Pro-Ject X2 B - Ortofon Quintet Red

X2 B - with Ortofon Quintet Red The beginning of a balanced era. Welcome to a new generation of X-Line turntables     The X2 B features our revolutionary True Balanced Connection   Turntables look back on a long history. Over time, many things have changed, not only from technical possibilities, but also from the environment. Wireless networks are omni present and countless electronic devices make your home „smarter“. This means there are now a lot of additional electromagnetic fields, which could interfere with your turntable‘s signal. This was simply not the case 30 years ago. To ensure the best connection to your phono preamplifier we designed our „True Balanced Connection“.   What's True Balanced? Balanced audio connections are usually known from the professional sector like recording studios or live concerts. It is very important to have a stable & interference free connection, as these signals will be highly amplified. The same applies to the connection from your turntable to the phono preamplifier. The big advantage of a balanced connection is its ability to remove picked up noise and interferences. And best of all, cartridges by nature are already balanced signal transducers! With True Balanced your are simply using everything, literally everything, that your cartridge is picking up from the record groove. You are not throwing away half of the usable signal, like is done in typical single-ended RCA phono connections. The X2 B comes with mini XRL and RCA outputs and with our standard semi-balanced Connect it Phono E RCA cable. By upgrading it to our fully balanced mini XLR to mini XLR version (available separately) and using a balanced phono stage, like our Phono Box S3 B or DS3 B, you are fully set-up for the True Balanced experience. This leads to increased dynamics, less noise and improved signal to noise ratios. You can imagine it, like hearing parts of your music that literally were not there before.     True Balanced Mini XLR Output Balanced Preamps Unleash the full power Connect your X2 B with one of our new True Balanced Phono Cables to your phono preamp and benefit from an interference-free signal with increased dynamics & lower noise level. One cable connects it all We offer a wide range of balanced phono cables with different connectors to fit all our phono preamps. If you want to use your X2 B with a Phono Box S3 B you need a „Connect it Phono Mini XLR / Mini XLR“. A perfect match! Pair your X2 B with one of our new balanced Phono Boxes and benefit from a fully balanced signal transmission to your phonp preamplifier. Check out our new Phono Box S3 B & DS3 B for further information.     EISA Award for True Balanced Cartridges are balanced signal transducers by nature! Due to the internal wiring of MM cartridges, you'll need a MC cartridge to access the entirety of that balanced signal. The X2 B comes with an Ortofon Quintet Red MC cartridge factory aligned, and together with our new True Balanced Connection cables and our balanced phono stages you'll be able to access high-end features that were previously only available in the most expensive hifi categories. In combination with our Phono Box S3 B and X2 B, our True Balanced concept won the prestigious EISA Award for best Vinyl System!     Connect it Phono S mini XLR/mini XLR Phono Box S3 B The True Balanced Connection Upgrade Cable True Balanced for a New Entry-Level     The X2 B retains all the real high-end features the original X2 had on offer.   Azimuth & VTA Quintet Red 2 kg Platter 33/45/78 RPM Fully adjustable The X2 B comes with fully adjustable Azimuth & VTA. It offers you the possibility to modify your X2 as you want it. High-end MC cartridge The Ortofon Quintet Red is an all-purpose cartridge that delivers open, dynamic sound with a slight touch of warmth & is the perfect partner for our new X2 B. Resonance free acryl The perfect platform to place your precious vinyl records, guaranteeing absolute reliability in its performance and sonic character. High precision motor control A sophisticated DC/AC generator board generates clean and stable power to drive the motor. Easily change speed with the push of only a single button.   New motor suspension A good motor by itself, is already very quiet. To get the best performance out of it, we have improved the motor suspension. The X2 B‘s motor chassis is carefully balanced and suspended on a precision tuned TPE belt - this way the motor chassis is effectively decoupled from the main plinth for optimal performance.           