X1 B - manual turntable
walnut - Pro-Ject

Turntable - True Balanced - Made in Europe

Balanced signal transmission has been standard in studio technology and high-end for decades - and the reason is as simple as it is convincing: a balanced signal transmits the useful signal in positive and negative polarity simultaneously. Any interference that creeps in along the way cancels each other out at the input of the preamplifier. The result is a cleaner signal, more dynamics and an improved signal-to-noise ratio. For turntables, this concept was previously reserved for the MC world - because the internal circuitry of classic MM systems made a balanced output impossible by design. The Pro-Ject X1 B with Pick it PRO Balanced breaks this barrier: it is the world's first turntable to enable a true balanced connection for MM cartridges.

The included Pick it PRO Balanced is not a compromise solution - it is the result of a targeted development in cooperation with Ortofon. Where in conventional MM systems the ground of the right channel is connected to the generator shield and prevents balanced output, Pro-Ject has completely reconfigured the ground routing and signal output: a balanced signal starting from the needle. The internal cabling of the X1 B is consistently separated according to signal and shielding, the 5-pin mini XLR connection terminal on the rear completes the fully balanced signal path up to the phono preamp - without a single detour via unbalanced connections.

The chassis of the X1 B is made of CNC-milled, compressed wood fiber MDF - solid, cavity-free and therefore resonance-inhibiting. Not an aesthetic decision, but an acoustic one: cavities in a drive chassis act as resonance bodies and audibly color the signal. The weight of 7 kg provides the necessary moment of inertia to prevent parasitic vibrations from occurring in the first place.

The 1.5 kg acrylic platter (20 mm thick) rests on a sub-platter with extremely low-tolerance bearings - stainless steel axle, brass bushes and a Teflon bearing mirror reduce rumbling to a minimum. The drive is provided by a precision-tuned TPE flat belt that mechanically separates the decoupled motor from the platter. The electronic motor control with built-in DC/AC generator converts the mains voltage into a clean sine wave - the result is an exceptionally constant speed with a synchronization fluctuation of only 0.15 % (33 rpm) and 0.13 % (45 rpm), values that are far above what you would normally expect in this price range.

The decoupled motor is suspended in its own sub-chassis, which in turn is attached to the main chassis via a TPE belt - this keeps motor vibrations and electromagnetic interference completely separate from the platter and tonearm. The height-adjustable aluminum/TPE sandwich feet additionally decouple the turntable from the ground and allow precise horizontal alignment.

The 8.6-inch tonearm of the X1 B is a sandwich construction made of carbon fiber and aluminum - a one-piece tube without a removable headshell. The carbon tube gives the arm the necessary bending stiffness, while the inner aluminum coating provides damping. One-piece tonearms without a headshell connection have an advantage because any mechanical connection is a potential source of micro-vibrations and sound loss - a design principle that Pro-Ject also uses in its significantly more expensive models.

The cardanic 4-point tonearm bearing with sapphire bearings is one of the lowest friction bearing concepts in turntable construction. It allows the stylus to follow the record groove completely freely in both planes - without the restoring forces that inevitably occur with lower-quality bearings and discolor the scanning signal. The TPE-damped counterweight also reduces the pickup-tonearm resonance by up to 50 %. The all-aluminum tonearm base allows true azimuth and VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle) adjustment - adjustments that get the last micron of sound quality out of any cartridge and are essential when changing systems.

The X1 B is designed from the outset as an entry into an upgradeable system. With the pre-installed Pick it PRO Balanced, you immediately enjoy the advantages of the world's first balanced MM system - clear channel separation, precise sound reproduction and a vocal-natural character that convinces without signs of fatigue even during long listening sessions. The next step: An MC cartridge (e.g. the Ortofon Quintet Red) and a balanced phono cable (Connect it Phono Mini XLR / Mini XLR) unleash the full potential of the true-balanced architecture - an interference-free signal with increased dynamics and improved signal-to-noise ratio, which was previously reserved for a much more expensive class of equipment.

The Pro-Ject Phono Box S3 B or DS3 B is the perfect complement - both are balanced and built in double mono topology. The combination of X1 B, balanced cable and S3 B forms a fully balanced phono system from the cartridge to the preamplifier output - a claim that would otherwise require a much higher investment.