SWEET THIS WILL GET THE YOUNGER CROWD INTO VINYL. SMART MOVE ON THEIR BEHALF. I AM IN AND OUT OF RECORD SHOPS IN BROOKLYN .THEY ALL SAY THERE IS NO WAY I WANT TO SPEND 900 DOLLARS ON A NEW TURN TABLE.CHEERS TO PROJECT AND U TURN AUDIO FOR GETTING THEM INTO THE FOLD .
Pro-Ject Announces Major Line Re-Vamp-Upgrade at 2014 International CES (YouTube Video Enhanced)
Pro-Ject announced at CES 2014 a major line upgrade. We have a GoPro video covering all of it but because of pathetic internet speed we are unable to post at this time. It might have to wait until after CES.
For now, here are the details: The $199 Elemental is now in full production. This is an "out of the box" ready to play 'table complete with Ortofon OM-5 cartridge. The intent is to kill the grew chewing Crosely junk by convincing budget buyers that spending $60 on a turntable and $30 on a 180g version of Dark Side of the Moon is DUMB.
The $299 Essential 'table, which used to be fitted with a unipivot arm now comes with the arm originally used on the Debut. The problem was that dealers had trouble setting up a unipivot.
The RPM 1 is now the RPM 1 Carbon. The 'table's "S" shaped arm is now made of an aluminum/carbon fiber sandwich that is said to greatly improve damping while the carbon fiber increases stiffness. Pro-Ject CEO and founder Heinz Lichtenegger says the sandwich technique will find its way into other Pro-Ject tonearms.
Also new is the Expression Carbon's arm now has a more massive gimbal housing similar to Xtension line and features a decoupled counterweight and comes with an exclusive Ortofon Silver cartridge,which is an Ortofon Blue but wound with silver coils. The Expression features an aluminum platter similar to the one found on the bigger Xtension 'table, only somewhat less massive. The new Expression Carbon will sell for approximately $900.
The Xtension line has a new model as well: the Xtension9. This is similar to the Xtension10 currently under review. It is similar to 10 but somewhat downgraded in terms of bearing, platter size and electronic motor control system. it is pictured above and will cost $2300 including dust cover and five color choices.
Watch the video for more:
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COMMENTS
"The $199 Elemental is now in
Submitted by CCFK on Wed, 2014-01-08 12:46
"The $199 Elemental is now in full production. This is an "out of the box" ready to play 'table complete with Ortofon OM-5 cartridge. The intent is to kill the grew chewing Crosely junk by convincing budget buyers that spending $60 on a turntable and $30 on a 180g version of Dark Side of the Moon is DUMB."
++++++++++++++++
No, I don't believe I'm wrong to say that the intent is to kill U-Turn's Orbit. Oddly enough, U-Turn suddenly can't get Ortofon cartridges. One can only wonder how that would happen.
But You Are Wrong!
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Wed, 2014-01-08 23:19
The Elemental has been in pre-production for a year. The intent was to produce a Crosely-killer (and good riddance to that), not to kill U-Turn's Orbit. I do not know why U-Turn can't get Ortofon cartridges but I seriously doubt Pro-Ject can tell Ortofon to whom it can sell OM-5s!
A whole year? Given that the
Submitted by CCFK on Fri, 2014-01-10 14:35
A whole year? Given that the Orbit was announced in December 2012 and had substantial backing by early January of 2013, I'd be a little more circumspect before claiming that Pro-Ject wasn't looking at U-Turn. I'm skeptical that any manufacturer would seriously believe that people buying Crosleys are suddenly going to buy a turntable which requires the purchase of additional components. And if you don't think a large manufacturer can dictate parts availabiilty to other manufacturers you've missed out on at least a hundred years of manufacturing history.
I doubt that the U-turn Orbit
Submitted by Jay on Thu, 2014-01-09 04:36
I doubt that the U-turn Orbit is a big consideration for Project as U-turn products aren't available outside of the US and Canada.
That was the first thing I
Submitted by lifelive88 on Wed, 2014-01-08 14:44
That was the first thing I was thinking when I read this artical. Its okay though, U-Turn is using Audio-Technica and Grado carts now.
Are we seeing...
Submitted by Stu Morgenstern on Wed, 2014-01-08 17:26
the beginnings of a price war to capture market share? Start a new customer off with your entry level item and then work to step him up to accessories and better models. Build brand loyalty from the bottom up.
Better models or...
Submitted by FormatOmnivore on Thu, 2014-01-09 02:10
Dealers can offer existing customers better models or, for those who can't afford a whole new turntable, upgrade kits, which is where Rega seems to have the edge at the moment.
There seems to be many more aftermarket modifications for Rega than Pro-Ject turntables, some of which I have installed and very much appreciated.
Pro-Ject Upgrades
Submitted by Paul Boudreau on Thu, 2014-01-09 05:07
I've spent $700 on upgrades for my $500 Debut III USB (speed box, platter, interconnects, stylus & record weight), all from Pro-Ject (except the stylus). What other sorts of upgrades does Rega offer?
700 bucks?
Submitted by FormatOmnivore on Thu, 2014-01-09 05:56
I appear to be mistaken about what's available for Pro-Ject decks!