9'' Carbon-Aluminium Tonearm Compared with its little brother the X1 B, the tonearm is longer - 9“ in length - and the tube has a wider diameter. The carbon/aluminium sandwhich construction results in better internal damping. The increased mass makes the tonearm an excellent fit for low compliance MC cartridges.                     Metal Feet The Tonearm Made in EU Damped & height adjustable The three height adjustable damped aluminium feet guarantee the perfect stand & massively reduce risk of acoustical feedback. 9'' Carbon-Aluminium Tonearm Finished as a one-piece, with no resonance-inducing headshell, the X2 B can also be set for azimuth and VTA adjustment. The tonearm is then supplied with a TPE-damped counterweight. Since 1991 Made in Europe by a turntable factory with decades of experience, it is a true hi-fi turntable which using our new True Balanced Connections takes your vinyl hobby to the next level.     REVIEW & AWARDS Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B Phono Preamplifier and X2 B Turntable Review - Read More "The Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B phono preamplifier and Pro-Ject X2 B turntable combination produce an engaging and lively sound quality from vinyl records and are built to last. And to make them even better, there is a solid upgrade path to get even better sound quality out of both of them." - Gene Hopstetter   Podcast: Best Audiophile Turntables of 2024 - Read More " I think Pro-Ject hit this one out of the park! This would be one of my highest recommendations under 2000$!." - Mitch Anderson     Pro-Ject X2 B/S3 B - Read More "The overall result from the Pro-Ject X2 B turntable/S3 B phono stage was compelling. It has strong dynamics, high detail levels and excellent timing. The balanced connection is clearly a significant benefit. " - Jason Kennedy     Test turntable Pro-Ject X2 B with Phono Box S3 B: symmetrical better? - Read More "A turntable, a special appearance from Ortofon, and the perfect-fit phono amp. Together it becomes magical. The price is still humane, but the sonic gain is great beyond all expectations. " - Andreas Günther     Pro-Ject X2 B, Phono Box DS3 B und Connect it Phono - Read More "For the fully balanced and thus interference-resistant design from the signal generation to the output from the phono stage, a multiple would have to be paid elsewhere. For just under two and a half grand, the proud buyer acquires a fascinating and emotionally engaging vinyl chain from the turntable market leader. " - Carsten Bussler   Pro-Ject Audio Systems X2 B Turntable with Ortofon Quintet Red Cartridge - Read More " I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Pro-Ject Audio Systems X2 B. It’s another in a long line of solid offerings from the company. If you don’t have a phono stage, pairing the X2 B with the Phono Box S3 B is an even easier recommendation. Try running them both single-ended and balanced and see what you prefer (as noted above, in the US, the X2 B ships with a moving-magnet cartridge that is intended for a single-ended connection). Regardless, you’ll be the proud owner of two finely made components that are certain to provide years of listening enjoyment. " - Philip Beaudette   Pro-Ject X2 B / Phono Box S3 B review - Read More "If your main amplification has a balanced input, adding the Pro-Ject X2 B turntable and Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B phono preamplifier to your system will mean you will for the first time be able to take advantage of the many advantages of balanced connections all the way from the phono cartridge to amplifier. Even with the benefit of hindsight, I can’t think why anyone hasn’t ever thought of this before. But it’s not just the fact that you’re able to enjoy balanced operation, it’s also the fact that with this duo you’re getting an outstanding moving-coil cartridge, an outstanding turntable and an outstanding phono stage. Tell me, what’s not to like? " - Australian Hi-Fi   X2 B TURNTABLE FROM PRO-JECT - Read More "First up? If you want to use this turntable in single-ended mode only then you can and the X2 B will work very well and you will have a whale of a time from this balanced, neutral turntable design. But really? If you buy this turntable and don’t use it in balanced mode – at least for most of the time – then you’re missing out.  