Pro-Ject X8 Evolution "Deep Dive" Video Review!

[@danashay]

Nice to see you again, Mikey. I waited a long time for this review, and who better to do it! Really drawn to this one, soon!

[@amysarg]

Awesome to see a video review! Not because I don’t like to read, but because Michael is so engaging on camera. More like this please! Fantastic

[@amysarg]

To be clear, I read the text review on Tracking Angle first!

[@kirmussaudio7578]

You can see and feel his passion!

[@leonardosullivan963]

Thanks Michael another great video. I am again considering upgrading my current Turntable- project classic, that l have have had since 2016. I was encouraged having read the recent review of the X8 on the Tracking Angle site and again watching when watching this video. It’s my 60th Birthday on 29th Sept, and l will be looking to add this to my wish list go forward.

[@ccarney1126]

This review has come at a great time for me. I’m in the market to upgrade and his is probably exactly what I need.

[@analoguecity3454]

What a magnificent piece of work/art! Absolute beauty 😍!

[@georgealanlpsandcds9311]

Hey Michael, thanks for the great overview of this turntable - I have a Pro-Ject Debut right now and have been looking to upgrade - may consider this ✌.

[@hotter99999]

Brilliant Michael, more please !

[@Leicaphile27]

Always interesting...always helpful!

[@therevrockinrollin]

The cinematography is awesome

[@trackingangle929]

Not

[@therevrockinrollin]

@@trackingangle929 come on - through the glass!

[@biketech60]

Our River City Audio Society got to hear music played on this turntable into a Project phono stage and the sound was outstanding . Unsure of cartridge was installed . I've always been a direct drive , linear tracking fan , but with no new ones to be had this is a solid possibility . It sounds like it should cost more . Very few turntables offer balanced output , but this does .

[@LS-ti6jo]

The mass loading seems similar to Feickert's Volare table. But Project has wisely chosen to not use pointed conical feet unlike Feickert, and also comes with a manual (unlike the Volare)! Looks like a much better value.

[@carmenandthedevil2804]

Whats wrong with pointed conical feet?

[@edc.3761]

Nice presentation of this product, succint and very informative.

[@ptg01]

So good to see Pro-Ject have relatively high performing TT at 'reasonable' price points. Too bad USA is not getting the Quintet Blue cartridge.

[@trackingangle929]

You can order the turntable w/o cartridge and add your cartridge choice.

[@ptg01]

@@trackingangle929 Ah.... forgot about that ! Looking forward to your review of the balanced Pro-Ject phono pre-amp ! Love the fact that I think with a truly balanced phono pre-amp, grounding is a non issue (??)

[@bjwal6]

Great review!

[@ivansbacon]

I wish they would make a removable head shell for cart swapping.

[@danashay]

Hear! Hear!

[@jj4996]

Great video! Any way you can do a video on how to fully adjust this arm or point me to a good video on how. I just picked this TT up and ned to fully adjust it.

[@klaymoon1]

Great review. Did you review the main feature of this turntable? Being true balanced design per Pro-ject? I wonder using the true balanced preamp really made a big difference.

[@hoobsgroove]

I have to correct your on something when you said the shortness of the spindle the less contact no would be more, it's the other way around the longer the spindle the spindle as less contact with its mating surfaces, and has more stability. you can test this with your fingers if you take your three fingers on one hand and on the other hand your index finger weave it slide it in between the two bottom fingers and a top finger keeping your fingers tight together and wiggle your finger from the other hand, now widen the other two fingers from the other hand do same experiment, you find your finger will not move as easy. another thing with the lifting magnet it pulls it of the spindle centre to one side, better approach would be to have a triangle at the bottom and a triangle cup on the bottom of the platter and have to surface magnets on each opposing each other that way it would be kept centre with the magnetic field and no sliding of the magnetic field. try the blackbird horizontal uni pivot arm it's a great arm, could be the best in the world? very affordable. I'm assuming you haven't tried it?? have a good day nice video

[@DanielHog13]

Good stuff Mike. 👍

[@Maxnww]

Thank you for a great review. Pro-Ject X8 Evolution vs MoFi UltraDeck ?

[@vitortavares5759]

If I'm not wrong, the X8 doesn't have metal spheres inside the plinth

[@Labor_Jones]

Suggested Listening Speed - 1.75 Review: I learned a lot in very little time about turntables I didn't get from nay I say 100s of KZbin on this topic alone. Appreciate the INFO and coverage time was great. - m.

