Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable – A true reference drive
To mark the 175th anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Pro-Ject Audio Systems designed a limited edition of just 175 units of the Pro-Ject 175 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. This was based on the Pro-Ject The Classic Turntable and the Pro-Ject The Classic EVO Turntable, which now comes in the form of the Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable in a particularly spectacular design inspired by the Pro-Ject 175 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
- The new Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable combines technical sophistication and luxurious design like no other record player, according to Pro-Ject Audio Systems.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems has earned its status as a world market leader in the record player segment primarily by remaining true to its philosophy of developing solutions with an excellent price-performance ratio from the very beginning, since the early 1990s. In the case of record players, this means designing simple systems that sound great but are still audiophile-grade, relying on high-quality materials and the latest technology, but avoiding any bells and whistles or unnecessary frills, as the company itself likes to put it.
But then there are also drives where this corporate philosophy is somewhat unfaithful, and this is done quite consciously and at the request of loyal customers, such as the new Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable.
The Pro-Ject The Classic Turntable
It was in 2016, when Pro-Ject Audio Systems presented the Pro-Ject The Classic Turntable, a very special record player, on the occasion of the company’s 25th anniversary. It was based at least in part on the classic Pro-Ject Debut Turntable, but primarily it was intended to be a throwback to the classic drives of the 1970s, but without their disadvantages.
The Pro-Ject The Classic was presented as a high-quality turntable with the latest technology, and thus as a more than worthy 25th anniversary model from Pro-Ject Audio Systems.
In June 2019, the Pro-Ject The Classic EVO Turntable followed, a turntable with relevant improvements over its predecessor.
Pro-Ject 175 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Another drive plays an important role in the new Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable, namely the Pro-Ject 175 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. According to Pro-Ject Audio Systems, this drive represents a milestone for the company, as it was able to design a drive together with the world-famous orchestra to mark the 175th anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, using wood and metal from the original instruments to manufacture it. It is obvious that the only 175 pieces in demand are collector’s items.
Now, the aim is to make the aforementioned Pro-Ject 175 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra accessible to a larger target group, at least in terms of design. With the new Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable, the decision has been made to revive the unique design, not with the instrument parts of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, but with a similar beauty and the latest technology, as Pro-Ject Audio Systems states.
Technical finesse and luxurious design
The new Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable is a drive that combines technical finesse and luxurious design in a unique way, as the manufacturer explains. At its core, it is a Pro-Ject The Classic EVO, but with particularly fine materials and sophisticated technical details.
A sub-chassis construction
The Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable is a turntable that relies on a sub-chassis construction with TPE suspension. The chassis is made using an aluminium-MDF sandwich construction and rests on height-adjustable feet that provide effective decoupling.
The drive measures 460 x 131 x 351 mm, with the dust cover included in the scope of delivery. The solid construction results in a mass of 11 kg, as the data sheet reveals.
The drive has a precision-balanced 300 mm TPE-damped heavy aluminium platter, whereby the actual drive is carried out by means of an external flat belt via a sub-platter that is also made of aluminium.
The platter rotates in a stainless steel bearing and the motor is electronically controlled, so you can easily switch between 33, 45 and even 78 revolutions per minute. A precise, DC-powered AC generator is used to drive the motor, which means that it can rely on a completely newly generated sine wave. This offers clean performance despite a simple switching power supply due to high speed stability.
If you want, you can of course upgrade to a Pro-Ject Power Box RS2 Phono, as the manufacturer explains. This also offers the advantage that you can use it to supply power not only to the records themselves, but also to any phono preamplifier.
Pro-Ject EVO 9 AS HG Tonearm – The High-end Tonearm
Pro-Ject Audio Systems is particularly proud of the tonearm of the new Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable, because it is the Pro-Ject EVO 9 AS HG tonearm and thus a true high-end solution.
This tonearm relies on an inverted gimbal bearing in Swiss ABEC 7 quality with four stainless steel tips, according to Pro-Ject Audio Systems, with the bearing sitting in a heavy aluminium housing to achieve the necessary stability. Resonances are avoided by the fact that the massive outer ring is open.
A high-precision S-shaped aluminium tube is used for the tonearm, with a nickel-plated SME connector at one end and a TPE-damped aluminium counterweight at the other. The headshell is also CNC-machined from aluminium.
The cabling is made of flexible high-purity copper, with each cable equipped with a gold-plated connection clip.
XLR outputs for true balanced connection
How could it be otherwise, in keeping with Pro-Ject Audio Systems’ initiative to make balanced signal transmission the standard, the new Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable is of course equipped with balanced connections. In addition to a pair of RCA jacks, the drive’s connection panel also features two XLR jacks.
However, only one Pro-Ject Connect it Phono RCA is included, but this is for the sake of completeness.
Speaking of the scope of delivery, we have already mentioned that a dust cover is included, as is the cable. In addition, a Pro-Ject Clamp it record clamp and a leather mat in the shape of the Pro-Ject Leather it are included.
Prices and availability
The new Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable is available in either acacia brass or piano silver. The version in acacia wood and brass-plated aluminium costs € 5.990,-. If you opt for piano lacquer black and silver, you only have to invest € 4.990,-.
The outstanding Ortofon VPO Anniversary Cartridge is also available on request, and its sound has been finely tuned together with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, as Pro-Ject Audio Systems reports. This MC cartridge also perfectly matches the design of the turntable, as its housing has been vapour-plated with a metal surface that has been polished to a high gloss. This cartridge costs an additional € 1.000,-.
Getting to the point
Pro-Ject Audio Systems promises that this is a true audiophile reference drive, now available with the new Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable. In fact, this record player is a true work of art, a solution that could hardly be more elegant, and is based on the impeccable Pro-Ject The Classic EVO Turntable from a purely technical point of view.
PRODUCT | Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable |
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Price | Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable Acacia-Brass € 5.990,- Pro-Ject The Classic Reference Turntable Piano-Silver € 4.990,- Ortofon VPO Anniversary Cartridge € 1.000,- |
Brand | PRO-JECT AUDIO |
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Manufacturer | Pro-Ject Audio Systems a division of Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
Distribution Austria | Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH |
Distribution Germany | Audio Trade Hi-Fi Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH |
Distribution Switzerland | Lakeside Audio |
More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |