Pro-Ject Audio

Pro-Ject Audio X8 turntable with Ortofon Quintet Blue Cartridge

£2,099.00
VAT included
Color

Pickup available at The Barn

Usually ready in 24 hours

The X8 is a mass-loaded high-end turntable with features more commonly found at premium price points. From its over-sized, heavyweight wooden plinth, through to the precision-lathed, TPE-damped aluminium main platter, and on to the 9” Evolution tonearm finished with a Quintet Blue, it is a complete turntable solution for high-end audio systems in one box.

Upgrade your standard RCA cable that ships with this turntable with a balanced cable:

Connect IT Phono S cable (oxygen free copper, low capacitance)

Connect IT Phono DS cables (silver plated copper, very low capacitance)

Consider your phono stage too - if you wish to take advantage of the true balanced architecture of your MC cartridge and upgraded cable (see products above), then consider a balanced phono stage:

Phono Box S3 B - high quality fully discrete phono stage with semi-passive RIAA filters.

Phono Box DS3 - audiophile grade, fully balanced circuitry with discrete fully passive RIAA filtering.

The X8 draws inspiration from other high-end turntables in the Pro-Ject range. The thick, heavy MDF chassis is expertly shaped and finished to provide both a stylish aesthetic and a sturdy platform from which the key performance parts of the turntable can do their work.

The main platter is precision-cut from a single piece of aluminium and lined with a ring of rubber TPE damping to produce a heavy non-resonant base that contributes to highly accurate speed stability with very little fluctuation. The platter is mounted on an inverted ceramic-tipped main bearing, bolstered with magnetic support, for fluid rotation without resistance.

The platter is driven by a perimeter drive belt, connected to a low-noise AC motor. The motor is controlled by an AC generator with adjustable speed control for convenient switching between 33 and 45 RPM as well as a clean, low-noise power signal.

The X8 is pre-installed with Pro-Ject’s popular 9CC Evolution carbon fibre tonearm. The 9CC EVO can been found on many popular high-end turntables, and features a one-piece, tapered carbon fibre tonearm tube, mounted in a heavy-weight bearing block with high-quality ABEC 7 ball bearings. The tonearm is also VTA and azimuth adjustable for perfect cartridge mounting.

In the UK, the X8 is also supplied with the award-winning Ortofon Quintet Blue moving coil cartridge, as standard. The Quintet Blue is recognised for its detailed musical performance, and perfectly complements the X8’s own high-end ability.

As the X8 is supplied with a Moving Coil cartridge, it is also part of Pro-Ject’s True Balanced Connections concept. By upgrading to a 5pin > XLR cable, and connecting to one of the company’s balanced phono stages (such as the Phono Box DS3 B), you can benefit from increased dynamics, less noise and improved signal-to-noise ratios. Going true balanced is like hearing parts of your music that were not there before.

The X8 is supplied with height-adjustable TPE-damped feet, a removable dust cover, a felt mat and a semi-balanced Connect-IT E 5P > RCA phono cable for easy set-up out of the box. It’s available in high gloss black, high-gloss white or real-wood walnut veneer finishes.

True Balanced Connections

The interconnect cable between a record player and a phono stage is prone to pick up noise on the way. That noise and interference can stem from a lot of unavoidable sources, such as household applicances, wi-fi and bluetooth devices, other power cables and audio amplifiers. Unshielded (i.e. RCA) interconnects can amplify the picked-up noise and make it audible through your speakers, interfering with the pure musical signal.

Balanced (typically XLR) cable connections double the wires carrying the musical signal – with one side inverted. In this case noise still gets picked up by both wires, but with one side reversed. When the signals are re-joined at the phono stage, the picked-up noise is cancelled out by the opposing signals. The benefit of this is a louder, cleaner musical signal that has doubled in size with almost no remaining noise.

Key Features:

  • Heavy MDF chassis
  • Precision balanced damped 5,1 kg aluminium platter
  • Inverted bearing with ceramic tip, magnetic support
  • Electronic speed control 33/45 rpm
  • Pre-fitted Ortofon Quintet Blue
  • Inverted cardanic tonearm bearings; four stainless steel tips mounted in ABEC 7 quality ball bearings
  • Height-adjustable metal feet with TPE damping
  • Premium 5P semi-symmetrical RCA phono cable
  • True Balanced 5P XLR cable available separately
  • Dust cover included
  • Finish options: walnut, HG piano black, HG white
  • Handmade in Europe

Thank you for considering Yorkshire AV for your next investment in your AV or HiFi setup.

