Pro-Ject Xtension 10 Turntable Review

Now tweaked and upgraded, Paul Rigby reviews this belt-driven turntable
You can read the Xtension 10 review on my site here: theaudiophileman.com/xtension...
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THE VINYL WALL
Wondered what the vinyl is sitting on the shelves behind me? Here's a list in full. I've included links in case you'd like to purchase too. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I try to find the pressings I show here but, if I cannot find those, I'll try to source something close. Thank you.
Donovan - Donovan
UK - amzn.to/2TYift5
USA - amzn.to/2wifSbc
A Reminiscent Drive - Two Sides To Every StoryUSA - n/a
UK - amzn.to/2Qp8DoW
Ennio Morricone - Il Grande Silenzio
USA - amzn.to/3d78WP2
UK - amzn.to/38ZHYW9
Janus - Aunt Mary
UK - amzn.to/2Uft6xn
USA - amzn.to/33rUP2o
Wolfgang Orschakowski - Zippo Zetterlink in the Poor Sun
UK - amzn.to/2x2fair
USA - amzn.to/2TUVu9g
CREDITS
Old Bossa by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org/
REFERENCE
Funk Firm LSD turntable
Benz MC Gold cartridge
Pick-it DS2 cartridge
Icon PS3 phono amplifier
Aesthetix Calypso pre-amp
Icon Audio MB845 Mk.II monoblock amplifiers
Quad ESL-57 speakers with One Thing upgrade
Monitor Audio Silver 300 speakers
Tellurium Q Statement cables
Blue Horizon Professional Rack System
Harmonic Resolution Systems Noise Reduction Components
CAD GC1 Ground Controls
All vinyl was cleaned using an Audio Desk’s Ultrasonic Pro Vinyl Cleaner

[@RJW998]

I bought this deck in olive years ago for £1999 from a shop in the Custard Factory, Birmingham. Set it up with a 'just to get me going' Goldring Elektra, the cost of the deck having skinted me. This review made me go out recently and buy the Project TT power supply for £400, I think it was. Totally worth it, inky black soundstage a sense of space and airyness and precise treble placement the most noticeable improvements. Now fitted with a Goldring Eroica LH and that is me done with TTs. Thank you.

[@adrianmortimer3369]

Another cracking review, well researched and presented. Really enjoying the channel.

[@rudestrudedog]

Good Stuff! Thx from across the Pond. The info on the AC power supply is great.

[@carolineleonard8214]

I've sort of heard this had not in action. There were so many people chatting that I couldn't get my ears around its sound. Really pleased to listen/watch to your review. A lot of great into and a great evaluation. Now my question is only do I like its sound and think that it gives a high value beyond its price point. Thanks PR.

[@georgedoughly8682]

Very beautiful turntable! The platter is massive 😳

[@alfredoa.potthoff6709]

thank you for the excellent video!

[@sidvicious3129]

I have heard the Pro-ject Extension 10, the platter is the size of my VPI Classic 1. It’s a great sounding table with the electronic speed change. This table sounds better than most would guess.

[@snowpuppy77]

Good review. I am seriously considering the little brother of this turntable the Xtension 9 as it is closer to my budget. Will definitely want to see if I can add that power supply. Hopefully it would work with the Xtension 9.

[@thenow5559]

I recently bought Musuc Hall mmf 7.3, which has decoupled motor was wondering how this project compares to mmf 7.3.

[@enjoyunreality]

Hello thank you very much for your perfect Review. So my question is how does it compare to rega p8. Iam to buy a new tt and i am between project, rega and well tempered.

[@mattil.3678]

@theaudioman appreciate the review. Have you experimented with any other power supplies with Pro-Ject x-10 such as, Sbooster? Wondering how it may compare to the Upgraded Pro-ject PS.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

I haven't compared, no. I wanted to restrict the review to the Pro-Ject-supplied items to see if the company upgrade was worth it. That said, I will be looking at a SBooster, connected to a network player I'm due to look at soon. So I should be able to comment on that, at least in a general sense, then.

[@mattil.3678]

The Audiophile Man appreciate your kind reply. I’ll look for it, but by then, I’m sure I’ll have this pro-Ject hooked up to the Sbooster. Thanks again

[@mahasidha9]

Was considering it but went with the Pro-ject RPM 10 Carbon instead with their package which included the Sumiko Blackbird; the RPM 10 Carbon is considered the hot rod version.

