Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC review
Mar 28, 2019
The Austrian company Pro-Ject, one of the leaders in the market of vinyl players, has presented its cutting-edge budget turntable – the Debut Carbon DC. See price Article navigation Design Se...
Read MoreMake your own choice - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC vs Rega Planar 2
Comparison of Rega Planar 2 vs Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC is a rather hard occupation. For about $200 more than the P-1, you get the P-2 with a better tone are that's one piece, a much more massive glass platter, and better platter bearing than even Pro-Ject has. I wouldn't recommend Debut Carbon for a true beginner or someone who wants the convenience of an automatic table. But you still can compare both turntables versus each other on your own using given below information.
Features & Performance
Neither units have phono preamp. Playing at the same speed (33.3, 45 RPM) Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC and Rega Planar 2 both own moving magnet (MM) type of cartridge. These three features add up to better audio than P-1, and even Pro-Ject is capable of. If you're an audiophile, the extra cost of the P-2 is worth it for sure.
Design & build quality
Tracking force adjustment of P-2 is a bit tricky since the tonearm weight has no markings, but the manual indicates the right amount of weight that it applies when you spin the weight 1/2 and one full turn. Overall there are no doubts that a cheaper model has lower build quality compared to the expensive one.
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC pros & cons
Pros
- It's not difficult to set up, and once you get the bitty anti-skate taken care of, the arm with its lifter is easy to use even for old shaky hands.
- The quality of the build is superb, the motor runs smoothly, and the carbon fiber arm is a sight to see.
Cons:
- Calibrating took some getting used to, but the end result definitely pays off.
Rega Planar 2 pros & cons
Pros
- Took me no more than 20 minutes to have everything up and running, and sounding stellar.
- No resonance from the table comes through the speakers.
Cons
- The little mat that is put on the glass platter is not round. It is off by a bit, so when it spins, it looks off balance. You'd really expect that a $675 turntable would have a round mat. Nothing says precision like an off-balance spinning object.
- The dust cover hinges are really flimsy. They are made of plastic. Imagine bending a piece of plastic back and forth a dozen times, and then hoping that that plastic stays strong. They look like they might last about a year at most. I do see that you can purchase hinge replacements, so I guess that hinge replacements are expected.
