Pro-Ject XA B | Audiophile Turntable
Pro-Ject Boasts High-End, Lively + Detailed Sonics and an Exquisite Acrylic Plinth with the XA B Turntable
- Pre-adjusted Pick it Pro Balanced MM cartridge
- Precision 3.7 lb Aluminum platter with TPE damping
- Premium 10“ one-piece Aluminum Carbon fiber armtube for precise, accurate tracking
- Acoustically inert transparent acrylic chassis
- Handmade in Europe
A Clear View
For over 30 years Pro-Ject has designed & built turntables that focus on sound quality over convenience-oriented features, but that hasn't stopped them from experimenting with materials that vary in their resonance properties.
Acrylic has been in their repertoire for decades. Pro-Ject's first ever acrylic turntable was the Pro-Ject 6.9 Perspective, and it was a huge success. 6PerspeX variants have been around for 15+ years too, not to mention a host of 2Xperience variants in acrylic. Needless to say, the limited run of their Perspective Final Edition turntable sold out swiftly as well.
They take pride in how these turntables take advantage of both the aesthetic & sonic values of acrylic in hi-fi, but using acrylic in manufacturing is not as easy as you might think. True, it's anti-resonant, but the rest of the turntable must also lend itself to the sonic equation. Measurement & critical listening reveal that acrylic can actually over-damp sonics if it's not used thoughtfully. XA B uses an Aluminum tonearm & platter, the Pick it PRO Balanced cartridge & purpose-selected isolation feet to render music in a lively, dynamic & detail-rich manner... an experience that becomes doubly immersive when you decide to take the plunge into the world of balanced phono.
Premium Armtube
The XA B turntable features a premium 10“ one-piece Aluminum armtube. The single piece tube heightens rigidity while the 10" length widens the tonearm's arc, reducing tracing error. The low-friction 4-pinpoint cardanic bearing assembly guarantees precise, stable & accurate tracking. They have selected the Aluminum armtube over carbon fiber for its sonic merits when paired with the resonant frequency of the acrylic plinth.
The tonearm also offers audiophiles full control over their adjustment parameters for fine-tuning of VTA & azimuth, encouraging various cartridges and/or record mats to achieve their desired sonics. VTA & azimuth are crucial adjustments in the scheme of cartridge performance & demand evaluation.
Pick it PRO Balanced
The Pro-Ject Pick it PRO Balanced cartridge allows for "True Balanced" signal transmission. A revised version of the Pick it PRO re-routes the grounding so that it sends a symmetrical signal. The big advantage of a balanced connection is its ability to remove accrued noise and interference from the transmission line.
Additionally, Pro-Ject's "True Balanced" cable range offers several options for connecting your XA B to the Phono Box S3 B, Phono Box DS3 B or the Tube Box DS3 B phono stages.
TPE-Damped Die-Cast Platter
The 3.75 lb die-cast Aluminum platter is precision balanced with additional machining after casting. This facilitates perfect platter rotation while playing records. The heavy Aluminum platter also adds a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) damping ring & corresponding cutout on the underside, muting any resonance created by the metal record platter and contributing to the flywheel effect.
High-Quality RCA Cables
Cables cannot add any information back to a given signal. Rather, they're responsible for allowing as much musical information as possible through to the receiving device. This is why Pro-Ject included the Connect it Phono E 5P > RCA cable. Optimized for phono applications, they have implemented quality metals & careful configuration to ensure lossless signal transmission.
Damped, Height-Adjustable Feet
The XA B stands on (x3) damped & height-adjustable feet for excellent isolation. By using 3 feet they are able to increase stability on uneven surfaces for optimal leveling - a critical setup parameter in terms of maximizing the performance of a tonearm & cartridge.
Sophisticated DC/AC Power Generator
Pro-Ject's turntables use switch-mode power supplies for good reason. They take the unrefined AC power from your wall and convert it to DC. That DC power is then fed to DC/AC generator within the turntable, which in turn powers the AC motor. The advantage is that a completely new sine wave is created by the generator, fully decoupling your turntable from the dirty AC power coming from your outlet. This amounts to steady power being fed to the motor thereby enhancing speed stability.
Two Upgrades in One Box
Clean & stable power is critical for phono setups. The included power supply is a great starting point but you can take it further.
Power Box S3 Phono provides power for the XA B as well as your Pro-Ject phono stage (18V). Its two outputs are specifically engineered to power Pro-Ject turntables and phono preamps simultaneously. The sophisticated DC filtration can have a dramatic impact on overall sound quality.
In addition to the sonic improvements, Power Box S3 Phono also offers users a cleaner cable solution (only one wall-wart needed for the PSU).
Specifications
General
- Weight: 17.64 lbs
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Dimensions: 18.11" x 5.12" x 13.39"
- Pro-Ject 2 Year Warranty
Turntable
- Speeds: 33/45rpm (electronic speed change)
- Isolation feet: TPE damped Aluminum, height adjustable
- Platter: 300mm die-cast Aluminum platter w/ TPE damping
- Platter bearing: Stainless steel axle in brass bushing
- Speed drift 33: ±0.30% | 45: ± 0.20%
- Wow & flutter 33: ±0.13% | 45: ± 0.12%
- Tonearm: 10″ one-piece Aluminum armtube
- Effective arm length/mass: 254mm/10g
- Power supply: 15V/0.8A DC
- Power consumption: 5W (0.3W standby mode)
- Cartridge: Pick it PRO Balanced
In the Box
- XA B turntable
- Pick it Pro Balanced MM cartridge
- Record Puck E
- Dustcover + felt mat
- Connect it E 5P-RCA 4' phono cable
