The march of vinyl continues onwards as a whole new generation discovers the visceral thrill of playing music from a real physical medium without involving digital downloads or spinning silver discs with ones and zeros etched into it. There’s something about the clicks and plops of a vinyl album, coupled with that dynamic and warm sound, that is making sure the sales of vinyl turntables go from strength to strength.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems is a manufacturer of turntables and based in Austria. The company’s turntables have always appeared minimalist and stylish, and now a new model is being launched. The Debut Carbon Evolution turntable is the latest model to join Pro-ject’s Debut Collection. The new turntable features Pro-Ject’s one-piece, carbon-fiber tonearm and electronic speed selection. The suspension uses some elements taken from Pro-Ject’s award-winning X1 turntable and is fitted with a factory mounted Sumiko Rainier phono cartridge.

Pro-Ject is rooted in the belief of the power of analog music. From the mid-1990s, at the height of the CD boom, Pro-Ject built its reputation for sound and build quality at an affordable price. After 20 years, Pro-Ject says The Debut is one of the best-selling products in the history of hi-fi equipment, with close to one million turntables sold. The Debut was renowned for delivering great sound quality at a sensible price and yet still offered a stylish minimalist aesthetic and premium finish options. 

The new Debut Carbon Evolution is available in a range of nine colourful finishes, including varieties of hand-painted high-gloss as well as matte pastel colors, or even a more conservative walnut veneer. The finish consists of eight coats of paint to create a lustrous look that makes the turntable a talking point in anyone’s living room

The tonearm on the Debut Carbon Evolution is an 8.6″ one-piece, carbon fiber design with an integrated headshell, which should help cut back on reverberations. The tonearm uses low-friction precision sapphire bearings for a smooth performance. The Sumiko Rainier phono cartridge is included in the price and pre-fitted at the factory. To produce an even speed, Pro-Ject has used a heavy 1.7 kg die-cast aluminum platter with TPE damping. Unlike some more expensive turntables where changing speed involves moving a drive belt, the Debut Carbon Evolution has an electronic Speed Selection for 33 and 45 RPM but it is 78 RPM capable.

The build quality of this new turntable seems to have had a lot of attention to the smallest of details. For example, the motor suspension is damped using TPE (thermoplastic elastomer and the RCO connectors are gold-plated. The wiring for the tonearm is a continuous run of high purity copper inside the tonearm and t turntable connects via a phono cable with an external ground wire.

Another feature worth noting on the turntable is its 15V DC power supply that’s rated to work with AC line voltages ranging from 100V-240V 50/60 Hz. Thanks to a precision on-board AC generator (Pro-Ject calls it the Speed Box), users don’t need to worry about whether the mains power runs at 50 or 60Hz. The AC voltage that drives the motor is generated internally, which makes the speed more accurate than AC-synchronous turntables. The original Debut Carbon turntable didn’t include the DC power supply but owners had to pay an extra $200 for it as an optional accessory.

Pricing and availability: The Debut Carbon Evolution will be available through all authorized Pro-Ject dealers for orders in the US market beginning in September, retailing for $499.

More info: www.pro-jectusa.com

Specifications:

• Speed: 33, 45 (78) (electronic speed change)
• Drive principle: belt drive, electronic speed control
• Platter: 300mm, 1.7kg heavy die cast aluminum alloy with TPE damping ring and felt mat
• Mains bearing: stainless steel, brass and PTFE
• Wow & flutter: 33: +/-0.19%; 45: +/-0.17%
• Speed drift: 33: +/-0.6%; 45: +/-0.7%
• Signal to noise: 68dB
• Sumiko Rainier phono cartridge
• Tonearm: 8.6″ carbon fiber one-piece tonearm tube
• Effective arm length: 218.5 mm
• Effective arm mass: 6.0 g
• Overhang: 18.5mm
• Adjustable feet
• Included accessories: 15V DC / 0.8A power supply, adjustable dust cover 
• Power consumption: 4W / 0W standby
• Dimensions: 415 x 113 x 320mm (W x H x D)
• Weight: 6 kg net