Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO 2M Red Vinyl Turntable

Pro-Ject calls this turntable the Debut Carbon EVO because it's an evolutionary step forward from the beloved original Debut Carbon. For instance, the heavy steel platter now has a resonance-damping internal TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) ring inside for smoother, quieter operation. And the motor and suspension system has been improved. You can now switch speeds between 33-1/3 and 45 rpm with a convenient button hidden on the underside of the chassis, and the 'table's medium density fiberboard (MDF) base rests on three height-adjustable damped aluminum feet. Pro-Ject has included an excellent pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Red moving magnet cartridge.   

In the mid-90s, at the height of the Compact Disc, Pro-Ject set a goal: bring back the analog sound experience with something like the debut carbon EVO. We decided to create a turntable that could deliver true analog sound at a price that a new, younger generation of record lovers could afford. It must sound great, be simple in setup and pleasing to use, then exude quality while remaining affordable.

It should also come in a range of colors so it could serve as a centerpiece in any home. The first units that came off the production line in 1999 were a runaway success. We quickly scaled up production to meet the demands of a new wave of analog enthusiasts that the industry had forgotten about. After more than 20 years, the Debut is still one of the best-selling turntables in the history of Hi-Fi with close to 1 million units sold.

The Debut made listening to vinyl an affordable option for music lovers, while its clean, minimalist aesthetic and premium finish options helped make analog fashionable again. We have continually improved upon the Debut formula, adopting new technologies and trends to ensure it was always the best option for under $500.

In the early 2010’s the Debut Carbon was introduced, it stunned the high-end audio world by incorporating exotic materials such as a one-piece carbon-fiber tonearm, thermoplastic elastomer, and an audiophile grade cartridge. The Debut Carbon exploded in the US market where the resurgence of vinyl was really born. Today, vinyl playback has once again become the center of music lovers’ systems.

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo-lution

Building a great high-end turntable requires design expertise. Building a great & affordable turntable requires not only expertise, but also skilled engineering, flawless manufacturing, advanced material sciences, and relentless passion. Creating a worthy successor to the legendary Debut Carbon required rethinking and reevaluating every component and each design choice.

The new Debut Carbon EVO represents the epitome of Pro-Ject’s philosophy: high performance, clean aesthetics, and superb value. The elegant, simple aesthetic is unmarred by gimmicky lights, sliders, and buttons. It is a pure, high-performance turntable. Should requirements call for a phono preamp, Bluetooth or digital connectivity, USB interface, or integrated amplifier, we offer a wide range of external electronics, optimized for any application.

Good Vibrations – From the Record to You

Vinyl playback starts with the cartridge, converting what’s in the three-dimensional record groove to an electrical signal.

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO turntable is supplied with our Connect It E RCA cable: a semi-balanced, low-capacitance phono cable with superior shielding designed specifically to carry the delicate phono signal.

Modern Materials Meet Mass

The main platter upon which the record is played should be heavy and non-resonant.

The Debut Carbon EVO approaches this problem by using our proven 12” steel platter, now lined around the outer edge (bottom side) with an anti-resonant thermo-plastic elastomer (TPE). The result is a heavier platter with minimal noise over an expertly engineered main bearing and sub-platter.

The added rotational mass enhances the flywheel effect, yielding reduced wow & flutter and higher stability while damping resonance.

A Stable Stance

The Debut Carbon EVO benefits from the huge range of higher-level design elements Pro-Ject Audio has to offer, incorporating the special TPE-damping height-adjustable metal feet from our award winning X1 turntable. Not only do the vibration-absorbing feet help isolate the turntable, they are easy to adjust and leveling the turntable is now as simple as can be. A perfectly leveled, solid & stable platform is crucially important for proper vinyl playback.

Vibes We Don’t Want to Hear

Motors vibrate. That is a challenge for any turntable designer to overcome as those vibrations can transfer to the tonearm and cartridge, negatively affecting sound quality. The Debut Carbon EVO features a new motor suspension system, decoupling the motor from the plinth to reduce the transfer of vibration. The only vibes we want are in the record grooves. Leveraging advanced damping solutions with high-mass composite construction, we created the new motor suspension system using a steel plate and TPE decoupling to isolate the motor while ensuring the spindle is perfectly aligned with the sub-platter for impeccable speed stability and smooth transfer of rotational force.

