Pro-ject RPM 5.1 turntable

My choice for my first tt. I wanted something intermediate, not entry level but not even too expensive. Actually I was looking for a Technics 1200 Mk II but they went out of production just before I could buy one. So I looked for a good belt drive, 100% manual machine. I considered also a Rega P2, but the cost was a bit higher, and I decided for the Pro-Ject.





Tonearm and counterweight details:




Motor and belt:


It is very simple, but it doesn't look like a toy at all. You get the feeling of a sturdy and dependable machine. The plinth and the platter are made of MDF. The tonearm is the Project 9cc model, a one piece carbon unit (the older version had a detachable aluminum headshell).
It has two speeds, 45 and 33; in order to change speed, you have to position the flat rubber belt in one of the two steps of the pulley. The tt comes with two mats: a cork one and a felt one. The cork mat is more dense and produces more high frequencies with a snappy sound; the felt mat has less high frequencies and a more relaxed sound.
Overall the construction quality is very good; the only cheap parts are the RCA cable, which is thin and short (less than 3 feet), and the plastic 45 adapter.
The cord holding the anti-skate weight is made of thin nylon, but that's a thing you don't have to fiddle with

I have about 100 hours on it so far, and I'm happy. It sounds literally great, big and precise, very neutral and unforgiving, thanks to the Denon dl-110 cartridge. As for the sound stage, I don't feel it's large, but that's because of my music room, which is very narrow; otherwise I'm really satisfied.

Wow, that looks great! Pro-ject turntables always get good reviews, I'm sure it sounds awesome.

I like the look of the table; the large platter and the carbon fiber arm.

Very nice!

Wow, that looks great! Pro-ject turntables always get good reviews, I'm sure it sounds awesome.

I like the look of the table; the large platter and the carbon fiber arm.

Very nice!

Thanks Yeah, it looks amazing, very neat, I liked it at first glance. The tonearm is very light (8 gr mass) and distinctive. Pro-Ject makes outstanding quality TTs with very competitive prices (at least in Europe).