Pro-Ject, the Czech Republic's foremost turntable maker, has been busy upgrading its Xpression deck, a model that has been around for three years. The MkII Xpression is still a solid plinth design with a cast alloy platter, AC motor and carbon fibre tonearm, but it differs from its predecessor in a few key areas. The carbon arm was radical at the price, but it never looked that substantial. But now, it finds itself in a thicker form with better bearings. Like upmarket Pro-Jects, the arm cable terminates in phono sockets like any other source, meaning you can easily upgrade this important link for better performance.
The new pick-up arm (8.6c) is built from conical section carbon fibre with a glued-on aluminium headshell, running on gimble bearings with sapphire beds. It is fully adjustable in height and can even have its tube rotated in order to align azimuth (the uprightness of the cantilever from the front).
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The turntable's base is much improved; combining metal cones with a Sorbothane alternative, it offers better isolation than the rubber feet of yore. As this ‘suspension' is all the turntable has to offer, this could have a significant effect on the end result.
There is also an increase in platter mass, up by 15 per cent, which should produce a small and hopefully worthwhile, increase in inertia.
Unlike many turntables, this is a fully functioning deck, complete with an Ortofon OM10 moving magnet cartridge and a rubber decoupled ‘quiet running' motor, which uses a flat belt to drive the alloy platter.
