Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Pro-Ject have always been great at bringing technology and features to a hitherto price point. Just like when Pro-Ject started making turntables back in 1991, every turntable and hi-fi component that passes through the headquarters is hand-made in Europe, right down to some of the smallest details. Our Pro-ject Debut Carbon came in piano black but Pro-ject offers a few variants of the Debut Carbon in white, gray, yellow, red, green, blue and purple. 2002 What Hi-Fi Best Buy -Turntables up to 150 Available in three high-gloss colours (Black, White & Red) this really is a serious audiophile deck, but at a price (425) you wouldnt believe. Note that the Debut Carbon doesnt include a phono preamp so youll have to pick one up on your own. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! Since Pro-Ject turntables have excellent tonearms (particularly the 8.6 carbon fiber one on the Debut Carbon), they can benefit from future cartridge upgrades. It's also usually the first audiophile-styleturntable buyers consider. Those finely crafted parts are then assembled by hand, with no robots or conveyor belts in sight just the fine attention to detail that only a human touch can deliver. Keen crate hunters determined to dig out that rare pressing, or (in the case of your author) using the affordable price of used vinyl to build up a huge collection of back catalogue music. The Debut Carbon SB takes all the features of the Debut Carbon and adds the last finishing touches to make the Debut the turntable it always wanted to be. Read something you like? These both offer plug&play operation with an included Ortofon OM5E cartridge and are worlds apart from some of the gimcrack offerings found on the high street in clothing shops, for example! It was a strange time to be a vinyl enthusiast; new vinyl pressings were almost entirely the reserve of dance music, one area in which vinyl was still king. Debut users of yore will note a larger improved platter and improved motor mounts. Overlooking a gorgeous part of Austrias wine country, Pro-Jects headquarters are the beating heart of the companys operations. Audio Affair Blog > Hi-Fi > History of the Pro-Ject Debut a Budget Classic. Through the years, and various revisions, The Pro-ject Debut has continued to pick up a dizzying array of awards from the press: 1999 What Hi-Fi Product of The Year What Hi-Fi? Retailing at just 109, it was within reach of any Hi-Fi enthusiast. By reducing the cabinets to a miniature size, they can save costs and offer their customers a real value for money, providing effective products that have long-lasting value according to their long-standing customers' satisfaction. Quality is paramount!". The E1 Phono SB model adds a selectable phono preamp that can be switched on to connect with the auxiliary line-level input of a smart speaker or amplifier that doesnt have a phono preamp stage. New York, [5][6][7][8] Today, Pro-Ject Audio Systems ship into more than 80 countries world-wide. The turntable platter is made out of medium density fiberboard (MDF), which offers good damping for noise isolation from footsteps and vibrations from speakers. 60-DAY POST-PURCHASE PRICE MATCH (T&Cs applied), A Trusted British Business est. Want to know more? This is great for beginners as aligning a phono cartridge can be the most difficult part of setting up a turntable. Once each product has been carefully assembled and rigorously tested, it then makes its way to the Weinviertel region and into the massive Pro-Ject warehouse. CD is king, MP3s the reserve of PC nerds, and vinyl was assumed dead. While it's not the cheapest record player on the shelf, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is still an incredible value. Itsthoughtfully designed feature set considers both out-of-the-box play and future upgrades. The Pro-Ject 1 displayed all the key values of a Pro-Ject turntable: affordability, value and performance through good, solid, simple design and quality engineering. There was a problem. Each model has brought meaningful changes aimed at performance. Please refresh the page and try again. Pricing & Availability: The E Line of Pro-Ject turntables consists of three models: the E1 ($349) E1 Phono SB ($399) and E1 BT ($499). When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Beyond the normal manufacturer selling points, here are 6 in-depth reasons why you should consider the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable. Into this climate, launched the original Pro-Ject Debut Turntable. pic.twitter.com/WH8RHwP4y4. Its easy to setup and use, and lets you upgrade parts over time. Honestly, this is a bit of an inconvenience, especially if you listen to a good mix of 33s and 45s. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and photography. Its also lightweight and helps with tracking records smoothly. Please refresh the page and try again. Some of its turntables even come with a platter made out of recycled vinyl records - they're ideal as they have heavy mass, are "very resonance-free" and have a "perfect contact" with the record and the clamp. TechRadar is supported by its audience. This is due in no small part to the included manual which simply and clearly explains where everything goes. At Pro-Ject, they strive to create unique products with impeccable value, using the best primary components for the price and manufacture each of their handicraft products exclusively in Europe. It does, however, like all the current Debut line, come with the benefit of over 25 years of design improvements. Pro-jectturntables is a brand full of history that produces audio systems that provide not only quality but also a timeless style level to your home. The Debut appeared in 1999 with a pressed steel platter, and MDF plinth. As Pro-Jects founder and owner, Heinz Lichtenegger, talks us through the turntable-making process, he emphasises the focus on high-quality materials. A convenient rear junction box, rather than hard-wired tonearm cabling, allows for easy interconnect upgrades for those inclined. Weve seen substantial upgrades over the years in the Debuts tonearm, motor, and cartridge. follow us @turntablelabget our tightly-edited weekly newsletter. 