[@wimpiethebunny2941]

Can you compare this to the Theron s 1601? which I've been researching. Thanks and i like your channel.

[@christiaanteunis2167]

Good review! Well done. Which phono pre amp and cartridge did you use? Kind regards Chris

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Thank you - please check the Reference list in the Description.

[@christiaanteunis2167]

@@TheAudiophileMan thank you

[@michaelpaul9672]

Fabulous overview of this tt. Question: One of the magnetic feet is different than the others (I think it holds more weight). Where does that one go? Front left? Rear right? etc?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Front-left, Michael.

[@michaelpaul9672]

thank you sir!

[@jurekwiater]

Thumbs up for the Aunt Mary Janus LP, great music, rare to find

[@mauricecorreia3674]

If purchasing the Xtension 10, would the Phone Box RS2 Phono Preamplifier a good compliment to the X10. Also do you think the Sumiko Starling cartridge is a good addition? Maurice

[@DancehallWashington1]

Great review. This is how reviews shoud be done. Did you have the chance listen to the smaller Pro-Ject Xtension 9 turntable?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Thank you for your kind words and not yet, I'm afraid. But I'll make a note, you never know... :)

[@MR-vg7yn]

I'm honestly pretty skeptical how a different power supply for the turn table should have that effect on sound. I mean, from your description, basically _everything_ about the sound changes. Sound stage improves, better bass, more balanced mids, more details in the harmonics. If I understand it correctly, the power supply is only used for the motor of the turn table and has no connection to the cartridge. I could understand if it resulted in a more accurate rotation speed, but I don't see how it should affect tonal balance or anything of the kind. That really seems like "hifi voodoo" to me, but I'd love to learn more, so can anyone actually explain how a different power supply for the motor is supposed to have these effects? And no, the typical "everything matters" is not an explanation, it's just the easiest way to avoid thinking about it. Also, if the effects really are that massive, they should also be very easy to confirm empirically: Shove the output of the player into a good audio interface, record both versions and compare. After all, basically _everything_ about the sound supposedly improves. That should be clearly be visible in the recorded audio tracks.

[@mostirreverent]

What possible effect would the power supply have if not wow and flutter changes

[@1kyrill]

SWPS or in general any digital active component radiates noise. SWPS injects the noise via its power cable into the AC system where the other audio components are connected to.

[@Villaboy78]

Price puts this alongside the Thorens TD1600 with the same quintet black cartridge... Totally different design philosophy. Which is your fave high end approach? Mass or suspension?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

I don't have one because I try to look at each turntable on a case by case basis and how that design implements the included features. Sometimes, sound quality is not a case of what tech is in there but how its been implemented and integrated.

[@tomwebb7091]

Hi there, i own the Thorens TD1600 and home demo'd the Signature 10 which is above this model here. The Signature 10 had the Cadenza Black fitted at the time of demo. It handily sounded better to me than the Roksan Xerxes 20 i tried which was too grey and flat for my liking. The Project/Cadenza is a big warm sounding deck almost matching its appearance. I rejected it on one performance point....low bass. There was copious amounts of it but it was leaden and wooly and poorly defined for the money. It was a real shame it didnt work out for me because i loved everything else about it. However the latest Thorens decks are brilliant... my old man had an LP12 which was the most musical device and i always wondered if a modern suspended design could cut the mustard. The Thorens is built stunningly, the arm and ease of use is fantastic. Its got a very bouncy fun sound but does all the hifi niceties well. It runs silent and the noise floor vs a sub 1k deck is notably different league. Its everything i wanted and more for a considerably lower price than the Project i tried. I would be going Thorens all day long. At the budget end i feel Project are outstanding. I use a Debut Pro in a second system thats so good im desperate to get an X model now!

[@pacislav]

Please review the Technics SL1200G. I would like to hear about this noise from the motor you are talking about!

[@TheAudiophileMan]

I sense some confusion here. I am not saying that the 1200 has a noisy motor. I'm talking about the associated, later sound effects from any turntable producing high torque. That is, the potential to veil and mask fine detail. Which is why, as I say, many turntables make a point of running in low torque mode.

