Pro-Ject Debut III Référence
Belt-driven turntable by Pro-Ject, fitted with a one-piece aluminium tonearm and an Ortofon OM5E cartridge, for vinyl enthusiasts seeking simplicity and sound quality.
Description
The Debut III Référence is a manual belt-drive turntable, designed by Pro-Ject. It allows playback of 33 and 45 rpm records, with manual speed change by moving the belt on the motor pulley. This turntable follows in the tradition of the Debut range, introduced in the late 1990s, designed to offer an affordable entry point into the world of turntables.
The synchronous motor, powered separately, is suspended at four points to limit the transmission of vibrations to the platter. The tonearm, made from a single piece of aluminium with ruby pivots, is fitted on this version with the Ortofon OM5E cartridge, a moving magnet (MM) model with an elliptical diamond stylus and 1/2 inch mount, delivering an output level of 4 mV. The steel platter weighs 1.3 kg, and the whole unit rests on absorbent feet. The turntable has a wow and flutter figure of 0.25%, a signal-to-noise ratio of 65 dB, as well as a speed stability of +/- 1.5%. The effective tonearm length is 218.5 mm.
This turntable is aimed at music lovers discovering or rediscovering vinyl listening, looking for a first system that is simple to use, without complex adjustments, yet offering a factory-fitted cartridge of recognised quality. It is suited to a living room setup paired with a phono preamplifier or an amplifier with a dedicated input.
Technical specifications
| Wow and flutter | 0.25% |
| Signal to noise ratio | 65 dB |
| Speed stability | +/- 1.5% |
| Effective tonearm length | 218.5 mm |
| Cartridge type | moving magnet (MM) |
| Output level | 4 mV |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 415 x 118 x 320 mm |
| Weight | 5.6 kg |
What to check before buying used
The Ortofon OM5E cartridge supplied as standard deserves close inspection: after several years of use, the diamond stylus may be worn or replaced with a non-conforming version, which directly affects playback quality. Check the condition of the drive belt, which is prone to ageing and loss of elasticity, leading to speed variations. Also check the alignment of the tonearm and the absence of play in the ruby pivots, as well as the proper functioning of the absorbent feet and the motor suspension.
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