Description
Pro-Ject RPM 9 Carbon Turntable
The Pro-Ject RPM 9 Carbon Turntable has mass-loaded chassis which is effectively decoupled from its surface using magnetic feet. With two magnets located in the feet, the turntable is practically floating. The studs in the feet are only used for keeping them centered. Combined with a new special polished aluminum platter with internal TPE damping and a vinyl layer on top, the inverted ceramic main bearing delivers an absolute stable turntable speed with extra low rumble. The extra heavy outboard motor unit is equipped with a precise motor control and features a built-in switch between 33 & 45 rpm. Last but not least the non-compromise 9“ Evo tonearm with conical carbon-fibre armtube and inverted bearing design ensures perfect tracking, even with demanding cartridges.
Extensive research and development has brought us the RPM 9 Carbon that we know today. The high-mass CNC-machined chassis is made from resonance-absorbing MDF and filled with hard-resin-coated steel pellets to form an ultra-massive base. A complex heat treatment and carbon fiber surface coating ensure minimal resonance levels. The mass-loaded chassis is effectively decoupled from its surface with opposing-magnetic feet. Combined with an internally damped, polished aluminum platter with vinyl top, the inverted ceramic main bearing delivers absolute stability of platter speed with minimal rumble.
The massive outboard motor unit is equipped with precise motor control and features a built-in switch for easy switching between 33 & 45rpm. Last but not least, the no-compromise 9cc Evolution tonearm with conical carbon-fiber armtube and inverted bearing ensures perfect tracking even with demanding cartridges.
Specifications >> User Guide >>
Reviews
A dramatic experience – U.K., 04.2021
• Pro-Ject’s heavy platter, large main bearing, and solid plinth worked together well to give strong dynamics, having speed and strength.
• Hand drums came over as cleanly fast; there was superb mid-band sound staging.
• The Pro-Ject showed itself to be clean and analytical, digging out a wealth of fine detail and placing it on a lavishly broad sound stage.
• Midband clarity and sharpness of sound stage imaging being vivid. It is highly analytical.
• The Pro-Ject RPM9 Carbon, with its external servo-motor, is strongly built, relying on a sturdy plinth with a large main bearing and massively heavy platter.
• The arm gave great mid-band insight.
• In all then, a sound that was deeply revealing, shining a spotlight onto all areas.
• A High-resolution, specialised silent turntable capable of forensic insight with revealing mid-band and fully balanced working.
Features
- Advanced sandwich construction of plinth with combination of MDF, carbon fibre and steel pellets
- Plinth manufactured with thermo treatment
- Mass loaded subchassis design with magnetic feet
- Inverted main bearing with ceramic ball/plate
- 7,2kg acoustically inert aluminum platter with TPE damping and vinyl mat on the top
- DC power supply with AC motor
- Precise DC driven AC generator (Speed Box) built-in
- Electronic speed control with 33/45 rpm switching
- Outboard motor construction with massive steel base
- Pre-mounted 9“ Evolution tonearm
- 5P Connect it Phono CC cable with RCA plugs (XLR available as an option)
Inside the Plinth
RPM 9 & 10 Carbon, Xtension 9, 10 & 12 Evolution, and Signature 10 & 12 use plinths that are more than meets the eye. These high-end turntables not only use multi-density fiber (MDF, which absorbs resonance), but inside the plinths are also “central gravity points” filled will steel pellets. Drawing harmful resonance to the central gravity point all but eliminates the potential for plinth and bearing noise to reach the tonearm and cartridge. Pellets are used as opposed to a solid alloy due to their dispersion effect where a solid alloy may resonate. This design heightens the overall mass of these turntables as well, a well-known approach to optimizing sonics.
True Balanced – Get Blown Away
Setting us apart from the competition, all Pro-Ject turntables are configured for balanced operation.* Switching to balanced is no subtle upgrade and promises to redefine ‘reference’ sound quality in your turntable system. What’s needed to get there are a) a moving coil cartridge, b) a turntable with balanced phono outputs, c) a phono preamp with balanced phono inputs and d) a balanced cable carrying the phono signal from turntable to phono preamp. Typically a much more costly endeavor, Pro-Ject has changed that landscape by offering products that make the technology attainable to any serious listener.
RPM 9 Carbon comes equipped with a balanced 5-pin DIN phono output and can be run balanced with either DIN > XLR or DIN > mini XLR phono cables and a balanced phono stage. The turntable ships with a DIN > RCA phono cable for maximum compatibility out of the box (unbalanced dual single-ended RCA/ground is by far the most common connection type in phono). Balanced add-ons are sold separately.
Specifications
Speed 33, 45 (electronic speed change)
Drive principle Belt drive
Platter 7.2 kg aluminium (300mm diameter)
Mains bearing Inverted stainless steel with ceramic ball/plate
Wow & flutter 33: +/- 0.60% I 45: +/- 0.60%
Speed drift 33: +/- 0.10% I 45: +/- 0.10%
Signal to noise 73dB
Tonearm 9” CC EVO carbon
Effective arm length 230 mm
Effective arm mass 8 g
Overhang 18 mm
Tracking force 0 – 35 mN
Included accessories 15 volts DC / 800 mA power supply
Power connection 110/240 Volt – 50 or 60 Hz
Power consumption 13 watt max / < 0.3 watt standby
Dimensions 440 x 180 x 325 mm (WxHxD)
Weight 16.5 kg net