2022 Forbes Media LLC. The motor was a simplified version of the Pro-Ject 1 motor which was isolated by a single spring. More rigid and lighter than steel, the Carbon-Fiber tonearm gets the most out of a good cartridge. To this day, Pro-Ject turntables are manufactured in the old Tesla Turntable manufacturing facility a legacy which stretches back almost 70 years. The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC is a precision turntable with high quality, custom components especially where it counts: tonearmand motor system. By Kashfia is the Hi-Fi and Audio Editor of What Hi-Fi? Its nice to see a legit turntable manufacturer offer colors that arent black or silver to show off your personality. 2012 What Hi-Fi Best Turntable up to 500 (Debut Carbon) Beyond simply looking good, carbon fiber helps fight resonance with its stiff construction and natural damping abilities. Over the last 5 years, Pro-Ject has developed a carbon fiber tonearm. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Choosing a preamp to go with your turntable is a basic audiophile exercise / freedom. History of the Pro-Ject Debut a Budget Classic. The vast new purpose-built building is designed for multiple uses: offices for 25 employees, a showcase for Pro-Jects collaborations and limited edition turntables, three listening rooms (small, medium, large), a warehouse capable of storing 250,000 turntables and a shop. On many competitor turntables, the 2M Red is an upgrade, but on the Debut Carbon its the stock model. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). If youre considering a $100-300 beginner turntable, the choices may all seem similar. Good tonearms feel like theyre floating with a subtle downward force. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. The Debut Carbon DC also benefits from an improved DC motor power supply, which aids with improved speed stability. $400 (349, AU$550) may sound like a lot to spend on a turntable, but entry-level hi-fi turntables like the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon are actually a bargain when seeking out the best turntables. 2006 What Hi-Fi Best Turntable under 300 Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. Posted by Bob. Walk into any record store these days and youre likely to see far more vinyl LPs than CDs. Once the site of the state-run Tesla brand (the very first Pro-Ject 1 turntable was basically a modified Tesla NC-500), its now where every single turntable in Pro-Jects varied repertoire is built from scratch. The factory has been producing turntables since the 1950s and has an unequaled breath of knowledge and experience in producing precision instruments. What Hi-Fi Ten Best Turntables of All Time. Looking at future trends, they always try to meet the needs of the market. Check out our X Series Review. The E1 turntables feature a true sub-platter design with a low-mass synthetic main platter riding on a high-density resin sub-platter. In 1999, What Hi-Fi awarded the Pro-Ject Debut Product of The Year, an incredible accolade for any new product, let alone an analogue music player in a deeply digital world. Good tonearms feel like they defy natural gravity. Tellingly, many Hi-Fi magazines had, by this point, abandoned an award category for best turntable altogether. Posted on Thu, 27 Apr, 2017 As Record Store Day rolls around for its 11th year, there seems to be no end to peoples fascination with vinyl and turntables. 2001 Hi-FI News/British Audio Awards Best Analogue source up to 500 Big thanks to Richard @audioaffair for setting this up." Kashfia Kabir It seems almost anachronistic in todays age of online streaming and portable convenience, but all the evidence points to physical media still going strong. The factory is ISO 9001 certified. During her time in the consumer tech industry, she has reviewed hundreds of products, been to countless trade shows across the world and fallen in love with hi-fi kit much bigger than her. Whereas cheaper turntables like the Denon DP-300F make cymbals sound splashy and harsh, the 2M Red makes them sound smoother and more life-like. The turntable is extremely quiet, which lets you hear more of the record itself instead of the hum of a motor or the subtle vibration of an a poorly damped turntable. When looking at the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon as a package, its hard to think of another turntable in this price range that can top it. If you decide to upgrade, you can get thePro-Ject Acryl-It Acrylic Platter ($129) which will further improve sound quality (and looks cool as hell). When Turntable Lab first started carrying the Debut Series, the tonearms were made of an alloy. Its this juxtaposition of old and new that sits at the heart of Pro-Ject. More recently, Pro-Ject has invested in a modern facility nearby, where 24 CNC machines take care of all the higher-precision parts (which then get sent to the main factory to be assembled). You will receive a verification email shortly. The Pro-Ject Debut received unprecedented praise from the Audio press. "Truly blown away with the sound for this room and this setup. 