Pro-ject Xa-B Balanced Acrylic Turntable

The Pro-Ject XA-B Balanced Acrylic Turntable is a mid-range belt-drive turntable built on a transparent acrylic plinth, available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Pro-Ject dealer in Toronto, Canada. The XA-B pairs a 10-inch one-piece aluminum tonearm with the Pick it PRO Balanced — a modified moving magnet cartridge whose ground is re-routed to send a symmetrical signal, enabling true balanced transmission from a MM cartridge for the first time. A balanced 5-pin DIN output connects to compatible phono stages via DIN-to-mini-XLR or DIN-to-XLR cables. The internal DC/AC generator fully decouples the AC motor from wall power by regenerating a clean sine wave from a DC supply, ensuring stable motor speed independent of mains quality. Browse the full Pro-Ject turntable lineup at Vinyl Sound.

Transparent Acrylic Plinth and DC/AC Generator

Pro-Ject's acrylic plinth lineage runs from the original Perspective through the 6PerspeX and 2Xperience families — a material chosen for its anti-resonant properties and optical transparency. The XA-B uses an acoustically inert transparent acrylic chassis as the main structure, resting on three height-adjustable TPE-damped metal feet. Three feet rather than four allows precise leveling on uneven surfaces — a critical parameter for tonearm geometry and cartridge tracking. The power circuit goes further than a standard outboard supply: DC from the wall adapter is fed to an internal DC/AC generator, which creates an entirely new clean sine wave to drive the AC motor. This regenerated waveform eliminates the noise and voltage fluctuation of mains AC, providing consistently stable motor drive. An optional Power Box S3 Phono can supply both the turntable (15V) and a Pro-Ject phono stage (18V) simultaneously from a single unit with enhanced DC filtration.

10-Inch Aluminum Tonearm and Pick it PRO Balanced Cartridge

The XA-B's tonearm is a 10-inch one-piece aluminum tube — longer than the 9-inch arms used on the X1 B and X2 B, reducing tracing error across the record surface. Aluminum is specified over carbon fiber specifically for its resonance pairing with the acrylic plinth: critical listening and measurement showed that acrylic can over-damp sonics when combined with a carbon armtube; aluminum provides a livelier, more dynamically present result. The cardanic bearing uses four stainless steel pinpoint contacts in an ultra-low-friction assembly, ensuring the tonearm moves without play or resistance. Adaptive anti-skating adjusts automatically as groove conditions change across a record side. A TPE-damped counterweight reduces armtube resonance at the counterweight-to-stub interface. Full VTA, azimuth, tracking force, and anti-skating adjustment are available. The Pick it PRO Balanced is a re-engineered version of the Pick it PRO MM cartridge with a re-routed ground that creates a symmetrical differential signal — enabling +6dB noise cancellation gain when used with a balanced phono stage.

Balanced 5-Pin DIN Output and 1.7kg Aluminum Platter

The XA-B's 5-pin DIN balanced output connects to phono stages with mini XLR or XLR balanced inputs via the appropriate cable (sold separately). Compatible Pro-Ject phono stages include the Phono Box S3 B, Phono Box DS3 B, Tube Box DS3 B, and Phono Box RS2. In balanced mode the common-mode noise on both phono cable conductors is cancelled at the phono stage input, producing a substantially lower noise floor and better channel separation than unbalanced operation — a particularly meaningful improvement at low cartridge output levels. The table ships with a Connect it Phono E 5P-to-RCA cable for immediate unbalanced use. The 1.7kg die-cast aluminum platter is precision-balanced after casting and fitted with a TPE damping ring on the underside, which mutes metal-platter resonance and increases rotational inertia for the flywheel effect. The platter bearing uses a precision stainless steel axle in a soft brass bushing machined to 0.001mm tolerance.

