An Ideal Merger of Innovative Technology and European Craftsmanship: Pro-Ject X8 Evolution Turntable Delivers Astonishing Sound, Comes Loaded with a Sumiko Moonstone MM Phono Cartridge

The Pro-Ject X8 Evolution is more than just a turntable that delivers incredible sonics. It's a brilliantly engineered musical instrument; it's a work of art that will enhance any listening space; and it's an heirloom that can be passed down to future generations. Designed by engineers who share your passion for music, the X8 Evolution incorporates technical features adapted from the company's Xtension 9 and 10 models. The X8 Evolution offers rare, audiophile-level performance and elegant aesthetics—all at a price that won't require a series of meetings with your financial advisor.

This European turntable's massive MDF chassis is supported by custom feet, which are CNC machined out of aluminum and are fully height-adjustable. They utilize TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) damping technology, effectively decoupling the X8 from the surface it is placed on. The combination of mass and damping provides a very stable system, isolating the stylus from both airborne and structural vibrations—without being finicky to set up. Just as importantly, the turntable will remain stable and properly aligned over time. After all, the goal is to hear your music, not the turntable.

The 9cc EVO carbon tonearm utilizes inverted cardanic tonearm bearings, with four stainless steel tips mounted in ABEC 7 quality ball bearings, mounted in a C-shaped section to minimize resonances. The low-mass, one-piece carbon fiber tonearm tube is crafted in a conical shape to minimize standing wave vibrations. The tonearm wire loom is one piece—from the cartridge to the 5-pin DIN output—designed to allow either a single-ended or True Balanced phono connection.

The X8 Evolution is handmade in Europe, and is available in multiple finishes. It comes with a dust cover and, of course, the 100% Music Direct Satisfaction Guarantee.

"It's not just the features that make this turntable stand out. It's the overall quality of the machining and fit'n'finish of every detail. As someone who's been observing this company literally from its inception, the X8 makes clear that not only is Pro-Ject capable of designing and building high-performance turntables (long known fact), it's able to do so at price points that let it successfully compete with everything out there."
—Michael Fremer, Tracking Angle

"When looking at the caliber of the tonearm alone that is found on the new X8, it's difficult not to recommend this piece for consideration to those who are serious about upgrading the quality of their turntable."
—The Vinyl Attack! (YouTube)

"Pro-Ject has built a turntable featuring true audiophile technology at a price that's reasonable for the quality it delivers.... Pro-Ject's carbon tonearm is equally amazing. When properly balanced, there's a sense that the cartridge is almost floating across your vinyl but there's never a sense that your records are likely to skip."
—James Barber, TechHive

"Factor in the substantial build quality of the plinth and platter, the excellent finish—the fact that this is being built from the ground up, and not just assembled by Pro-Ject—and the minor touches, like an included dust cover, and a magnet built into the tonearm, keeping it in place when it's upon its rest, it would be impossible not to see the dedication to their craft in creating this new model."
—The Vinyl Attack! (YouTube)

True Balanced Connections Offer Improved Sound

To take full advantage of the balanced output of moving-coil (MC) cartridges, Pro-Ject developed the True Balanced upgrade path. The X8 Extension turntable comes with a semi-balanced Connect it E 5P-RCA cable and the Sumiko Moonstone, a superb moving-magnet (MM) phono cartridge. If you decide to upgrade to an MC cartridge, then you would utilize a fully balanced 5P-XLR connecting cable (available separately) and incorporate a balanced phono stage—which would be a setup that delivers the True Balanced experience. This setup dramatically improves the signal-to-noise ratio, minimizes susceptibility to noise and hum, and enhances dynamics during playback.

Moving-Coil Cartridges

Low-output MC cartridges are acknowledged as capable of the best performance in terms of information retrieval, but that increased performance comes at the expense of a lower signal output. This makes MC cartridges more susceptible to radiated interference, hum, and noise. However, because most MC cartridges are inherently electrically balanced, it is possible to retain the balanced wiring configuration direct to the phono preamp—in much the same way that professional microphones are run fully balanced to mic preamps in a recording studio. (Contact a Music Direct audio consultant if you have questions about the differences between MM and MC phono cartridges, or if you're thinking about upgrading your cartridge.)

Superior Pro-Ject Engineering for Reliable Performance

The X8 Extension turntable's precision balanced platter is machined out of a single piece of aluminum and damped with a TPE insert. The platter rotates on an inverted bearing with a ceramic ball and PTFE thrust pad. To decrease the load on the bearing, an opposing neodymium magnet repels the platter from the plinth and bearing, ensuring smooth and quiet operation for decades to come.

Pro-Ject History

Pro-Ject was founded in 1991, during the "reign" of the compact disc and CD players. The company's mission was to offer the best analog experience at reasonable prices. At a time when digital audio media was still on the rise, and vinyl was considered by many to be outdated, Heinz Lichtenegger kept his belief in the best way to enjoy music: turntables.

Over the ensuing decades, Pro-Ject has won numerous awards and established itself as a premium manufacturer that combines innovative technology with handmade craftsmanship. Pro-Ject turntables can be found in more than 80 countries around the world.