Pro-Ject Audio X2 Hi-Fi Turntable

X2 Turntable with installed MM Sumiko Moonstone Cartridge

X2 was designed to take your analog reproduction to new heights by building on principles already in practice within the Pro-Ject lineup. Development of the Pro-Ject X2 was not time to reinvent the wheel because the core engineering on the P1 (now X1) was already ideal in several ways. Instead we build on the technologies that had previously been established:

-The raw materials now used in production are of higher quality
-The components are bigger, heavier, and more robust to enhance performance and build quality
-We utilize CNC machining and modern material sciences to optimize each component for its function

The goal is that X2 raises the bar set by its sibling X1 turntable. It’s made for those who value fine details, build quality, high-grade materials, and standard-setting audio performance.

Highlights

• Electronic speed control with 33/45 rpm speed change, which acts as “Speed Box” with ultimate speed stability
• Electronically regulated precision motor with improved damping construction for the least amount of vibration and noise
• Sub-platter with extremely low 0.001mm bearing tolerances
• Stainless steel platter-bearing with soft bronze bushing and teflon mirrors for lowest rumble and noise and stable, accurate speed transmission
• 9” one-piece tonearm tube with best internal damping via the ultra rigid carbon/alu sandwich construction
• TPE damped counterweight reduces arm-cartridge resonances by 50%
• Azimuth and VTA adjustment
• High-performance, resonance-optimized Sumiko Moonstone phono cartridge
• Resonance free, 2 kg heavy acryl platter
• Heavy, 50mm thick, highest quality CNC‘d MDF chassis
• Luxury 8 layers of painting and hand-polished finish or real-wood, satin-waxed veneer
• Super shielded, semi-symmetrical, low-capacitance phono cables – purpose designed by Pro-Ject
• Height adjustable, alu machined, vibration absorbing feet
• Handmade in Europe

Plinth & Tonearm

Structurally, the Pro-Ject X2 is supported by its large, massive, dense & stiff MDF plinth reducing unwanted resonance to almost imperceptible levels. Thusly X2 is quiet as can be, allowing playback to become more detailed and dynamic. The plinth houses a sophisticated DC/AC generator that, combined with the convenient speed control board, delivers clean and stable power to the silent motor system. The tonearm is longer (9″ as opposed to 8.6″ on X1) and the tube has a wider-diameter carbon/aluminum composite construction that results in improved internal damping. This also means that the entire tonearm bearing is upgraded to compensate for additional mass, so tracking is more precise, stable, and accurate. The added mass makes the composite tonearm an excellent fit for most modern high-performance cartridges. The one-piece armtube/headshell helps to dampen armtube resonance and TPE-damped counterweight reduces arm/cartridge resonance by as much as 50%.

Motor & Suspension

X2’s motor already operates at near-silent levels, but to minimize potentially harmful resonance, the motor is suspended on resonance-absorbing TPE. This isolates the motor and allows it to run stably and to a greater degree of precision. Remaining vibrations are damped and eliminated so they are not transmitted to the chassis, platter, tonearm nor cartridge via addition TPE damping; the motor chassis is carefully balanced and suspended on a precision-tuned TPE isolator, effectively decoupling it from the main plinth. It is free-floating, horizontally level, and able to operate at the highest performance levels. Last, let’s not forget the fantastic, TPE-damped and adjustable feet (3 feet are used for resonance dispersion) that support and isolate the entire machine.

Sumiko Moonstone MM Phono Cartridge

The Pro-Ject X2 is supplied with a factory-mounted and aligned Sumiko Moonstone cartridge. Exceptionally well-balanced and capable of breathtaking dynamics, Moonstone is the perfect cartridge to top off this package. As a bonus, the stylus is user-replaceable so there’s no need to embark down the path of cartridge mounting unless it’s your preference. Multiple stylus replacements are available for Moonstone, including RS 78 for 78rpm shellac discs (see below).

Purpose-Designed Phono Interconnects

Compared to other sources, the signal coming from a turntable cartridge is very fragile in nature and demands the proper escort from tonearm output to phono preamp. Connect it E RCA is designed for this exact application. It’s a semi-balanced, low capacitance cable with superior shielding, making it ideal for carrying the phono signal.

The X2 has been meticulously engineered to offer performance-focused features for the best possible price. Our decades-long experience in analog technologies, modern CNC machinery, and old-world craftsmanship is evident in the fit and finish. Hand-assembled in Europe in an ISO 9001 certified facility, every turntable goes through extensive QC and burn-in to ensure reliability for decades to come.

Pro-Ject X2 is available in four finishes: real-walnut veneer, 8-coat gloss black, satin black or satin white.

Considerations for 78 RPM Records With the Pro-Ject X2

The Pro-Ject X2 ships with 2 different belts. The flat belt is for 33 & 45rpm discs and is installed on the top/smaller diameter of the motor pulley. The round one is for 78rpm records only. It is designed for use with the larger/bottom pulley diameter with the differently shaped slot. Installing the 78 RPM pulley and belt incorrectly compromises its integrity and may lead to breakage.

Additionally, please note that it’s also not advisable to play 78rpm records with the Moonstone stylus. Being an elliptical diamond meant to track the ‘microgrooves’ of 33s & 45s, it will sound poor and cause undue harm to the disc (and potentially the cartridge!). Sumiko has developed a 78 stylus for this very reason – now shipping! The stylus tracks the grooves properly and reduces the risk of harm to your collection. Keep in mind that Moonstone is a stereo MM phono cartridge, meaning that its normal job is to transcribe 2 channels (left and right) of musical information. When using the 78 styli with Moonstone, what you’ll hear is the one channel of musical information (mono) of the 78 in both stereo channels.