Audiophile Implementations
The X8 turntable is a true high-end solution with major technical features adapted from the Xtension 9 and 10.
Features
- High-mass 15kg belt drive turntable
- Pro-Ject 9cc Evolution carbon tonearm
- Heavy MDF chassis
- Precision balanced, damped 5.1kg aluminum platter
- Electronic speed control (33/45rpm)
- Height-adjustable metal feet with TPE damping
- Premium 5P semi-symmetrical RCA phono cable included (DIN-RCA)
- True Balanced 5P XLR cable sold separately (DIN-XLR)
Balanced Platter
The precision balanced platter is machined out of a single piece of aluminum and damped with a TPE (Thermo Plastic Elastomer) insert. The platter rotates on an inverted bearing with ceramic ball and PTFE thrust pad. To decrease the load on the bearing, an opposing neodymium magnet repels the platter from the plinth and bearing, ensuring smooth and quiet operation for decades to come.
Massive MDF Chassis
The massive MDF chassis is supported by custom feet which are are CNC machined out of aluminum and are fully height-adjustable. They utilize TPE damping technology, very effectively decoupling the X8 from the surface it is placed on.
9cc EVO Carbon Tonearm
The 9cc EVO carbon tonearm utilizes inverted cardanic tonearm bearings, has four stainless steel tips mounted in ABEC 7 quality ball bearings mounted in a C-shaped section to minimize resonances. The low mass one-piece carbon fiber tonearm tube is crafted in a conical shape to minimize standing wave vibrations. The tonearm wire loom is one piece, from the cartridge to the 5pin DIN output, designed to allow either single ended or True Balanced phono connection.
True Balanced – Get Blown Away
Switching to balanced is no subtle upgrade and promises to redefine ‘reference’ sound quality in your turntable system. What’s needed to get there are a) a moving coil cartridge, b) a turntable with balanced phono outputs, c) a phono preamp with balanced phono inputs and d) a balanced cable carrying the phono signal from turntable to phono preamp. Typically a much more costly endeavor, Pro-Ject has changed that landscape by offering products that make the technology attainable to any serious listener.
X8 Evolution comes equipped with a balanced 5-pin DIN phono output and can be run balanced with either DIN > XLR or DIN > mini XLR phono cables and a balanced phono stage. The turntable ships with a DIN > RCA phono cable for maximum compatibility out of the box (unbalanced dual single-ended RCA/ground is by far the most common connection type in phono). Balanced add-ons are sold separately.
*Please note: In order to achieve a True Balanced connection, the Pro-Ject X1B, X2B, or X8 Evolution require a moving coil cartridge, a phono preamp with balanced phono inputs, and a balanced cable carrying the phono signal from turntable to phono preamp.
