PROJECT DEBUT CARBON EVO REVIEW MANUAL

When looking at the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon as a package, it’s hard to think of another turntable in this price range that can top it. It’s not the most resolving turntable but you wouldn’t expect it to be at this price range. The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is well built, beautifully designed and just sounds awesome. While you won’t get the micro-details and expansive air that more expensive phono cartridges are capable of, the 2M Red is a perfectly good starting point on your audio journey. Whereas cheaper turntables like the Denon DP-300F make cymbals sound splashy and harsh, the 2M Red makes them sound smoother and more life-like. It tracks nicely and has good dynamic range.

The included Ortofon 2M Red does a good job of pulling detail out of records. However, you’ll want to make sure you place the turntable on a solid surface or buy an isolation rack to completely eliminate the sound of footsteps. If you’re spending $400/£349 on a turntable, it had better sound good and we’re happy to report that the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon sounds spectacular.Įvery little attention to detail for damping has paid off as the Pro-Ject doesn’t pick up any noise from the motor and does an amicable job of neutralizing footsteps. If you do decide to switch cartridges sometime down the road, however, Pro-Ject includes a simple protractor in the box. This is great for beginners as aligning a phono cartridge can be the most difficult part of setting up a turntable. There’s no need to align the cartridge as the included Ortofon 2M Red comes mounted to the tonearm out of the box. Note that the Debut Carbon doesn’t include a phono preamp so you’ll have to pick one up on your own. Pro-Ject includes a beautiful cable in the box for you to connect to your phono preamp. It’s not as easy to use as a dial but you won’t be fiddling with your anti-skate much unless you’re constantly switching phono cartridges.Īround the back of the turntable, you’ll find RCA outputs and a ground peg, which means it’s super simple to replace worn cables in the future. Setting anti-skate is a bit different with the Pro-Ject, as it uses a small weight on fishing line to fight the needle’s natural movement to go toward the center of the record while it plays. The most difficult part of the setup was balancing the tonearm, which simply requires you to make sure the tonearm is level before setting the tracking force.

PROJECT DEBUT CARBON EVO REVIEW MANUAL

This is due in no small part to the included manual which simply and clearly explains where everything goes. Thankfully, setting up the Debut Carbon is simple, even for beginners just getting into the hobby. There's nothing worse than buying a new record player and having no clue where to start. It’s attached to the turntable via two metal rods and doesn’t affect the sound quality of the turntable, though you will hear the thud of the cover when you close it when a record is playing, but that’s normal. Lastly, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon comes with a clear acrylic dust cover. It’s also lightweight and helps with tracking records smoothly. Beyond simply looking good, carbon fiber helps fight resonance with its stiff construction and natural damping abilities. The defining feature that separates the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon from the competition is its single-piece carbon fiber tonearm. Switching speeds requires moving the belt between the upper and lower pulley, which is an annoyance but not a deal breaker. The only downside is that you’ll have to pick up the heavy platter every time you need to switch from 33 ⅓ and 45 rpm. The platter is shockingly heavy but that’s a good thing as it is one more way Pro-Ject fights noise and vibration. Speaking of the platter, it’s heavy made of metal, topped with a thin, felt mat.

Project debut carbon evo review