{"product_id":"pro-ject-x8-turntable","title":"Pro-Ject Audio X8 turntable with Ortofon Quintet Blue Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe X8 is a mass-loaded high-end turntable with features more commonly found at premium price points. From its over-sized, heavyweight wooden plinth, through to the precision-lathed, TPE-damped aluminium main platter, and on to the 9” Evolution tonearm finished with a Quintet Blue, it is a complete turntable solution for high-end audio systems in one box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUpgrade your standard RCA cable that ships with this turntable with a balanced cable:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/yorkshireav.co.uk\/products\/pro-ject-audio-true-balanced-connect-it-phono-s-cable?_pos=1\u0026amp;_psq=true+balanced\u0026amp;_ss=e\u0026amp;_v=1.0\" target=\"_blank\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/yorkshireav.co.uk\/products\/pro-ject-audio-true-balanced-connect-it-phono-s-cable?_pos=1\u0026amp;_psq=true+balanced\u0026amp;_ss=e\u0026amp;_v=1.0\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConnect IT Phono S cable\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e(oxygen free copper, low capacitance)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/yorkshireav.co.uk\/products\/pro-ject-audio-true-balanced-connect-it-phono-ds-cable\" target=\"_blank\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/yorkshireav.co.uk\/products\/pro-ject-audio-true-balanced-connect-it-phono-ds-cable\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConnect IT Phono DS cables\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(silver plated copper, very low capacitance)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsider your phono stage too - if you wish to take advantage of the true balanced architecture of your MC cartridge and upgraded cable (see products above), then consider a balanced phono stage:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhono Box S3 B - high quality fully discrete phono stage with semi-passive RIAA filters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/yorkshireav.co.uk\/products\/pro-ject-audio-phono-box-ds3-b?_pos=1\u0026amp;_psq=phono+box+ds3\u0026amp;_ss=e\u0026amp;_v=1.0\" target=\"_blank\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/yorkshireav.co.uk\/products\/pro-ject-audio-phono-box-ds3-b?_pos=1\u0026amp;_psq=phono+box+ds3\u0026amp;_ss=e\u0026amp;_v=1.0\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhono Box DS3\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e - audiophile grade, fully balanced circuitry with discrete fully passive RIAA filtering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe X8 draws inspiration from other high-end turntables in the Pro-Ject range. The thick, heavy MDF chassis is expertly shaped and finished to provide both a stylish aesthetic and a sturdy platform from which the key performance parts of the turntable can do their work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe main platter is precision-cut from a single piece of aluminium and lined with a ring of rubber TPE damping to produce a heavy non-resonant base that contributes to highly accurate speed stability with very little fluctuation. The platter is mounted on an inverted ceramic-tipped main bearing, bolstered with magnetic support, for fluid rotation without resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe platter is driven by a perimeter drive belt, connected to a low-noise AC motor. The motor is controlled by an AC generator with adjustable speed control for convenient switching between 33 and 45 RPM as well as a clean, low-noise power signal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe X8 is pre-installed with Pro-Ject’s popular 9CC Evolution carbon fibre tonearm. The 9CC EVO can been found on many popular high-end turntables, and features a one-piece, tapered carbon fibre tonearm tube, mounted in a heavy-weight bearing block with high-quality ABEC 7 ball bearings. The tonearm is also VTA and azimuth adjustable for perfect cartridge mounting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the UK, the X8 is also supplied with the award-winning Ortofon Quintet Blue moving coil cartridge, as standard. The Quintet Blue is recognised for its detailed musical performance, and perfectly complements the X8’s own high-end ability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the X8 is supplied with a Moving Coil cartridge, it is also part of Pro-Ject’s\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrue Balanced Connections\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003econcept. By upgrading to a 5pin \u0026gt; XLR cable, and connecting to one of the company’s balanced phono stages (such as the Phono Box DS3 B), you can benefit from increased dynamics, less noise and improved signal-to-noise ratios. Going true balanced is like hearing parts of your music that were not there before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe X8 is supplied with height-adjustable TPE-damped feet, a removable dust cover, a felt mat and a semi-balanced Connect-IT E 5P \u0026gt; RCA phono cable for easy set-up out of the box. It’s available in high gloss black, high-gloss white or real-wood walnut veneer finishes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrue Balanced Connections\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interconnect cable between a record player and a phono stage is prone to pick up noise on the way. That noise and interference can stem from a lot of unavoidable sources, such as household applicances, wi-fi and bluetooth devices, other power cables and audio amplifiers. Unshielded (i.e. RCA) interconnects can amplify the picked-up noise and make it audible through your speakers, interfering with the pure musical signal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalanced (typically XLR) cable connections double the wires carrying the musical signal – with one side inverted. In this case noise still gets picked up by both wires, but with one side reversed. When the signals are re-joined at the phono stage, the picked-up noise is cancelled out by the opposing signals. The benefit of this is a louder, cleaner musical signal that has doubled in size with almost no remaining noise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKey Features:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeavy MDF chassis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrecision balanced damped 5,1 kg aluminium platter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInverted bearing with ceramic tip, magnetic support\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElectronic speed control 33\/45 rpm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePre-fitted Ortofon Quintet Blue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInverted cardanic tonearm bearings; four stainless steel tips mounted in ABEC 7 quality ball bearings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight-adjustable metal feet with TPE damping\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePremium 5P semi-symmetrical RCA phono cable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrue Balanced 5P XLR cable available separately\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDust cover included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFinish options: walnut, HG piano black, HG white\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHandmade in Europe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"font-medium\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-col _md:w-1\/2 _lg:w-1\/3 max-w-sm\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Pro-Ject Audio","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":56215734583682,"sku":null,"price":2249.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"White","offer_id":56215734616450,"sku":null,"price":2249.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Walnut","offer_id":56215734649218,"sku":null,"price":2249.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0954\/6652\/0962\/files\/X8-black-1.webp?v=1768428642","url":"https:\/\/premiumhomeaudio.co.uk\/products\/pro-ject-x8-turntable","provider":"Premium Home Audio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}