Platine vinyle manuelle Pro-Ject DEBUT CARBON EVO II

PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON EVO II: PLINTH AND STAND

The plinth is cut from rigid MDF. It is hand-lacquered in eight coats of satin black, white, fir green, yellow, steel blue and red. It is also available in classic finishes (piano black, red or white), as well as with a matt real walnut veneer.

The plinth rests on 3 new, sturdy metal feet cushioned with elastomer. They effectively limit the vibrations of the support in the turntable. The use of just three feet also improves the stability of the turntable, whatever the surface.

PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON EVO II: MOTOR AND DRIVE

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO II is equipped with a new AC motor and new suspension, which limits vibrations and noise in the audible spectrum.

It uses a damping technique borrowed from the manufacturer's higher-end models. It uses TPE (ThermoPlastic Elastomer) damping combined with a high-mass steel sandwich.

The motor is fitted with a new bearing with a stainless steel shaft. It is powered by an external DC supply. A circuit reconditions an alternating current with a stable frequency of 50 hz. It is also equipped with an electronic 33/45t speed change accessible by pressing a button placed under the front left-hand corner of the chassis to preserve, according to the manufacturer, the ‘uncluttered’ style of the record player.

Speed is electronically controlled with maximum precision, resulting in the most reliable and stable speed possible in both 33 and 45t.

PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON EVO II: platter

This new platter differs from that of the Debut Carbon EVO, and is borrowed from the Debut Pro. It's made from die-cast aluminium and is precision-balanced in an extra step to obtain a perfectly balanced platter. The material used is anti-magnetic, allowing the Debut Carbon Evo to be combined with a low-level MC cartridge.

The bottom of the platter is fitted with a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) ring to dampen resonance and minimise wow and flutter. It is also designed to be combined with the new Record Puck PRO or Puck E puck, available as options.

PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON EVO II: tone arm

The pick-up arm pivot is a completely new gyroscopic design. It is CNC-milled from a single block of aluminium, as with the EVO arms. This increases the rigidity of the bearing, ensuring free, fluid movement of the pick-up arm and therefore precise tracking of the groove.

The new 8.6 EVO II tone arm features a one-piece carbon/aluminium sandwich tube. The carbon layer gives the tone arm a high degree of rigidity, while the aluminium inner tube takes care of the tone arm damping. This gives the arm an effective weight of 10g, making it compatible with certain MC cartridges. The new counterweight is fitted with a TPE damping ring, as on the CC Evo arms.

This new Pro-Ject 8.6 EVO II arm allows you to adjust the azimuth but not the VTA, as is possible on the Debut Pro. To adjust the height of the arm, you'll need to add a Pro-Ject VTA IT spacer.

PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON EVO II: PHONO CABLE AND ACCESSORIES

The Pro-Ject Debut CARBON EVO II comes with a 123 cm Connect It E phono cable in RCA/RCA format. Connection to the record player is via gold-plated female RCA plugs. This is a semi-symmetrical model with low capacitance and superior shielding to competitors in this range.

Compared to other analogue or digital sources, the output signal from a turntable cartridge is particularly sensitive. It should be noted that the arm output cables are not captive, so it's easy to upgrade the standard ones to higher performance models, such as the manufacturer's ‘Connect It’.

This Debut Carbon EVO II also comes with a translucent protective cover.

PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON EVO II: test and listening

Clearly and without any possible doubt, the reproduction is a far cry from the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO and is closer, if not totally, to the Pro-Ject Debut Pro, as we might have expected. In fact, the latter is very close in design to the Debut PRO and shares more than 80% of its mechanical elements!

The level of transparency is superior to that of the Debut Carbon EVO. Detail and nuance are also more evident. The soundstage and its precision are surprising for a turntable in this range.

The biggest difference is certainly the dynamics and the ‘physical’ side that the Debut EVO II adds compared to the old Debut Carbon EVO. In this respect, it also seems to do slightly better than the X1. Nonetheless, we prefer the more laid-back and ‘meaty’ side of the X1.

Pro-Ject is pushing the performance of its ‘Debut’ even further... a product that has been constantly evolving for over 20 years. With this sixth generation, it seems to have no serious rivals in terms of technology and, above all, reproduction in this price range or even higher! And what's more, it's made in Europe! Well done!

FAQ: Everything you need to know before buying the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO II turntable

Which cartridge comes with this turntable and is it easy to upgrade?

The Debut Carbon EVO II ships with the new Pro-Ject Pick It MM EVO cartridge, developed in close collaboration with Ortofon and using the Danish brand's well-known split-pole pin for a frequency response nearly as flat as some MC designs. The die-cast aluminium platter is anti-magnetic, which also allows a low-output MC cartridge to be fitted later should you wish to upgrade the turntable. Intensive research, development and listening tests gave rise to the new Pro-Ject Pick It MM EVO cartridge. This cartridge is built from a unique combination of technologies.

How has the tonearm changed compared with the older Debut Carbon EVO?

The new 8.6 EVO II arm features a gyroscopic bearing CNC-milled from a single aluminium block for greater rigidity, and a carbon/aluminium sandwich tube giving an effective mass of 10 g, which makes it compatible with certain MC cartridges. It allows azimuth adjustment, but not VTA height adjustment without the optional Pro-Ject VTA IT spacer. The tonearm's bearing is an all-new design known as gyroscopic. This increases bearing rigidity, ensuring free, smooth arm movement and therefore precise groove tracking.

What is included (cable, dust cover)? T

he turntable comes with a Connect It E phono cable (RCA/RCA, 123 cm, semi-balanced, low capacitance) as well as a translucent dust cover. The cable is not captive: you can later replace it with a higher-performing model from the same Connect It range without modifying the turntable. Connection to the turntable is via gold-plated female RCA sockets. Compared with other analogue or digital sources, the output signal from a turntable cartridge is particularly sensitive.

What is the difference in sound compared with the Debut Carbon EVO or the X1?

According to our tests, the EVO II comes clearly closer to the Debut Pro, with which it shares more than 80% of its mechanical design: transparency, detail and soundstage precision noticeably improve compared with the Debut Carbon EVO. It is even slightly more dynamic and physical than the Pro-Ject X1, which nonetheless keeps a slightly more laid-back, fuller-bodied character depending on taste. The biggest difference is certainly the dynamics and the "physical" quality that the Debut EVO II adds compared with the older Debut Carbon EVO. The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO II is fitted with a new AC motor with a new suspension, which limits vibration and noise within the audible spectrum.