2022 Audio Affair Blog. *. They have been continually investing in the manufacturing process, keeping quality high and costs low. The huge, open space offers a base for Pro-Ject to operate out of, while its glass walls and custom-built demo rooms give the company a place to show off - and test - its products. Its not the most resolving turntable but you wouldnt expect it to be at this price range. The most difficult part of the setup was balancing the tonearm, which simply requires you to make sure the tonearm is level before setting the tracking force. Thankfully, setting up the Debut Carbon is simple, even for beginners just getting into the hobby. Pro-Ject engineers design and machine the majority of parts in-house, so we can offer astounding build quality in every Pro-Ject product. The best way to get started is to have a suitable turntable, offering their customers the right to choose what they need, without overloading them with unnecessary features. The Debut Carbon DC is just such an example, bringing a carbon fibre tonearm to the party. A $99 turntable will play records just fine, but youll want to spend more if sound quality is your goal. The tonearm was a straightforward, aluminium tonearm. There's nothing worse than buying a new record player and having no clue where to start. The defining feature that separates the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon from the competition is its single-piece carbon fiber tonearm. The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is well built, beautifully designed and just sounds awesome. The company's mission is to get as many people as possible in the wonderful hobby of HiFi audio and deliver an authentic stereo experience at the lowest possible affordable cost. When digital audio media were on the rise, and vinyl was declared obsolete and dead, Heinz Lichtenegger maintains his belief in the simple but best way to enjoy music: turntables. Pro-Ject Audio System also manufactures a range of micro hi-fi components such as Amps, CD Transports, Phono Stages, Streaming Devices and more. Pro-Ject turntables products have also been used in countless TV series and movies. The E1 turntables are designed to track with precision thanks to a crafted aluminum tonearm that has a factory-fitted Ortofon OM5 cartridge. The ProJect Audio Sytems E1 turntable are available in three models. The HQ, which is about an hour north of Vienna, is open to the public, too - so anyone can come in and try out the latest kit. In the case of the Debut Carbon, the turntable comes with the excellent Ortofon 2M Red phono cartridge as well as a lightweight and rigid carbon fiber tonearm parts that separate the Pro-Ject from its competitors and the benefits pay off in sonic performance. Look a little further and the keen-eyed might pick up (forgive the pun) the improved motor isolation mounts, developed by Ortofon for Pro-Ject. An acrylic platter is included which not only looks fantastic but its highly inert, resonant free nature assists audio playback. While it's still incredibly easy to use (especially for anyone used to setting up more complicated players), you are giving up conveniences like auto start/stop, an anti-skate dial and a built-in phono preamp but for audiophiles, none of these downsides matter as the turntables sonic performance vastly outweighs its minor trade offs. Pro-Ject released its first home-grown design, the Pro-Ject 1 in the early 1990s. New York, Call us on 0844 504 0350. First it was the tonearm tube, then they introduced a one-piece design that integrated the headshell. In the audiophile market (where entry-level turntables frequently cost $1000), the Debut Carbons priceoffers a reasonable entry point. Being able to oversee and control the entire production chain from start to finish is also important to Heinz. The carbon tonearm definitely helps cut down resonance, allowing you to hear more of the record and less of the equipment that its playing on. Many acclaimed magazines have recognised that passion and momentum, make the Austrian brand winning several awards over the years, such as the famous HiFi press award for their turntables and electronics. The platter is shockingly heavy but thats a good thing as it is one more way Pro-Ject fights noise and vibration. One could easily expect to pay the 349 asking price for the carbon tonearm alone, but with the Debut Carbon DC, theres much more for your money. NY 10036. You may opt-out by. The street price of the entry-level Debut S/E3 is barely more than the price of inflation over that time. It tracks nicely and has good dynamic range. You can start off with something basic (like our VP29.TTL or Pro-Ject Phono Box DC), or move to a tube-based option (Bellari VP130) or a quality integrated amplifier. last updated 28 April 22. In her spare time, Kash can be found catching up with TV shows, tending to an ever-growing houseplant collection and hanging out with her cat Jolene. The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable is consistently the bestselling listening turntablein the $300-500 price range. This design ensures that the vibration of the motor doesnt transfer through the platter, your record and to the needle. Switching speeds requires moving the belt between the upper and lower pulley, which is an annoyance but not a deal breaker. For example, the latest model of the Debut Carbon added a newly-designed, stableand efficient DC motor + power supply; plus a new suspension system with elastomer materials (TPE) used in Pro-Ject's higher end turntables. Pro-Jects answer was to take their successful Pro-Ject 1 turntable and trim the fat to the bone. This didnt stop the Pro-Ject Debut gaining numerous awards, however. The included Ortofon 2M Red does a good job of pulling detail out of records. The Debut Series has gone through several model changes over the last decade while maintaining its price point. Pro-Ject Audio Systems is a manufacturer of audiophile equipment, founded in 1991 by Heinz Lichtenegger[1] and located in Mistelbach,[2] Austria. Pro-Jectis able to continually improve the Debut Series product because of economies of scale, working exclusively with a renowned EU-based factory (conversely, most competitors use the same OEM-style factory in China). Because Pro-Ject still uses the original machines left by Tesla (which is impressive enough), it can also supply all the parts used in any Pro-Ject deck from the past 27 years all the way back to the 1.. Heres why you can trust us. The Gloss finish can be ordered in an array of eye-catching gloss shades. NY 10036. The Pre Box S2 Digital and Amp Box S2 with a Essential III Turntable, This article is about the audio electronics maker.