[@RightWing1]

I have an Extension 10 bought not long after it came out, trust me there is NO NOISE from the motor, and this reviewer is talking nonsense. Yes the platter weighs a lot and getting up to speed is not like a cheap direct drive up to speed in seconds but this is my 3rd turntable going from Rega to Roksan to the Xtension10. When I went for the demo a few years ago now, I took a few of my favourite LP's and the system got hooked up throughout some pretty tasty Roksan amps and a few K's worth of speakers. When my LP's started playing the store stopped in its tracks and even the staff said that was the best they had ever heard from the gear they typically sold (i.e the cheaper Project and Roksan gear). Things I bought it for: Digital speed control instead of faffing about with moving belts on pulleys, a high performing arm in Carbon fibre, a nice solid turntable dust cover, gorgeous olive plinth, great performance for money, back when I bought mine it was £2500 not the £K plus it retails for now, it blew away other turntables at this price point. This reviewer spent all the time talking and not showing, I wouldn't hold my breath on taking his word for all the waffle. Not sure whether the external power supply adds anything or not I've not felt the need to add to my system over than what it came with, I would probably spend more on a better cartridge to be honest.

[@garrardzero1]

The motor seems to be not seperated from the plint. Does it produce rumble? Is it completly silent? Nice review!

[@TheAudiophileMan]

I had no issues of that nature during the review so, yep, should be fine on that score.

[@Kevin-the-Just]

Are you able to explain how the change in power supply made such a difference to the sound? Was the switch mode supply emitting EM radiation and interfering with the signal perhaps?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hi Kevin - on a general note, to begin, it depends on the implementation of the switch mode power supply and I don't have intimate details of this model. Some new switch modes are quite advanced and can be used successfully on their own or when partnering other power supplies. Companies like Moon and Gold Note are currently doing this. So yes, some are noisy and noise might be an issue here but I think the sheer size, extra guts and push that the new supply provides is a big factor. The new supply is, I have to also add, low noise in terms of its inherent design.

[@donk1822]

Hi Kevin. The power supply on any component, regardless of its function, will likely be the easiest to skimp on, but is probably the most important item to get right. Think of the supply from the PS as the most important input, one that will determine how well the other components can do their jobs. The old, garbage in, garbage out mantra, begins with the quality of the PS.

[@terrychaput9211]

Hi Boss. Do all Xtension 10s come with an external power supply now or only for Ireland and the UK?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Let me check with Pro-Ject for you, Terry.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

And that was quick - the company just got back to me. As for that updated power supply then yes, UK and Ireland only.

[@terrychaput9211]

Thank you so much!! Keep up the great work!!!!

[@mikemjm8705]

Better sound than the RPM 10?

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Hi Mike - I'd stick with the Xtension, especially with the new power supply.

[@mikemjm8705]

@@TheAudiophileMan ok thanks my local shop in Toronto has the Xtension 9 for sale.

[@jonparsons363]

An interesting review Paul. I have an irrational distaste for Pro-ject for no apparent reason. This is based on zero personal auditions, so well done me! Maybe it's because they have become such a big player in the market - that ought to be a good thing I suppose.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

I hear you, Jon - we all have preconceived ideas about brands based upon personal bias, previous experience, aesthetics and many other imponderables. I'm exactly the same. This has even happened to me before reviews, "Huh, don't like the look of this," says I. And then I'll be raving about how good it is after a sound test :)

[@jonparsons363]

I know I’m doing it, I know it’s stupid and I still do it. Don’t start me on PMC! I have at least heard some demos, which were impressive - I promise to try to kerb these crazy reactions from now on 😀

[@Lee.Higginbotham]

I can't get past that hanging weight for the anti skate. I read it would fall off or the line could break plus the location of the plant. Also read about quality problems. But quality problems seems rampant in the turn table industry.

[@mikegemmati8658]

Lucian Higginbotham I’ve had this tt for about 7 years now. The antiskate line has never fallen off unless you mess around with it. Other high end tt manufacturers use this method too. The only issue I ever had with it was with the early dustcovers. They weren’t quite deep enough. If you closed the lid with a record on the platter, the dustcover would just barely clip the edge of the record as it’s being closed. At some point afterwards, Pro-ject must have realized this and they made the dustcover about an eight of an inch deeper and so it’s no longer as issue. As far as it’s mass is concerned, its very effective against feedback. I have a dual 15” subwoofer sitting no more than a foot away from the tt, and I’ve never gotten any feedback , even with the volume cranked way up! With all that being said, my Xtension10 looks and sounds as good as it did on day one.

