PRO-JECT Audio Systems has a new turntable coming out soon, and this one, The Classic, is a first for the company – it’s a sub-chassis design.
However, instead of going the traditional way with the use of springs, modern thermo-elastic plastomer (TPE) is used for the sub-chassis construction. A benefit of the sub-chassis is better isolation of the tonearm and platter from motor and main plinth resonances.
The platter is machined from a special aluminium alloy that also includes TPE, resulting in enhanced damping. The sub-platter/main bearing structure is constructed from hardened steel with bronze bushing and Teflon bearings for smooth and low-noise operation.
The new nine-inch Classic tonearm uses a carbon-aluminium sandwich tube – Pro-Ject says this is for superior stiffness, speed and damping. Japanese bearings are used for the arm, which is adjustable for VTA and azimuth. The feet of the Classic are also a new design.
The price for The Classic, with tonearm, is expected to be €950 (it’s also available with Ortofon’s 2M-Silver cartridge, which nudges the price up to €999). Shipping is expected to begin in July-August.