[@cjay2]

1.75? Let's just get rid of all humanity in the presentation, because your time is just so damned VALUABLE.

[@georgebartolo8856]

How does it compare to the clear audio concept ?

[@elmhurst86]

I've been wanting this since it came out. It's a great price. Except that I just found a brand new X2 for $1248 and I'm now wondering if the extra $1200 or so for the X8 is worth it. Thanks for the review though. I'll have to think about this.

[@toddm9342]

curious as well!

[@joshuakarp2586]

So there's a big price jump to the X9 and X10 (and 12). Do you think it's worth spending more on those than the X8?

[@davidjames9143]

So if I purchase the X8 along with their DS3 phono pre and upgrade to a MC cartridge. Do I connect the DS3 via XLR to my one XLR input on my McIntosh C8 tube preamp and not use the phono inputs on my preamp?

[@polarbear3427]

...and I keep wondering why 0.11 % wow & flutter is considered low, whereas my old cheap Technics DD does 0.025. 73dB s/n is all right but not better either.

[@DC-xx4kv]

Michael. I’m still dumbstruck that the makers of any, let alone high end, turntables use a felt mat. Any felt mat will cause more static in my experience. It’s a simple physics issue. Unless one is scratching, and why use this turntable for such an antiquated purpose, why a felt mat? Can’t understand it.

[@trackingangle929]

It's "tradition" I guess. I don't like them much either. It's easy enough to replace.

[@DC-xx4kv]

@@trackingangle929 trust me, ever since my first Technics direct drive turntable in 1980, was 18 and had to save up the money, I’ve only high quality rubber mats. And yes mats affect the tone of the records. Personal experimentation. Thx. ☮️

[@DanielHog13]

Pro-ject EXPECTS most will utilize their personal FAV mat so I agree w/ their logic to have something out of the box.

[@polarbear3427]

A manual "scratch your record" armlift?

[@moogoomoogoo5990]

If the platter is aluminum, how does the magnetic field affect it since aluminum is not a ferrous metal?

[@vitortavares5759]

The center of the platter is not aluminum. See the vídeo!

[@joanjones3937]

Tracking angle email contact not working. Evidently don't want feedback

[@kirmussaudio7578]

Excellent explanations of the engineering found in the design. Can you cover in a future review mats?

[@Schueyjr]

Anyone have a link to a nice "din to xlr balance cable" he talks about at 7:40?

[@joanjones3937]

The x8 doesn't have the alloy ballast in the plinth, but I believe the x9 does. Misinformation in the review.

[@kenknight5983]

A great product. Puts the I in aluminium

[@spittindatruthaboutrecords9421]

is this the best i can do in the 2k price range?

[@trackingangle929]

I try to not traffic in “best”. The X8 is surely among the best at the price point. Choosing it would not be a mistake.

[@spittindatruthaboutrecords9421]

@@trackingangle929 if you had 2500 thats what you would buy? im upgrading from my system deck IIX and i want to make the right choice,, or should i save for a better table? will it not be that big of a upgrade?

[@joanjones3937]

Sorry Mike. X8 does have the balls.

[@REX4340]

Finally, some good content! How about making it even more interesting by adding a sound demo?

[@trackingangle929]

Once the website can embed audio I will do that….

[@jerryandlisa27]

is it better than the technics 1200g?

[@trackingangle929]

Have not directly compared so can't responsibly say.

[@polarbear3427]

of course not,

[@vintagestereocollector3415]

Very Nice But No thanks spending that big amount of cash that would make me feel like I'm already retired and will make me feel like an old man already sitting in that room for hours and hours listening to music like its the end of life .In reality this things makes your life slowing down.

[@trackingangle929]

Yours is among the weirdest comments ever on either of my channels. After sitting for hours I go to the gym.

[@danashay]

Go Mikey!

[@christinearmington]

I’m retired, so, yeah . . . 🤦‍♀️😆

[@JohnnyFriendly]

I think the intention is to simply get good sound and behaviour, neither of which come with cheap decks. In the vinyl world you DO have to spend money and there's no getting around this fact. Besides, I doubt anyone sits in a room for hours on end listening to records. Most of us have a variety of interests/activities. The point is that when you do want to listen to a record, its nice to have something that sounds good and works well - and you have to pay for that.

[@artyfhartie2269]

I use chewing gum to isolate my turntable and myself from the outside wórld

[@trackingangle929]

Hasn’t worked

[@vintagestereocollector3415]

Almost 3 Grand = Debt!!! Lol 😂