Pro-Ject Audio Systems, which is based in Austria and established itself in 1991 with the P1 turntable, has announced the release of the Xtension 9 Evolution turntable. The Xtension 9 Evolution incorporates the company’s 20-plus years of know-how, and is intended to offer ultra-high-end turntable performance for a reasonable price. According to the company’s press release on April 3: “[the] Xtension 9 Evolution chassis is made from high-class ultra-dense MDF, that gives high mass and is non-resonant. Unique magnetic feet decouple the main plinth from its base. These feet effectively isolate the weighty 16kg total turntable mass from outer vibration and adds up to a combination of 'mass loaded' principle and 'floating turntable' design.
“Instead of a pure metal main platter, we found a perfect aluminium alloy which is damped with thermo plastic elastomers (TPE). Additionally, we glued recycled vinyl records to the top (which act as a perfect mat) and bake this 'sandwich' before precision balancing it.
“The final product subsequently benefits from a wonderful resonance-free, heavy platter that runs ultra-silent on an inverted ceramic bearing (ball and plate) with magnetic suspension. This virtually reduces the platter-mass, so the platter `floats´ on the bearing with the lowest rumble possible.”
The Xtension 9 Evolution comes with the company’s 9cc Evolution tonearm that is said to “offer a conical carbon-fibre armtube that avoids standing-wave reflections. Inverted bearing design with four hardened ABEC7-spec ballraces allows friction-free arm movement. A solid armbase permits accurate height adjustment of armtube and VTA (vertical tracing angle). Azimuth (horizontal tracking) can be adjusted precisely, by rotating armtube and single-point fixing.”
The Xtension 9 Evolution with the 9cc Evolution tonearm retails in Europe for €1990 (including VAT). The Xtension 9 Evolution can also be purchased with the tonearm and an Ortofon MC Quintet Black cartridge for €2490 (including VAT). No North American pricing has been announced yet.
