Pro-Ject X-Tension 10 Evolution
22 kg high-mass turntable from Pro-Ject, fitted with a 10-inch straight tonearm and playing 33, 45 and 78 rpm, intended for demanding analogue systems.
Description
The X-Tension 10 Evolution is a manual, high-mass turntable built around an MDF chassis loaded with metal sand. This combination of materials aims for a heavy structure with low susceptibility to resonance, on which the entire playback system rests. It accepts the three common speeds, 33, 45 and 78 revolutions per minute, opening it up to both modern records and older pressings.
The main plinth is decoupled from its base by aluminium feet with magnetic suspension, complemented by Sorbothane dampers: two magnets housed in the feet leave the assembly almost levitating, combining high-mass loading with a floating sub-chassis. The 300 mm, 5.7 kg platter is made from an aluminium alloy damped with Sorbothane on its inner face, covered with bonded recycled vinyl acting as a mat, and then balanced. It rotates on an inverted ceramic ball bearing with magnetic support, driven by a silicone round belt and a synchronous motor controlled by an integrated Speed Box DS. The stated figures reflect this pursuit of stability:
- Wow and flutter: ±0.01% maximum
- Platter speed variation: ±0.08%
- Signal-to-noise ratio: -73 dB
The 10-inch straight tonearm sits on a base that itself follows the high-mass principle and is isolated from the chassis by a sheet of Sorbothane. Its inverted pivot runs on ABC 7 bearings. Supplied with four Sorbothane-damped counterweights, it accepts cartridges weighing between 4 and 14 grams, allowing a choice among numerous moving-magnet or moving-coil models. A record clamp completes the package.
At 22 kg and measuring 480 x 235 x 400 mm, this turntable is aimed at those with a stable support surface and sufficient space, within an already well-established analogue system. It is intended for the listener who wants to upgrade their cartridge over time without changing turntable, and who favours a considered, settled approach to playback rather than a compact, portable unit.
Technical specifications
| Speeds | 33 / 45 / 78 rpm |
| Drive | Silicone round belt, synchronous motor |
| Platter | Sorbothane-damped aluminium, 300 mm, 5.7 kg |
| Bearing | Inverted pivot on ceramic ball with magnetic support |
| Tonearm | 10-inch straight tonearm, inverted pivot on ABC 7 bearings |
| Accepted cartridge mass | 4 to 14 g |
| Platter speed variation | ±0.08% |
| Wow and flutter | ±0.01% max. |
| Signal to noise ratio | -73 dB |
| Speed regulation | Integrated Speed Box DS |
| Accessories supplied | 4 Sorbothane-damped counterweights, record clamp |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 480 x 235 x 400 mm |
| Weight | 22 kg |
What to check before buying used
The silicone round belt is the first consumable to check: slack or sticky, it causes the speed to drift, which can easily be verified with a strobe disc across the three available speeds. Next, listen to the inverted ceramic bearing with magnetic support, with the platter bare and the motor running: any hum or friction indicates a worn spindle. Check that the four Sorbothane-damped counterweights, the record clamp and the belt are all present, as these parts are costly to source separately, and that the Sorbothane dampers in the feet have not sagged or hardened over time. Finally, check the condition of the stylus and the play in the tonearm pivot, as well as the operation of the integrated Speed Box DS.
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