Few audiophile companies are as prolific today with the building of turntables as Pro-Ject. On their website, they list a staggering 13 different lines of turntables. That isn’t 13 different turntables – it’s 13 different product categories for the brand. This turntable is part of their X line of turntables, which represents one of their more mid-tier offerings. The Pro-Ject XA-B itself is a belt-driven turntable, built on an acrylic chassis, with an aluminum platter, height-adjustable feet, and it can play either 33 or 45 RPM records using a toggle switch on the side of the turntable, which also functions as the on/off switch. Pro-Ject also uses their Pick It PRO balanced cartridge, and they have built this turntable to use a balanced connection, with no unbalanced connection in the turntable itself. As a unit, it weighs 17.6 pounds (8kg) and is 16.9 wide by 5.1 high by 13.4 deep measured in inches, which makes it markedly larger than the average turntable in height and width, but also a little bit lighter.
What Makes the Pro-Ject XA B Turntable So Special?
- You don’t see a lot of acrylic turntables in this price range. For all of the detractors of the acrylic chassis, and how the material can absorb sound, I didn’t even detect that from the Pro-Ject XA B. While it has a very unique transparent look, it also has a very musical sound.
- Adjustable feet are something worth seeking out in a turntable in this price range. One of the most difficult things about setting up a turntable is that everything tends to be very manual, and it is hard to get the best possible sound from one if the turntable itself isn’t physically flat. By including adjustable feet, Pro-Ject makes this accomplishable without having to find something to slide under some of the feet because the floor of your room isn’t perfectly level (and they are almost never level). This is some smart design work here.
- The Pick It PRO balanced cartridge is very detailed-sounding. One of the first things I noticed when I listened to this turntable was how detailed the cartridge was. Right away, it gave the turntable a beautiful sense of life.
- You don’t see many balanced turntables (XLR outputs) in this price range. Pro-Ject has essentially taken this idea onto itself, and I like it. In my research, I wasn’t able to find another turntable that offered a balanced connection right out of the turntable itself, even looking at turntables that were over $1,000 more in price. This places Pro-Ject in a very unique position with their turntables, which their competition has to contend with in one way or another.
Why Should You Care About the Pro-Ject XA B Turntable?
If you’re someone who is into the visually transparent look of an acrylic turntable at a reasonable price, the Pro-Ject XA B turntable is really the only one on the market at around $5,000, as most others will cost you several thousand more of your hard-earned dollars. This is also a great option if you’re looking for balanced connections, which are particularly advantageous if you’re running longer cables to keep your turntable away from your speakers. The balanced connection from the turntable to the phono preamp is very unique to Pro-Ject’s turntables in this price range, and can make them sought-after.
Some Things You Might Not Like About the Pro-Ject XA B Turntable
- While the Pro-Ject Pick It PRO Balanced cartridge is very detailed, it is also very sensitive to dust and dirt. As an audiophile, I try to wash my records before I listen to them for the first time, and I usually try to get to washing them roughly every few months, as I don’t have that many pieces of vinyl. One of the things I noticed when I started to use the Pro-Ject XA-B was how much clicking was being picked up by the cartridge, especially in comparison to the X1 B that I use for reference. After I washed the same record again and listened to it, the sound was much better. This really showed how sensitive the cartridge was to picking up the little bits of dust that were sitting on the record.
- The Cartridge is held on with magnets. In many ways, this is a great idea. When you need to replace the cartridge, it will be quick and easy, but it also means that it can be very easy to accidently knock the cartridge off during your initial set-up of the turntable, which could lead to damage to the cartridge.
Listening to the Pro-Ject XA B Turntable …
My testing with the Pro-Ject XA B turntable was with the phonostage in the Anthem STR preamplifier (buy at Crutchfield), the Paradigm Premier 700F floorstanding speakers (buy at Crutchfield), and the Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2 amplifier (buy at Crutchfield). I also did AB testing with my Pro-Ject X1 turntable, which uses an $89 Sumiko Rainier moving magnet cartridge.
One of the first tracks I listened to was “Layla” (On Vinyl) from Eric Clapton’s 2021 album The Lady in the Balcony: Lockdown Sessions. This album acts as “Unplugged” did just 30 years later in many ways, as Clapton goes back to playing with an acoustic setup for himself and his band. This is a fantastic recording, and I was thoroughly impressed by how this track sounded playing through the Pro-Ject XA-B turntable. The sound was very detailed and neutral. It felt like you could have walked into a club where the music was being played in front of you – very authentic. The LP lent itself very well to the softness of Clapton’s voice, and overall was very enjoyable.
