Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

New Products

Preview: Pro-Ject’s XA B Transparent Acrylic Expands Their Balanced Turntable Lineup

At $1,499, the Pro-Ject XA B turntable comes with a Pick it PRO Balanced cartridge for ‘True Balanced’ vinyl playback.

Pro-Ject XA B Acrylic Balanced Turntable Angle Lifestyle

Pro-Ject Audio’s latest X Series turntable, model XA B, aims to deliver the highest quality audio with a premium aesthetic, right out of the box. In addition to offering a ‘True Balanced Connection’ via the 5-pin DIN output, the turntable features a plinth constructed of transparent acrylic, a material that has existed in Pro-Ject’s repertoire for decades.

At $1,499, the XA B is sandwiched between Pro-Ject’s X1 B ($1,299) and X2 B ($1,799) which we reviewed back in February. All three models are fully balanced turntables but there are some key differences.

Pro-Ject Pick-it Pro Balanced Cartridge Lifestyle

What’s New

  • 5-pin DIN balanced output (no RCA output, but DIN > RCA/ground cable included)
  • Balanced MM cartridge (new cable & balanced phono pre required for balanced operation)
  • 10” aluminum armtube & wider plinth to accommodate that length
  • Different isolation feet
  • Different platter (die-cast TPE-damped aluminum like Debut PRO)
  • Includes Record Puck E
Pro-Ject XA B Turntable Feet Exploded

Design

In turntable design & manufacture, thoughtful selection of materials is critical. Each material has its own resonant frequency that must blend well with the other materials involved. In the XA B development process, measurement and critical listening revealed that acrylic alone can potentially over-damp sonics. This is why Pro-Ject made the decision to utilize a livelier-sounding 10-inch one-piece aluminum tonearm, die-cast aluminum platter, Pick it PRO Balanced cartridge and purpose-selected isolation feet.

Together with the acrylic plinth, Pro-Ject says these materials render music in a lively, dynamic and detail-rich manner. With the simple addition of the proper cable and any of Pro-Ject’s Phono Box S3 B, Phono Box DS3 B, Tube Box DS3 B or Phono Box RS2 balanced phono preamps, listeners can take the plunge into the world of balanced vinyl playback.

The following are balanced cable types that would do the trick: 5-pin DIN > Mini XLR or 5-pin DIN > XLR (depending on the phono preamp). 

Pro-Ject XA B Turntable Top
Pro-Ject XA B Acrylic Balanced Turntable Rear Angle Lifestyle
Pro-Ject XA B

Comparison

X1 BXA BX2 B
MSRP$1,299
$1,099
$1,499$1,799
$1,599
PlinthMDFAcrylicMDF (50mm)
Speeds33/45rpm, 45/78rpm
(flat, round belts)
33/45rpm
(electronic speed change)
33/45rpm,
45/78rpm
(flat, round belts)
Speed variance±0.30% (33rpm),
±0.25% (45rpm)
0.30% (33rpm),
0.20% (45rpm)
±0.25% (33rpm),
±0.20% (45rpm)
Wow & flutter±0.15% (33rpm),
±0.13% (45rpm)
0.13% (33rpm),
0.12% (45rpm)
±0.12% (33rpm),
±0.10% (45rpm)
Platter1.5 kg (20mm) resonance-free acrylic record platter1.7 kg (30mm) die-cast aluminum platter2 kg, (30mm) resonance-free acrylic record platter
Tonearm8.6” one-piece carbon-wrapped aluminum10″ one-piece aluminum arm tube9” one-piece carbon-wrapped aluminum
Effective tonearm mass10 g10 g13.5 g
Dimensions (WxHxD lid closed)415 x 135 x 335 mm
(16.34 x 5.31 x 13.19 inches)
460 x 130 x 340 mm
(18.11 x 5.12 x 13.39 inches)
460 x 150 x 340 mm
(18.11 x 5.91 x 13.39 inches)
Weight7 kg (15.43 lbs)8 kg (17.64 lbs)10 kg (22.05 lbs)
Outputs5-pin mini XLR output,
RCA phono
5-pin DIN balanced output5-pin mini XLR output,
RCA phono
Isolation feetAdjustable TPE-damped isolation feetSpecial TPE-damped height-adjustable metal feetAdjustable TPE-damped isolation feet
CartridgeSumiko Rainier MMPick it Pro Balanced MM cartridgeSumiko Rainier MM
Included15V 0.8A DC power supply, dust cover, DIN > RCA cable, felt mat15V/0.8A DC universal power supply
Pro-Ject XA B Turntable Tonearm Side
Pro-Ject XA B

Initial Thoughts

The XA B is the least expensive acrylic turntable among over a dozen balanced Pro-Ject Turntables priced up to $13,999. With a street price just $100 less than the X2 B, consumers have an interesting choice. However, Pro-Ject says the XA B’s longer 10-inch tonearm reduces tracking errors while delivering different sonics than a MDF base.