My mistake - I've naturally paid more attention to the modifications that pertain to my own turntable and not noticed the options for others as much.
As for my own table, I've upgraded the bearing, subplatter, platter, mat, counterweight, counterweight mounting stub, isolation feet and cartridge, as and when I could afford to. I couldn't, at any of those times, have afforded a whole new turntable, so the updrade path is very welcome.
Interesting, thanks.
Submitted by Paul Boudreau on Fri, 2014-01-10 04:53
Sometimes an upgrade path is preferable, especially for those of us who can't plunk down a large amount of money at once. The educational possibilities are also there since you can hear what each change does or doesn't do to the sound.
Tell me about it .I just
Submitted by Russo7516 on Thu, 2014-01-09 15:50
Tell me about it .I just replace my RP3/24 -sub platter with a Grove Tracer Sub platter plus a new white belt . I could have brought a new TT lol . But it is nice to see some good stuff being made . New that is ! I been collecting vinly since I was a teen and I am now 44. So I saw the rise and fall of the LP. Glad it is back .(not that it went anywhere Thanks to Mr. Fremer.)
"price war?"
Submitted by Lazer on Wed, 2014-01-08 21:54
A price war on audiophile equipment, even entry level turntables is a good thing! It means demand is increasing, and company's are willing to fight for this expanding market demand. If entry-level demand increases, prices at all levels will will come down; conversely, quality will go up!! That's COOL!
I'm not sure
Submitted by Lazer on Thu, 2014-01-09 22:35
I'm not sure I agree completely with my earlier post. While basic Econ says increased demand leads to increase in prices, economies of scale responding to increases in demand leads to lower prices. That was my initial thinking. However, I don't think decreases in price and quality improvements at the entry -level will lead to the same response at the high- end. Why? Psychology, some people will not buy a lower price product even when the sound is better, especially when one is a filthy rich snob.
This is a great thing.
Submitted by atomlow on Thu, 2014-01-09 06:47
Seriously let's get rid of Crosley. I have more and more people ask me what turntable to buy and most don't want to spend more than $100 (you know how that goes) but I feel more comfortable steering people to the U Turn or a Pro-Ject. The arm looks better (more sturdy) on the Elemental which I assume is good thing. Another draw back with the U Turn is you'll have to have a scale to set the tracking force. Is this the same with the Elemental?
On Crosley Junk
Submitted by d grady on Thu, 2014-01-09 07:17
One of the main propigators of the Crosley plague has been Urban Outfitters- young hipster kids understandably wanting to try something different than laptop speakers.
So I thought I'd check what some of the self-designated hipster rags have to say about vinyl.
What I came across was perhaps one of the biggest half-assed hatchet jobs I've ever read. (Apologies if this has been posted before).
http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/29-vinyl-records-and-digital-audio/
Some highlights:
"One thing that was not in question, especially in the early days, is that CDs sounded better than LPs."
"The consensus was that CDs had gone a long way toward "solving" sound"
"The "warmth" that many people associate with LPs can generally be described as a bass sound that is less accurate."
I'm just bloody astounded. If you had to pick a 'Rolling Stone' for this generation, it'd be Pitchfork- and they're propigating crap like that.
I'm so glad I grew up surrounded by folks who were objective, set the speakers and source up and said "What do you think?"
Hey, don't knock the Hipsters!
Submitted by FormatOmnivore on Fri, 2014-01-10 02:14
Sooner or later these fashion-led poseurs will find a new fad to embrace, and our second-hand record shops will then be full of nice, new, rarely-played, audiophile reissue 180g LPs.
So hurray for the hipsters! As long as their Crosleys haven't totally knackered the records, that is.
The hipsters-phenomenon,
Submitted by d grady on Fri, 2014-01-10 13:06
The hipsters-phenomenon, which is just the 21st century homogenizing all worldwide youth culture in a scarily efficient manner, does not bother me.
Its premise, rightly so, is that some things are cooler than others. Which is a prime example of something we all know as fact, but can't empirically prove.
What does bother me is the half-truths and lazy journalism being presented as fact in a publication that greatly influences the next generation of record buying public.
More kids buying more vinyl is better for everyone- there is the distinct possibility we could be on the precipice of another golden age of analog playback. I don't want kids to feel like analog playback is some kind of confidence trick.
I know it's silly of me: but I wish Mr. Fremer would contact the folks at Pitchfork with a retort to that article.
Nice article!
Submitted by Paul Boudreau on Fri, 2014-01-10 05:03
Here's another tidbit from it: "And every possible measurement of the sounds-- which are, after all, vibrations in the air that are quantifiable-- suggested that CDs were superior to LPs." Yup, we don't listen to music - we measure it. It's amazing to me that so many people seem to think that science is finished, which in this case would mean that sound is perfectly quantifiable since we can now measure everything about it (of course people thought that thirty years ago, too).
(my italicization & bolding)
Pro-Ject RPM1 Carbon Availability Date
Submitted by Montrouges on Wed, 2014-01-15 14:29
Do we know when the new Pro-Ject RPM1 Carbon will be available in the US and at what price?
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