[@meropealcyone]

Your voice sounds like Peter Purves's. I kept expecting to cut to a scene of John Noakes scaling Nelson's Column or being mauled by an angry gorilla while yelling at Shep.

[@wimpiethebunny2941]

Why no power supply in North America?

[@Schubeedoobee]

THE GREAT SILENCE

[@rickc661]

late here. Project is generally in expensive ? ummm..... And , a bit interesting, compare this tech theory with Regas plastic things....

[@stephencarter9385]

Did you actually have this turntable? There's no evidence that this video is anything more than corporate bumph with a number of still photos of a variety of turntables.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

I'll take that as a compliment, thank you. Of the - at a rough guess, I might be out on one or two - 23 images of the reviewed turntable featured in this video, 17 (give or take a photo) are mine. So that's a boost to my (very) amateur photography skills :) When any KZbin channel begins it evolves before your eyes. I tend to learn a lot by 'doing' so my presenting, my video production, editing, photography, content variation, etc have (hopefully) improved over the months. Some changes are behind the scenes but still... And this Pro-Ject video was completed after only 6 months of this channel being live. So I was (and am) learning fast. Also, I'm not a full time KZbinr so cannot devote as much time to my channel as others can. As a full-time journalist, I also spend a lot of time adding content to my website ( theaudiophileman.com ) and I write for national UK, news-stand magazines in the fields of hi-fi and music. So my KZbin channel improvements are possibly not as fast I would like. Nevertheless, I have tried to enhance my videos. As you can see here, I now have a Closer Look, hands-on section in which you can see me pawing at the hifi in question and addressing the features of the same: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHmVmKuFhKuZbKc Hope that fully explains your issue.

[@christinearmington]

Lovely

[@1061shrink1061]

I'm sorry... i'm an audiophile of some 20 years now, but how on earth do you correlate a power supply change (who's only job is to supply power to spin the platter), having any effect whatsoever on the sound quality that comes from the vinyl, via the cartridge and out the turntable. Does the new power supply spin 33rpm better than the other power supply? does the new power supply somehow remove a link between itself and the arm that i'm unaware of. literally the thing making the noise (the cart) has no mechanical, electrical or magnetic connection to the power supply in any shape fashion of form. This kind of audiophile nonsense needs to stop, as its misleading, misrepresenting, and untrue. Ditto about the clamp at the end. Again, it's only purpose is to flatten out slightly warped records. It doesn't touch the playing part of the record, and it doesn't interact with the cartridge. I'd like to see reviewers like this back up a single one of these comments with even the tiniest supported measurement to back it up. Which of course, is utterly impossible.

[@TheAudiophileMan]

Thanks for your message and I'll be happy to explain - although I reckon you won't like it or even agree :) Even so, I will offer one reply at least. I'm rather pushed for time right now: video editing, writing reviews, sound testing, etc but I try my best to offer at least one reply when I can. Firstly, having been in the HiFi industry for many years and worked under editors who use measurements, listening panels, blind testing et al, I have zero trust in their abilities to tell the entire story of 'sound'. They are immensely helpful as a secondary, an adjunct to a review but that's it. I know lots of people disagree with me - and I guess you will be one of those - but that's my view. Secondly, the record clamp was not invented to remove warping and, if that was the case, it is badly designed to do that job. It is there to remove/damp vibration and it is but one of many tools that look to do it. Thirdly, in HiFi *everything matters* in terms of affecting sound. Never discount *anything*, no matter how bizarre you may initially view it. A poor power supply is bad for many reasons. Just one example? It will introduce vibration into the turntable ecosystem. Initially into the motor but then into the plinth, then the platter, then the arm and finally the cartridge. That will veil subtle detail. Then that will transfer back into the vinyl, then the platter, then the plinth and around we go in a never-ending loop. Allied to vibration is high-frequency noise which power supplies also carry in a parasitic fashion, partly from its poor inherent build but also from poor cabling and cheap and nasty power blocks. Both vibration and high-frequency noise are the enemies of the turntable. This is why designers fret about tonearm construction. This is why platter mats exist. This is why isolation feet on the plinth exist. This is why...well, you get the picture I'm sure. Hope that helps. If not? I'd advise a quick look at this video about choosing the critic for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3-6pnhjZt55gJo

[@hr1100]

If you don't put your hands on it it's more of a prophecy than a review.