The X2 B works wonderfully with the M6x phono amplifier from Musical Fidelity. They partner very well indeed but I’m sure other balanced offerings, from Pro-Ject itself for example, would work equally as well.  If buying both turntable and balanced phono amp together is a tough ask then what you could do is upgrade in stages. Buy the X2 B first, plug that into your current phono amp in single-ended mode, carry on saving and then, when funds allow, buy a balanced phono amp later, and then run the lot in balanced mode. At least the X2 B offers options and choices. "    Pro-Ject X2 B Turntable: Review - Read More "Knowing what I discovered listening to this turntable over many months (and there were some gaps due to family health issues), this is clearly a viable platform for those who might desire to upgrade their vinyl playback system over time. Using the balanced output into the balanced phono pre-amplifiers made a substantial difference to the sonic presentation and my first upgrade would be there." - Ian White   Pro-Ject X2 B/S3 B - Read More "The overall result from the Pro-Ject X2 B turntable/S3 B phono stage was compelling. It has strong dynamics, high detail levels and excellent timing. The balanced connection is clearly a significant benefit. I wouldn’t work if the turntable and cartridge were not doing the right thing. However, they pull detail off the vinyl in a cohesive and even-handed manner. I’m happy to say that the X2 B does this very effectively. Also, the DS3 B Phono Box does nothing to undermine its efforts. The potential for upgrading the cartridge and power supplies also makes this an appealing proposition for those who enjoy a tweak or two. Even straight out of the box, this combination is a honey! " - Jason Kennedy   Pro-Ject X2 B/Phono Box S3 B Turntable/Phono Preamp - Read More "This may end up haunting me, but the X2 B/S3 B pairing is truly revolutionary. I hope the rest of the industry copies it as there are no excuses for not facilitating a simple balanced output from an MC cartridge if Pro-Ject can deliver it for under £2000. To paraphrase Jon Landau when he first saw Bruce Springsteen: 'I have heard the future of vinyl playback'. You simply won't believe this combination. " - Ken Kessler   Pro-Ject X2 B turntable - Read More "I am bound to say this has been a lovely and very musical experience with the Pro-Ject X2 B and is going to be a bit of a wrench putting this one away. Obviously, you’re in for the Phono Box S3 B too if you want to gain the full benefit of this balanced turntable output with its clear improvements in soundstage and clarity in the noise floor. This is a fine package, and I would certainly recommend this to anyone who has a slightly higher budget and is looking for a vinyl solution. " -  Simon Wilce   Pro-Ject X2 B Turntable Review: A Balanced, Hefty Upgrade - Read More "The Pro-Ject X2 B is an excellent turntable that justifies its higher price with a superior reproduction. From its sleek design that harks back to the brand's first models thirty years ago to the combination of various Pro-Ject innovations, the end result is a turntable that offers a great deal of sound quality and listening pleasure. The choice of the better Ortofon Quintet Red cartridge undoubtedly helps in this regard. While you can use the X2 B as is to play your vinyl, it also offers the option of balanced operation. At this price point, that is quite unusual. However, you will have to make some additional purchases for this, such as a suitable XLR cable and possibly a custom preamp. It depends a bit on what your amplifier offers. That step does complete the X2 B proposition, and certainly adds something in terms of detail and soundstage experience." - Jamie Biesemans      SPECIFICATIONS Speeds 33, 45, 78 (electronic speed change) Principle belt drive Speed variance 33: 0.25% 45: 0.20% Wow & Flutter 33: 0.12% 45: 0.10% Signal to noise 70dB Platter 30mm thick, 2 kg heavy acryl Main bearing stainless steel/brass Tonearm 9” carbon/aluminium sandwich Effective arm length 230 mm Overhang 18 mm Effective arm mass 13,5 g Tracking force range 0 - 30mN Included accessories 15volts DC /0,8A power supply, Dust cover, Connect it E Phono cable, feltmat Power consumption 4,5 watts max / 0.3 watt standby Dimensions 460 x 150 x 340 mm (WxHxD) Weight 10 kg