Pro-ject Debut III turntable $299 with arm and cartridge
For a simple, inexpensive plug’n'play solution focused on sound quality (not features), this offering from Pro-ject is certainly worth considering. That’s $299 for a brand-new unit with a warranty, fully assembled and ready to play vinyl - all that’s needed is an appropriate receiver and speakers.
From Needledoctor’s blurb:
“The Pro-Ject Debut includes a pre-mounted Ortofon OM-5E moving magnet phono cartridge and is an excellent choice for the audiophile seeking a cost effective vinyl playback solution. A felt-covered steel platter mates to a chrome plated stainless-steel axle running in a brass bearing housing for exceptional speed stability and accuracy. The aluminum tonearm employs inverted hardened stainless-steel points for superior tracking with the supplied phono cartridge. A silicone-damped armlift is supplied.”
This is not going to “blow away” a good digital playback chain, but it will sound good and allow you to play those LP’s. And that’s the whole point. For someone in need of a complete system, the Pro-ject, with an HK 3485 receiver, and AV123 x-ls bookshelf speakers would be a complete system of separate components at just over $700, brand new.
Just bought a Debut III. After 10 hrs of listening, and comparing the LPs to CD versions I have (played on a tube CD player), I can say without prejudice, that the Debut III at worst, equals the CD player. Can it rival digital - no question in mind, that it does. And my Pioneer RT-909 R2R, I expect will outdo the turntable. Just have to find the equivalent recordings for a fair test.
Eric G.