Key Features

• Transparent acoustically inert acrylic chassis
• Three height-adjustable TPE-damped metal feet for precise leveling on any surface
• 1.7 kg die-cast aluminum platter with TPE damping ring — precision-balanced after casting
• Stainless steel axle in soft brass bushing, 0.001mm tolerance
• Record Puck E included
• Internal DC/AC generator — regenerated clean sine wave for the AC motor
• Electronic speed change: 33 / 45 rpm
• 10-inch one-piece aluminum tonearm — longer arc, lower tracing error than 9" arms
• Cardanic 4-pinpoint ultra-low-friction stainless steel tonearm bearing
• Adaptive anti-skating system — adjusts with changing groove conditions
• TPE-damped counterweight
• VTA, azimuth, tracking force, and anti-skating fully adjustable
• Pick it PRO Balanced MM cartridge — pre-adjusted, symmetrical ground signal
• Balanced 5-pin DIN phono output
• Included: Connect it Phono E 5P-to-RCA cable, dustcover, 15V / 0.8A DC power supply, felt mat
• Handmade in Europe

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pick it PRO Balanced cartridge and how is it different from a standard MM cartridge?

The Pick it PRO Balanced is a modified moving magnet cartridge where the internal grounding is re-routed to generate a symmetrical differential signal — the same principle used in balanced microphone wiring. Standard MM cartridges send an unbalanced signal; the Pick it PRO Balanced sends opposite-polarity signals on each conductor so that when they arrive at a balanced phono stage, any noise accumulated on the cable is cancelled. The practical result is approximately +6dB of usable gain with a substantially lower noise floor versus unbalanced operation with an equivalent MM cartridge.

Which phono stages are compatible with the Pro-Ject XA-B's balanced output?

The XA-B's balanced 5-pin DIN output requires a DIN-to-mini-XLR or DIN-to-XLR cable and a phono stage with balanced mini XLR or XLR inputs. Pro-Ject's compatible balanced phono stages include the Phono Box S3 B, Phono Box DS3 B, Tube Box DS3 B, and Phono Box RS2. The table also ships with a 5-pin DIN-to-RCA cable for immediate unbalanced operation with any standard phono stage. Browse phono preamplifiers at Vinyl Sound, or contact Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada for a recommendation based on your system and budget.

Why does the XA-B use an aluminum tonearm instead of carbon fiber?

Pro-Ject's engineering team found through measurement and critical listening that acrylic plinths can over-damp the sonic presentation when combined with a carbon-fiber armtube. The aluminum armtube's different resonance characteristic pairs with the acrylic plinth to produce a livelier, more dynamically present result than carbon. The 10-inch length also reduces inner-groove tracing error compared to 9-inch arms, a geometric advantage independent of material choice.

Which accessories would enhance listening on the Pro-Ject XA-B Balanced Acrylic?

The XA-B ships with the Pick it PRO Balanced, DIN-to-RCA cable, dustcover, felt mat, and Record Puck E. The most impactful upgrades are: (1) a balanced DIN-to-mini-XLR cable to unlock the balanced output; (2) a compatible balanced phono stage (Phono Box S3 B, DS3 B, Tube Box DS3 B, or RS2); and (3) the optional Power Box S3 Phono, which provides enhanced DC filtration for both the turntable and phono stage from a single supply. Contact Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada for a system-matched accessories recommendation.

What is the benefit of the internal DC/AC generator in the Pro-Ject XA-B?

Most turntables connect an AC motor directly to a standard power supply, leaving the motor exposed to mains voltage fluctuations and noise. The XA-B's internal DC/AC generator converts the DC input from the outboard supply into a newly generated AC sine wave before it reaches the motor. This regenerated waveform is completely decoupled from mains noise and voltage variation, providing consistent motor speed regardless of what is happening on the electrical circuit. The result is more stable platter speed and lower background noise, particularly audible on sustained piano notes and orchestral strings. Contact Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada for more information.

Can I use a different cartridge with the Pro-Ject XA-B tonearm?

Yes. The 10-inch aluminum tonearm accepts any standard half-inch mount cartridge. Its 10g effective mass suits medium-compliance cartridges in the MC and MM categories (roughly 10–20µm/mN compliance range). The Pick it PRO Balanced is an excellent default, but the tonearm's full VTA, azimuth, and anti-skating adjustment makes it compatible with cartridges from Ortofon, Audio-Technica, Sumiko, and many others. Browse cartridges at Vinyl Sound, or contact Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada for a pairing recommendation specific to the XA-B's tonearm geometry.

Where to buy the Pro-Ject XA-B Balanced Acrylic Turntable in Toronto, Canada?

The Pro-Ject XA-B Balanced Acrylic Turntable is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Pro-Ject dealer in Toronto, Canada. Contact Vinyl Sound to confirm current stock and availability before ordering.