The 7 Best Pro Ject Turntables

Introduction – Pro-Ject

Pro-Ject is one of the prominent leaders in the high-end turntable industry. Their catalog of products includes Musical Instruments, amplification devices, various other electronics and hardware. They deserve the reputation for being one of the best-sellers of high-quality.

They are very serious about their business. Their record players are not made randomly, and most models come in series. Some of the famous generations are Carbon, Carbon DC, Xpression, Debut Carbon, and Espirit.

Pro-Ject products are very reliable and are made of the finest quality materials. When it comes to the budget, consider this brand as middle upper-class. To keep things in reach, we focused on the models that for sure are an investment, but never cross the $500 bar.

The high-quality features of Pro-Ject’s record players

You can recognize the Pro-Ject’s quality by several features. Their record players are always made from the high-quality materials (such as Eucalyptus or Rose Wood). On top of that, they have a pretty straightforward (and beautiful) design. It’s safe to say that this manufacturer values simplicity and reliability above all else:

• High-end materials included in the manufacturing process

You simply can’t find a Pro-Ject turntable that’s made of low-quality materials. Their record players have a high durability rating that does not impede upon the quality of sound. The acoustics are also phenomenal, so you can expect a clear, pure sound for the best listening experience.

• Plain and straightforward design

As we mentioned earlier, simplicity is one of the main attributes of Pro-Ject’s turntables. Their design is straightforward, and it’s one of the key factors that augment their outward appearance.

• Simple, yet reliable features

The features are (same as with the design) also quite simple. Few buttons and knobs here and there, a high-end turntable stylus, and the record spinner are usually all you get with their turntables.

• A steep price

Quality, sadly, comes at a price. However, this is not necessarily a flaw.  Pro-Ject’s turntables might be very expensive, but almost all of their products come with a (limited or a lifetime) warranty.

The best Pro-Ject turntable models reviews

Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC (Black)

The detailed description and features:

Pro-Ject’s Debut Carbon DC arrives with the 8.6-inch tonearm (carbon) that’s very accurate. The platter size is increased when compared to similar products so that the weight and stability are increased.

Pros:

• A high-quality turntable stylus – 8.6-inch tonearm offers a precise sound quality;
• An increased size of the platter – adding more weight to the construction of this record player had an increase in stability as a result;
• Precision belt-drive motor – the motor of this turntable provides a great level of reliability while not consuming too much electrical power;
• Sorbothane suspension – this feature enables the motor to run with an increased performance;
• Ortofon 2M cartridge – one of the best cartridge models on the market;

The potential flaws:

• Heavyweight – this turntable is not exactly compact;

Value for the price:

Being one of the least expensive Pro-Ject turntables, this model has quite a value for the price. Also, a decent set of features, high durability, and a modest price gave a high value to this record player.

The final verdict:

There are better Pro-Ject turntable models, that’s for certain, but here’s the breaker – there aren’t any in the same price range. You’d find it very hard to believe that there’s actually a record player that’s capable of high-quality, precise sound for such a budget price.

Pro-Ject Essential II Turntable – Matte Black

A short summary:

Essential II is much alike to the Debut III (review is just below).  It has a set of premium-quality features. It’s very affordable, it has a beautiful, simple design that looks exquisite and elegant.

The detailed description and features:

Essential II turntable features the Ortofon OM 5E phono cartridge, a DC-powered motor, it operates without making too much sound in the background (apart from the song you are playing), and it sports a lightweight chassis.

Pros:

• A beautiful outward appearance – Essential II looks simply amazing;
• A lightweight and compact design – this turntable is very lightweight;
• A set of premium-quality features – Ortofon OM 5E phono cartridge, 8.6” turntable stylus, bronze brushing Teflon bottom;

The potential flaws:

• The original Essential II record player has a USB connection

Value for the price:

It’s pretty affordable, and it holds an amazing value for a budget record player.

The final verdict:

You simply can’t go wrong with Essential II. It’s a great budget turntable with a great set of features. It looks elegant and it’s very lightweight. However, the original model comes with  USB connection, so the overall value of this model is great, but not perfect.

Pro-Ject- Debut III Matte Black Turntable

The detailed description and features:

This record player is features the Ortofon OM-5E phono cartridge and a felt-covered platter. In addition to that, you also get the chrome-plated axle & brass housing, the aluminum tonearm, and the silicone-damped arm-lift.

Pros:

• The ravishing outlook – Debut III has the elegant Matte Black design;
• All-around performance – it has a great level of performance in nearly all fields;
• Very cheap – it belongs to the modest price point category;

The potential flaws:

• Frankly, there’s not a single apparent flaw in the overall design of this turntable

Value for the price:

Simply amazing. This turntable has the greatest value among the seven in our review. It has a terrific price also the features are all very amazing, and it’s as reliable as it can get. There are no apparent flaws in the design of this record player. It’s safe to say that it’s simply the best turntable that money can afford.

