Pro-Ject’s new transparent turntable might just be the coolest vinyl release of the year
The best turntables are often as beautiful to look at as they are to listen to, and this new turntable from Pro-Ject is a particularly beautiful thing. Made from clear acrylic, the Pro-Ject XA B turntable has a striking good look. And as you’d expect from Pro-Ject, there’s substance to match the style: the acrylic isn’t there just because it looks good, but because it’s a material that can help the spinner sound great.
According to the manufacturer (via Which Hi-Fi?), the new turntable’s acrylic plinth has excellent damping that makes for a “great-sounding” turntable (if it says so itself). It uses the company’s True Balanced technology, with a mini-XLR balanced output that promises to reduce noise and interference; that’s an optional extra, as you’ll also need a balanced phono stage to use it, so the standard turntable comes with a high-quality phono cable.
Pro-Ject XA B: main features
Alongside that acrylic plinth is a 10-inch aluminum tonearm and a new Pick It Pro Balanced moving magnet cartridge. This isn’t the first Pro-Ject turntable to offer a balanced output option – the X1 B and X2 B also have that option – but those turntables didn’t launch with a balanced cartridge installed as standard.
The tonearm is based on that of Pro-Ject’s premium EVO series, featuring an oversized bearing housing to reduce unwanted resonance and a TPE-damped counterweight.
The drive system features an AC synchronous motor with a built-in DC/AC generator which Pro-Ject claims “effectively removes any unwanted effects from external power supplies” and the sub-platter is mounted in a stainless steel main bearing with a brass bushing that is machined to a tolerance of 0.001mm. The main platter is 1.7kg TPE-damped aluminium and there is a speed control for easily changing from 33 and 1/3 to 45 RPM.
We haven’t had a chance to hear this turntable yet, but the reviews of the X1 B and X2 B using the same cartridge have been very positive; Pro-Ject’s turntable track record is stellar, and the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo is our current pick for best turntables for most people. If you don’t have the hardware or need for True Balanced output, we’d definitely recommend checking that one out: it’s a five-star turntable for about half the price, though we suspect the XA B will sound even more spectacular… and of course, the XA B is transparent, which counts for a lot in our retro-tech book.
The Pro-Ject XA B costs $1,499 / £1,099 / around AU$2,125 and is available to order now.
