The latest True Balanced Connection product from the global turntable and electronics manufacturer Pro-Ject is the new X1B turntable.
Available in a choice of piano black, gloss white or walnut finishes, the new Pro-Ject turntable is the first turntable it this range of products to include a dedicated mini XLR (balanced) connection in addition to standard RCA and ground connections.
Pro-Ject points out the X1B turntable comes with a Sumiko Rainier MM cartridge factory mounted and aligned to allow integrators to install the unit as a plug-and-play vinyl solution. The company explains to take advantage of the turntable’s XLR output both a moving coil (MC) and phono stage with balanced inputs are required. Inherently balanced connections are not part of a moving magnet (MM) cartridge’s architecture so, “MC cartridge invites entirely balanced signal transmission from cartridge to phono stage where noise-suppression is most crucial,” according to the company.
The X1B turntable’s inclusion of the balanced output, as well as standard left and right unbalanced RCAs and a ground connection are designed to provide integrators and homeowners a simple upgrade path to improved audio performance.
Some of the features the turntable employ include a two-layer 8.6-inch carbon/aluminum tonearm and a quiet motor that’s mounted to a motor chassis that is balanced and suspended on a tuned TPE belt. All of these components are fixed to a sturdy MDF platform that incorporates TPE-damped aluminum feet.
Pro-Ject notes that dealers can pair the X1B turntable with its Phono Box S3 B or Phono Box DS3 B phono preamplifiers and their preferred MC phono cartridge to take advantage of the lower noise floor offered by balanced connections.
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