Pro-Ject X8 Evolution Turntable with Ortofon Quintet Red - Metallic Black SE - Ex Demo

Product Details

• Brand: Pro-Ject
• Model: X8 Evolution
• Finish: Metallic Black Special Edition
• Cartridge: Ortofon Quintet Red moving coil, fitted and aligned

Condition Notes

This Pro-Ject X8 Evolution came off our own demonstration floor and is in excellent condition. The Metallic Black SE plinth is clean with no notable marks, the brushed aluminium front band is unmarked, the carbon tonearm and counterweight move freely, and the Ortofon Quintet Red cartridge and stylus are in good order with light use. Supplied with the dust cover, felt mat, 7-inch adapter, phono cable and power supply in the original carton.

One only. Bought new, the turntable and cartridge together come to $4,628.

The X8 is where Pro-Ject brings mass-loaded design within reach. It borrows from the Xtension 9 and 10 above it: a 5.1 kg platter lathed from a single block of aluminium and damped with TPE, an inverted bearing with a ceramic tip and magnetic support, and height-adjustable damped aluminium feet. The weight is the point. A heavy, well-damped platter and plinth simply do not respond to the room the way a lighter deck does.

The Evolution adds Pro-Ject's True Balanced Connection, and it matters here more than almost anywhere else. A moving coil cartridge is a naturally balanced source producing a signal measured in fractions of a millivolt, so carrying it balanced all the way to a balanced phono stage keeps interference out of the quietest link in the chain. Paired with a balanced phono stage, this is the difference you actually hear as a blacker background rather than a specification.

The 9-inch one-piece carbon fibre arm is stiff and light at 8.5 g effective mass, which suits the Quintet Red well. That cartridge is Ortofon's entry into the Quintet moving coil range and is already fitted and aligned, so the deck arrives ready to play rather than needing a setup appointment.

Unlike the Xtension models, the X8's platter has no vinyl top layer, so you are free to experiment with different mats without over-damping. Speeds are 33, 45 and 78, selected electronically by button.

Main Specifications

• Drive: Belt drive with DC/AC generator board and electronic speed control
• Speeds: 33, 45 and 78 rpm, electronically selected
• Platter: 5.1 kg lathed aluminium with TPE damping
• Platter Bearing: Inverted, ceramic tip with magnetic support
• Tonearm: 9-inch (230 mm) one-piece carbon fibre, effective mass 8.5 g
• Overhang: 18 mm
• Output: True Balanced Connection
• Cartridge: Ortofon Quintet Red moving coil, factory fitted and aligned
• Feet: Height-adjustable, TPE damped aluminium
• Wow and Flutter: ±0.11% at 33, ±0.10% at 45
• Speed Drift: ±0.11% at 33, ±0.09% at 45
• Signal to Noise: 73 dB
• Power: 15 V DC / 0.8 A external supply, 5 W (0.3 W standby)
• In the Box: Power supply, dust cover, felt mat, 7-inch single adapter, phono cable, documentation, original carton
• Dimensions (W×H×D, lid closed): 465 × 150 × 350 mm
• Weight: 15 kg