We are an approved retailer for all brands sold on our website, which means full manufacturers warranty and support as well as detailed product knowledge within our small business.

We use an inventory tracking system which states if item(s) are in stock and if not, what are the likely lead times.

Who do you use for delivery?

Our primary delivery agent is DPD. Where orders are shipped directly from Yorkshire AV, we always use DPD who offer a fabulous service at competitive rates.

If we drop ship (i.e. direct from the supplier) then the delivery agent is out of our control. It is generally DPD or UPS however - we rarely see other carriers used.

Selecting "Next Day" delivery does not mean you'll receive your item the next day in some cases. It's the next day from when the item(s) are in stock with us. If there is an urgent need then please contact a member of staff via the Live Chat or telephone (01757 826111) to check on live stock levels.

Certain product(s) are delayed in manufacturing due to semi-conductor shortages across the Globe. We'll keep you informed as to your order progress and a likely ETA once we get updates from the manufacturers.

Returns

Standard Returns 

Our returns policy lasts for 28 days for all items in our store except those defined in section (1) below.

To be eligible for a refund, your item must be unused/unopened and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging. If you return the item to us within 14 days of purchasing, you will be offered a full refund or exchange.

If your return comes to us after 14 days of purchasing and is opened, we will refund the full amount less 20%. Unused items returned up to 28 days after purchasing will be fully refunded.

It's the responsibility of the customer to return the items at your cost.

Yorkshire AV are able to arrange collection - please contact us for a quote.

You must ensure goods are shipped in their original packaging if they are damaged/not working.

Manufacturers will not accept returns and Yorkshire AV can not be held responsible for any damage in transit.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned.

(1) Examples of non-returnable items: 

  • Gift cards HiFi Racks
  • Second hand units / clearance products
  • Headphones (due to listener hygiene)
  • Custom cables
  • Special order items (items that we order in for you/were not in stock at the time of order)

To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase. 

Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer. 

To start to return - please email us: info@yorkshireav.co.uk along with your order number and we'll take it from there.

When will orders be dispatched?

  • Orders placed Monday - Thursday before 1pm and are in stock will be dispatched the same day for next day delivery. This relates to product that state 'In Stock for immediate dispatch' on the product page.
  • Orders placed over a weekend and are in stock will be dispatched on Monday.

Orders for items not in stock

Given the vast amount of variations of each product (e.g. AudioQuest cables) or Pro-Ject Audio Turntables - we keep the most common options in stock (i.e. gloss black finish, or 1.5m RCA cables) whereas longer cables or cables with terminations that are less frequently ordered will be ordered as required.

Generally speaking - we receive orders within 2-3 days for UK suppliers and 3-4 days for European suppliers (i.e. AudioQuest, DALI).

We want you to be 100% satisfied which is why we'll give you an email/call if item(s) aren't in stock and give you the option of changing the order, cancelling or if you're happy to wait a few days, we'll get it out as soon as possible.

If an item states 'Available to Order' - this means the item is not in stock but we are able to order in. Lead times average 2 days but in some circumstances, delivery times may be longer and is outside of our control. Please contact us to get an estimate on delivery times if orders are urgent. 

Warranty

By default, our brands follow their standard manufacturers warranty terms and length.

For extended Warranty (should this be offered with your product), please ensure you complete the Extended Warranty registration form that was emailed to you.

Warranty claims within the warranty period are underpinned by the manufacturer. With any extended warranty claims - Yorkshire AV act as your agent to the authorised repair centre.

Shipping charges are excluded from any warranty claim. Original packaging and receipts must be provided else the claim will be rejected.

For any questions or issues - please contact us directly.

Financing your purchase

We’ve got you covered, as we have finance options available for people with varying circumstances. Yorkshire AV believes that you shouldn’t have to pinch your pockets to be able to purchase our products. You can pay in affordable monthly instalments to better suit your needs and budget.

To help you purchase from Yorkshire AV, we have partnered with Kandoo, a regulated credit broker to offer all our customers a range of highly flexible finance options. Kandoo is a comparison service that searches to find you the best Personal Loan option that’s right for you.

You can apply here - then continue your purchase from us.