No Need to Watch Your Speed

Many turntables utilize AC motors that rely on your power line to maintain the correct speed. Many are so erratic they have to provide speed-control which needs to be monitored and adjusted over time. Some high-end designs offer an additional, usually expensive external power controller to stabilize speed. The Debut Carbon Evolution implements a sophisticated onboard power control circuit that generates a very precise signal to ensure accurate and consistent speed regardless of power supply fluctuation. There’s no need for adjustment nor gimmicky lights and sliders. You can simply rely on spot-on accuracy. Given the increasing popularity of 9″ and high-quality 45rpm records (due to their superior sound stage), we have incorporated electronic speed change on the EVO. The electronic speed selection switch is cleverly integrated with the power rocker switch under the front left corner, which also maintains the sleek ergonomic design the Debut is known for.

Time for Evolution

The heavy, solid MDF plinth is painstakingly layered with eight coats of paint, available in finishes that look and feel luxurious. Debut Carbon EVO record player is crafted in traditional high-gloss black, white and red as well as in beautiful satin finishes including new soft pastel colors, satin black, and a real walnut veneer. Even the dust cover reflects a build quality beyond the typical entry-level turntable. Engineering and manufacturing are the culmination of decades of know-how, investment, and passion. We build our products for the love of music, knowing that they might be handed down to future generations along with lovingly curated record collections. We have taken our most beloved turntable design and improved nearly every aspect of it. The result is an incredibly refined product with a price/performance ratio that sets a new turntable standard.

Considerations for 78rpm Records

Debut Carbon EVO ships with 2 different drive belts. The flat belt is for 33 & 45rpm discs and is installed on the top/smaller diameter of the motor pulley. The round one is for 78rpm records only. It is designed for use with the larger/bottom pulley diameter with the differently shaped slot. Installing the 78rpm belt incorrectly compromises its integrity and may lead to breakage.

Additionally, please note that it’s also not advisable to play 78rpm records with the Rainier stylus. Being an elliptical diamond meant to track the ‘microgrooves’ of 33s & 45s, it will sound poor and cause undue harm to disc (and potentially the cartridge!). Sumiko has developed a 78 stylus for this very reason – now shipping! The stylus tracks the grooves properly and reduces the risk of harm to your collection. Keep in mind that Rainier is a stereo MM phono cartridge, meaning that its normal job is to transcribe 2 channels (left and right) of musical information. When using the 78 stylus with Rainier, what you’ll hear is the one channel of musical information (mono) of the 78 in both stereo channels.

Features

• 8.6″ one-piece carbon fiber tonearm
• Low-friction precision sapphire tonearm bearings
• Ortofon 2M Red phono cartridge, factory mounted and aligned
• Heavy 1.7kg steel platter w/ TPE damping
• Electronic speed selection for 33 & 45rpm (78rpm capable)
• TPE-damped motor suspension
• Premium gold-plated, chassis-mounted RCA jacks
• One continuous run of high-purity copper tonearm wire
• Shielded termination box
• Height-adjustable TPE-damped aluminum leveling feet
• Hinged adjustable dust cover
• 1.23m semi-balanced phono cable with dedicated ground wire
• 8-coat lacquered finish in 3 high gloss colors, 5 satin matte finishes or real walnut veneer
• Manufactured in the European Union

Specifications

• Speed: 33, 45/(78)rpm (electronic speed change)
• Drive principle: belt drive, electronic speed control
• Platter: 300mm, 1.7kg steel
• Platter damping: TPE damping ring and felt mat
• Main bearing: stainless steel, brass bushing
• Wow & flutter: 33: +/-0.19%; 45: +/-0.17%
• Speed drift: 33: +/-0.6%; 45: +/-0.7
• Signal to noise: 68dB
• Tonearm: 8.6″ carbon fiber one-piece tonearm tube
• Effective arm length: 218.5mm
• Effective arm mass: 6.0g
• Overhang: 18.5mm
• Included accessories: 15V DC / 0.8A power supply, dust cover
• Power consumption: 4W / 0W standby
• Dimensions: 415 x 113 x 320mm (WxHxD)
• Weight: 6kg net

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