The final verdict:

Here’s the deal. By saying that this is the best budget turntable we’ve mentioned so far, we’re being completely objective. It features a great all-around performance rating, it’s very inexpensive, and it has the set of amazing features.

Surely, there are other, more expensive models that have premium features, but we can’t just compare them. There are record players that have a class on their own, and this is just one of the best Pro-Ject’s turntables that is the most cost-effective.

Pro-Ject RM-5.1 SE Turntable with Sumiko Blue Point No.2 Cartridge

A short summary:

Pro-Ject’s RM-5.1 belongs to the RM series (same as Pro-Ject’s RM 1.3 which we will review soon enough), which is famous for the Pro-Ject’s signature simple design and high-performance rating. It’s a great little turntable that’s one of the cheapest high-end turntables that money can buy.

The detailed description and features:

This record player features a Piano lacquer type of a plinth. Further, it can reproduce records at 33 or 45 rotations per minute (with the optional 78 rotations per minute), and sports a Sumiko Blue No. 2 cartridge.

Pros:

• A phenomenal price – it’s one of the cheapest high-end turntables;
• A beautiful design – Dark Gray lacquer plinth;
• Great cartridge – Sumiko Blue No. 2 Cartridge;

The potential flaws:

• The overall performance rating of Pro-Jects RM 5.1 SE is inferior to some of the models we’ve mentioned in our review

Value for the price:

You would have a hard time finding a better record player for the money. A phenomenal value for the price.

The final verdict:

Pro-Ject’s RM-5.1 SE is a record player that owns up to the name of this reputable brand. It has all the features that a classy turntable needs to have in order to call it a “high-end” one, and it’s really cheap overall.

Pro-Ject 2Xperience SB Turntable (Eucalyptus)

The detailed description and features:

Now, we’re looking at a belt-driven record player hat has an electronic turntable stylus. Inverted bearings (ABEC 7), Sumiko Blue pre-mounted cartridge also come as standard. On top of that, you also get two variable speeds (33 and 45). The 300mm platter MDF and stainless-steel main bearings provide a great durability rating.

Pros:

• High-performance turntable – a belt-driven record player with some of the greatest features a turntable can have;
• Very durable – stainless-steel bearings and high-quality platter and plinth are very durable;
• A straightforward design – the simple design is one of the Pro-Ject’s trademarks;

The potential flaws:

• The versatility leaves a lot to be desired

Value for the price:

Now, Pro-Ject’s 2xperience record player has a very steep price and it’s only capable of 33 and 45 Rotations Per Minute playbacks. However, every other feature is impeccable, so the overall value for the price is quite great.

The final verdict:

Here’s the deal – you probably won’t like the part about the cost, that’s for sure. Pro-Ject’s 2Xperience record player is very expensive, however if you take into account all of the exquisite features that it offers, its a great record player. Great value, but a steep price.

Pro-Ject RM 1.3 Turntable – High Gloss Black with Pearl Cartridge

A short summary:

With RM 1.3 record player, Pro-Ject practically reinvents their usual (plain) design. This turntable features an improvement in stability, and it brings a wonderful set of features. It’s not very expensive, so you might want to take a look at what it can offer you.

Pros:

• Incredible performance rating – the pre-mounted moving magnet Sumiko Pearl cartridge and the resonance-optimized platter provide the great sound output;
• A stylish turntable stylus – the S-shaped tonearm of Pro-Jects RM 1.3 is both fashionable and great when it comes to sound;
• A modest price – you can get this turntable at a nearly-bargain price;

The potential flaws:

• This record player does not excel in any particular field of performance

Value for the price:

This turntable is definitely one of the cheapest Pro-Ject’s turntables, and it’s more than capable of delivering clear, pure sound, so it holds a great value for the price.

The final verdict:

Now, here we have a well-rounded record player that you can get at a bargain price. The features it offers are great overall, but the product itself is not too versatile. However, it offers a high reliability rating, it’s durable, and the sound output is phenomenal.

Pro Ject RPM 9 Carbon Turntable SuperPack with Connect-It/Sumiko Blackbird Cartridge

Pros:

• A set of premium features – The EVO 9-inch turntable stylus, Sumiko Blackbird cartridge, heavyweight chassis with the CNC machined plate are just some of the features this turntable offers;
• Extremely durable construction – hard stainless-steel bearings and a heavyweight chassis provide extreme durability rating;
• Sumiko Blackbird cartridge – this is one of the best turntable cartridge models;

The potential flaws:

• Extremely expensive – this record player belongs to the extremely-expensive price point category

Value for the price:

Pro-Ject’s RPM 9 Carbon Turntable is very expensive, but it’s also one of the best record players this brand has to offer. Magnificent value for the price.

The final verdict:

Sure, Pro-Ject’s RPM 9 Carbon record player is very expensive, however, it features a set of extraordinary features that make it one of the best models in the Pro-Ject’s line. Anyhow, the price practically makes it reserved for audiophiles and people with deeper pockets.