Another really good track that I used was “I Am a River” (on Vinyl) from Foo Fighters’ 2014 album Sonic Highways. The opening of this track has a haunting effect to it. You hear distortion, before the guitar comes in. That same recorded distortion is continued throughout the track, and it creates a really cool ambience to the track, which the Pro-Ject XA B was able to reproduce. The dynamics of the LP really came through on this track as well when you hit the chorus of the track, as Dave Grohl’s vocal ends and there is a second where there is nothing, and then boom, everything hits all at once. It is enough to bring a smile to my face each time I hear it. This track acts as a great reward for getting to the end of the B side on this album.
A great track that I used to test the Pro-Ject XA B was “The Carpet Crawlers” (on Vinyl) from Genesis’ sixth studio album and progressive rock standard, 1974’s The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. This track takes you back to a long-gone era when Peter Gabriel was fronting the band, and they were quite theatrical on stage. The track opens with Tony Banks’ keyboard and Gabriel’s vocals, which take you through the first minute and a half before the rest of the band comes in. As the band comes in, the Pro-Ject XA B was able to easily separate the vocals of both Gabriel and Phil Collins as they harmonize on the chorus. You can also hear the dynamics, as you hear the guitar provide a very simple high-octave tone, which really sets itself apart from the octave that the keyboard is playing in. This album is always a treat to listen to on vinyl, and it was magnificently reproduced on the Pro-Ject XA B.
Will the Pro-Ject XA B Turntable Hold Its Value?
Pro-Ject’s turntables hold their value very well in the used market and, with Pro-Ject being one of the most well-known turntable brands, their turntables look to be holding more than half of their value years after they were purchased. I would expect the Pro-Ject XA B to do very well in the used market because of how unique it is to the market with balanced components and the acrylic look.
What is the Competition for the Pro-Ject XA B Turntable?
The Rega Planar 3 ($1,625) is in the same price range, and you will see the price of this turntable vary, based on which cartridge it comes with. The Rega Planar 3 (read the review) is a belt-driven turntable that comes in four different color variations of their high-gloss acrylic plinth, if the transparent acrylic look of the Pro-Ject XA B isn’t for you. One other thing you should be aware of with Rega’s turntables is that they come with a lifetime warranty. We reviewed this turntable, and were very impressed with it. Rega has made some updates to this turntable since we reviewed it, but I expect it to be a strong alternative to the Pro-Jeck XA B.
The MOFI UltraDeck with UltraTracker Cartridge ($1,799). MOFI has been building its house electronics brand across many sectors of the audiophile world. The MOFI UltraDeck (read the review) was designed with longtime turntable expert Allen Perkins. This turntable features a 33-1/3 and 45 RPM belt-driven speeds, a 10-inch straight aluminum tonearm, an isolated power supply, and was designed and manufactured in the United States. Paul Wilson reviewed a version of this turntable, and he was very impressed. If you’re shopping in the price range, you might wish to add this to your audition list.
The Music Hall MMF 7.3 Turntable ($1,795). Music Hall is a very comparable option and is close to the price of the Pro-Ject XA B. Music Hall uses a full carbon fiber tonearm, a non-resonant acrylic platter, and they also completely isolate/decouple the DC motor with the speed controls. This turntable also differentiates itself from the other two in that it comes with an Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge, whereas the others come with cartridges that are made by the manufacturer. Music Hall’s turntables are well-known and worth a look.
Final Thoughts on the Pro-Ject XA B Turntable …
It is no accident that Pro-Ject is so well known for its audiophile turntables. I was taken aback by just how good this turntable sounded from the first time I set it up, and that isn’t a small feat, as this is far from my first turntable review. Will the Pro-Ject XA B be for everyone? No, with how sensitive and unforgiving the cartridge is at times, it will immediately be for the most serious vinyl listeners who ensure their vinyl is always clean; otherwise, I think you will hear listeners complain about the clicks that vinyl is so famous for. However, if you are an audiophile who prides yourself on keeping your vinyl in great condition, then you will be in a position to really get everything out of this turntable, as it can provide a very detailed sound with strong dynamics and the warmth that vinyl is so well known for. If you’re shopping in the $1,500-$2,000 price range, I would strongly urge you to check out the Pro-Ject XA B turntable; I promise you that you will not be disappointed.
