Pro-Ject ‘True Balanced Connection’ Turntable and Phonostage Demo

In this video, Howard attends a private demonstration of Pro-Ject’s ‘True Balanced Connection’ Turntables and Phonostages. The pop-up event was in held in the fashionable Café Kitsune, located in Brooklyn, New York. While at the demo, Howard and Jeff Coates, from Pro-Ject’s distributor Finesounds Americas, examined the new products and discussed the benefits of using a balanced audio connection from a turntable to a phono stage. Of course, Howard also got to hear a True Balanced Connection system in action.
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Howard’s article on the demo for Sound & Vision magazine: www.soundandvision.com/conten...
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[@danielrockwater6829]

For some time now I have been interested in the work and products that the brand pro-ject is making. It seems to me that they have very innovative and interesting solutions and at very reasonable prices for the benefits they offer. I think it is a brand that will be taking more and more force in the world of high quality audio. Thank you for the video 👌🏻

[@thelisteningchair_]

Indeed--very high bvalue products and really good sound. Thanks!

[@tomwebb7091]

Where have you been sleeping? Pro-Ject sell more turntables than any other manufacturer worldwide and have done so for some time now!

[@ccarney9019]

Thanks for this. I am seriously thinking about a project x 8 turntable. The reviews have been great.

[@thelisteningchair_]

Our pleasure, thanks. Hard to see how you could go wrong! Happy holidays.

[@NYAudioGuru]

I like the infinitely variable loading. How do you know what the optimum setting is?

[@KeviNissan]

Nice vid. The new X2 B TT from project has a 5 pin mini XLR output (that is what the B stands for)

[@AhitagniDasgupta]

❤️❤️❤️

[@shawnwiley6762]

Nice 😎

[@thelisteningchair_]

Thanks brother!

[@andydogdixon1]

I do have a question. I’ve noticed there are tables priced many tens of thousands of dollars that are not balanced. If indeed balanced makes that big of a difference why don’t all of these have it?

[@thelisteningchair_]

Good question Mark. A number of high end tables do feature a balanced connection. It's even more common for pro audio gear. But it's kind of like balanced connections in general on amps, source components, etc. Some manufacturers offer them and some don't. Such connections definitely excel at noise reduction. Some companies say they can reduce noise in other ways. Some peeople prefer the sound of a balanced conenction, others prefer single-ended. Lots of different ways to get to the same place in this hobby.

[@andydogdixon1]

@@thelisteningchair_ Thank you Howard. Yes, I can see what you mean and I understand and thanks for pointing this out. Your response was definitely helpful and appreciated. Best, Mark in Charlotte 🎅🏻👍🏼

[@thelisteningchair_]

@@andydogdixon1Happy holidays Mark to you and your family. I hope it's not too cold in Carlotte tonight!

[@hameleon80]

Why we couldn’t see how you connected 😒only Bla Bla 😒

[@AT-wl9yq]

Turntables are not balanced. The only piece of electronics on a TT is the phono cartridge. All stereo phono cartridges with 4 output pins are balanced. Since virtually 100% of all stereo cartridges sold have 4 pins, every single person who owns a turntable already has a balanced phono cartridge. If you want balanced operation, all you need to do is replace your existing tonearm cable with a balanced cable. That's it. You will, of course, need a balanced phono preamp, and there are plenty of them on the market if you don't already have one. Given all that, I wouldn't but the turntable and phono stage in this video. Why? Because of the proprietary connections. Using a special DIN connection for the phono cart to the phono pre means you can't upgrade or change anything in the future. Making one change will require you to replace your entire analog front end, not just the piece you want to upgrade. The reason you don't see too many turntable setups with balanced operation, is at the lower price points, there are more important things to worry about. Balanced is better and its nice to have, but getting a balanced phono preamp over a single ended phono pre with better parts quality and design, is foolish. But if you have to have it, you can upgrade any time you want by getting a new phono preamp and cable. No need to replace your TT and cart.

[@tomwebb7091]

Theres so much misunderstanding and misinformation here its laughable