Pro-Ject XA B Turntable Front

Price & Availability

The Pro-Ject XA B Turntable is expected to be available in the U.S. beginning October 15, 2024 for $1,499 at Crutchfield and other authorized retailers.

For more information: pro-jectusa.com

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. HW

    August 12, 2024 at 12:22 am

    Couldn’t a different name other than XA be chosen? AR had the XA turntable. Pro-Ject already has X1, XA should be X2 and X2 should be X3.

    • Ian White

      August 12, 2024 at 1:28 pm

      HW,

      I’m sure Pro-Ject has its reason for the name. Very few consumers outside of the audiophile kingdom (under the age of 50) will remember the venerable AR XA table. Sadly. Pro-Ject’s customer base is generally younger so the branding seems to be working.

      Best,

      Ian White

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

GIK Acoustics Sound Block StackPack Promo Image

A/V Furniture & Accessories

GIK Acoustics’ Sound Block StackPack includes a trio of modular acoustic panels that can be free standing or wall mounted.

Hisense C2 Ultra Lifestyle Laser Projector Mounting Positions Hisense C2 Ultra Lifestyle Laser Projector Mounting Positions

New Products

At $2,499 the versatile Hisense C2 Ultra lifestyle 4K projector offers optical zoom, built-in JBL speakers, gaming features and more.

A.bsolument Vintage Bluetooth Radios Collage A.bsolument Vintage Bluetooth Radios Collage

New Products

A.bsolument turns your dusty old radio into a Bluetooth beauty with French savoir-faire—because even your granny’s relic deserves to sound magnifique, not like a...

Astell&Kern 64 Audio XIO IEMs Wired Lifestyle Astell&Kern 64 Audio XIO IEMs Wired Lifestyle

Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

Astell&Kern and 64 Audio’s $3,000 XIO IEMs combine cutting-edge tech and luxury design for audiophiles seeking top-tier sound and craftsmanship.

Headphone Amps

Pro-Ject Head Box E offers powerful, affordable desktop headphone amplification with discrete circuitry and versatile connections. A solid $120 upgrade option.

AZLA A100 Dongle DACS in black and silver AZLA A100 Dongle DACS in black and silver

Dongle DACs

AZLA’s A100 Dongle DAC is the latest $19.99 contender flooding the market. It won’t revolutionize your sound, but it beats your phone’s headphone jack—if...

Gift Ideas?

Amazon Prime Day is July 8-11, 2025

Daily Deals

Amazon Prime Day is a four-day shopping event from July 8-11, 2025 offering the biggest discounts of the year on consumer electronics.

You May Also Like

HDTV 4K & 8K TV

Unveiled at CES, the groundbreaking Hisense 116UX is the first production TV to feature RGB MiniLED backlighting. Here's how it looks.

Headphone Amps

Pro-Ject Head Box E offers powerful, affordable desktop headphone amplification with discrete circuitry and versatile connections. A solid $120 upgrade option.

New Products

Celebrate 75 years of Peanuts with Pro-Ject's limited edition turntable, featuring hi-fi tech, Bluetooth, and Schroeder-approved specs—finally, a reason Linus might drop the blanket.

New Products

The Pro-Ject Metallica Limited Edition Turntable might be the "One" for fans of the iconic heavy metal band this summer.

Ask an Expert

Struggling with poor vinyl playback? Your phono cartridge setup—or those filthy records—might be the reason. Here’s how to fix it.

Articles

Discover if vintage turntables still beat modern models under $2,000. Pros, cons, sound quality, and where to buy for the best vinyl experience.

Articles

Portable CD players are back, but with better sound, Bluetooth, and DACs. FiiO and Shanling are leading the charge in 2025's retro revival.

Reviews

The Tivoli SongBook MAX is retro, loud, and weirdly addictive. Mid-century design meets Miami volume—your neighbors may never forgive you.

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers