My initial impressions were of a woofiness and a lower-midrange thickness, a coloration I found altogether unpleasant. In the low mids and bass is where trouble began though, as I later discovered, not with the Pro-Ject table itself. I was mightily impressed by the 500-5Khz region, there was definite magic happening in my setup, even with drier solid state amplification. There was not hardness, nor softness, but merely a smooth and clear decay characteristic with loads of detail and minimal smearing. Midrange, especially upper midrange, wase a very special balance between precision and what many term musicality, but what I think of as transient decay. Treble had no hint of either sterility nor of excess warmth, it was much like Goldilocks’ favorite porridge, just right. The sound was whisper quiet in the high range, with a clarity and detail that rivalled some $1000 tables in my setup. My basic iPhone speed tests indicated that the Pro-Ject Carbon EVO was tightly in range, and I didn’t detect any bothersome wow or flutter in my listening with familiar records. For a turntable of this price, my expectations were exceeded in areas I did not at all expect, areas which normally ask a much higher price and a much fiddlier setup. Bass was solid, with less warmth than I would expect from this style of table, and what was present was quite linear. Upper treble and midrange came across as exceptionally damped and holographically present and organic. Not simply compared to other deck-style tables, but even the skeletal plinths in the Rega or Clearaudio style. Popping on a few of my favorite records immediately revealed one standout trait of the Pro-Ject Carbon EVO. Down to the speed selector buttons, rear RCA jacks and gorgeous carbon tonearm, I had several $700-1000 tables in my house that didn’t feel as reassuringly built as the Pro-Ject. The form-factor said familiar, but the fit and finish told me premium. Muted colors and matte finishes with a grain-free and smooth texture elevated the EVO to something a few notches above your standard deck-style table. Mine came in a very fetching white color, though every color I saw in the catalogue was gorgeous in a distinctly understated way. Once assembled–a simple process which involves putting on the belt, slipping on the platter, and by far the most difficult part, popping on the platter–the Debut Carbon EVO is ready to rock and roll.
#Power cord for project debut carbon how to#
I didn’t have to take all the parts out of the box and spread them across the floor to figure out how to put everything together. Pro-Ject has crafted an experience which is more IKEA furniture than Lego erector set. The instructions and plinth on top, then the belt and motor and finally the platter cleverly tucked in the bottom, not in order of height or weight, but in order of assembly. The packaging came out like an elaborate puzzle-the word unravelling came to mind-and in a seamlessly logical manner.
Thinking inside the box refers to the unboxing experience, and although this table comes in at a light-on-the-sticker-shock price of $499, the unboxing experience beats some of the multi-thousand dollar gear I have in house at the moment.
One of the curious things I’ve noticed about hi-fi is a distinct disconnect between price and what I like to call “thinking inside the box.” No, this isn’t a Tony Robbins-style self-help metaphor designed to motivate you to walk over hot coals–we all know alcohol-based aftershave is too popular for that to ever be safe. This is a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon table taken to a whole new level. Pro-Ject’s Debut Carbon EVO is the newest iteration of their most popular turntable, this time with the works added: new motor suspension, height-adjustable damped aluminum feet, a new steel and TPE-damped platter, and a Sumiko Rainier cartridge. I’ve had a quick succession of lent tables, cartridges and phono stages in-house in the last few months, and under the careful tutelage of the rest of the PTA team, and some of my friends in LA who are vinyl-cutting engineers, my knowledge has been growing exponentially for all things groovy. Pro-Ject’s Debut Carbon EVO landed on my doorstep in what seemed like mere minutes after I’d been asking Managing Editor Eric Franklin Shook, “They want me to do a turntable review? But why not Dave, or Marc?” Though my serious journey into vinyl has only just begun this year, the Pro-Ject table was the perfect place to start.
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