Pro-ject- X8 Evolution Turntable

Audiophile Implementations

The X8 turntable is a true high-end solution with major technical features adapted from the Xtension 9 and 10. 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.

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.

The combination of mass and damping provide a very stable system, isolating the stylus from both airborne and structural vibrations, without being finicky to setup and remains stable and properly aligned over time. You hear your music, not the turntable.

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

Setting us apart from the competition, all Pro-Ject turntables are configured for balanced operation.* 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. Browse options for balanced phono preamps & cables in the reel below!

*Excluding turntables with built-in phono preamps.

Tonearm Upgrades for Your X8 Turntable

The X8 Evolution turntable ships with the adept EVO 9 CC tonearm with ABEC 7 quality bearings & a one-piece carbon fiber armtube. The EVO 9 CA Premium tonearm is available as a drop-in upgrade (no soldering needed). It features a one-piece carbon/aluminum armtube, high-purity silver tonearm wire, an upgraded bearing assembly using stainless steel and an improved TPE-damped counterweight on a threaded stub. Explore even greater versatility with the EVO AS and EVO AS Premium tonearms. These are curved options with replaceable headshells- especially good for phono cartridge collectors. The EVO AS Premium receives the same upgrades as the EVO CA Premium mentioned above.

Features

• High-mass 15kg belt drive turntable
• Pro-Ject 9cc Evolution carbon tonearm
• Heavy MDF chassis
• Precision balanced, damped 5.1kg aluminum platter
• Inverted ceramic ball bearing with magnetic support
• Electronic speed control (33/45rpm)
• Inverted cardanic tonearm bearings
• 4x stainless steel tips mounted in ABEC 7 quality ball bearings
• Height-adjustable metal feet with TPE damping
• Premium 5P semi-symmetrical RCA phono cable (DIN-RCA)
• True Balanced 5P XLR cable available separately (DIN-XLR)
• Dustcover included
• Finish options: satin walnut, gloss black, gloss white
• Handmade in Europe

Specs

• Speeds: 33/45rpm (electronic speed change)
• Included phono cable: Connect it E 5P-RCA, 1.23m
• Isolation feet: TPE damped aluminum, height adjustable
• Platter: 5.1kg lathed aluminum
• Platter bearing: inverted ceramic ball, magnetic support
• Speed drift 33: ±0.11%; 45: ± 0.09%
• Wow & flutter 33: ±0.11%; 45: ± 0.10%
• Rumble: 73dB
• Tonearm: 9″ one-piece carbon-fiber tonearm
• Effective arm length/mass: 9″(230mm)/8.5g
• Overhang: 18mm
• Included: dustcover, 45rpm adapter, felt mat
• Power supply: 15V/0.8A DC
• Power consumption: 5W (0.3W standby mode)
• Dimensions (lid closed): 465 x 150 x 350mm (W x H x D)
• Dimensions (lid open): 465 x 415 x 420mm (W x H x D)
• Weight: 15kg