system is only as good as its best component, so Pro-Ject recommends pairing the turntable with one of its Phono Box preamps.
The Pro-Ject costs $1,499 and will be available in the U.S. this fall.
