Pro-Ject Xpression & Debut Modifictions....read


I've owned a new Pro-ject Xpression tuntable for about a year now and have to share some mods i've done to it..the sound i'm getting now is very similar to a friends VPI Aries table. These cheap new Pro-ject turntables can be hotrodded easily and cheaply to perform amazing. A photo would do this better justice but here it is:

Spend $60 and get a set of Mapleshade Records Heavyfeet footers (money back guarantee). REMOVE the stock rubber feet on your table and also the posts to hold the dust cover and be amazed at the clarity and bass. The feet and post add vibration & the brass footers take it away from the table leaving clean, clear music.

REMOVE the anti-skating weight & string and listen to music...if shocked then use a tweezers to gently unscrew the nub that the weight attaches to on the tonearm...then if shocked carefully unscrew the armboard mount screw and carefully remove the metal piece that supported the anti-skating weight...this may require needle nose pliers and patience...dont unscrwe that scrwe moer than 6 or 7 times.

Now, you think you've got something special but just hold on....spend another $60 (money back guarantee again) and buy the Marigo VTS Tonearm Damping Kit and follow the instructions. This really makes all the difference in the world EXCEPT its tough to hear the benefits until you've stripped your table of feet, posts and anti-skating...which all muddy sound tremendously. This Marigo tweak locks in 3-D sound, huge live bass and killer mids and highs...quite a shocker.

last, and this is the only permanent modification, is to have a qualified shop install Eichmann Bullet Plugs on the RCA's...and while that is going on have them carefully strip away the stock rubber cable insulation from the left and right RCA's (black & red) just up to the armboard or 2" before and immediately replace with a much thinner shrinkwrap (thick insulation smears the signal BIGTIME). Also, use WTB Silver Solder for the Eichmann's. At the same time use your other 2 Eichmann plugs and re-plug your ipod cable (use WTB solder again).

the total for this modification is about $220 and I have a new Grado Gold cartridge and my TT modded up this way sounds absolutely amazing given the $ i've spent.

the turntables we own are quite good, but they don't come that way in stock form unfortuneatly. As long as your tonearm is balanced the lack of anti-skating should not be an issue. If you do not want new RCA plugs, at least make certain the rca's and ground are always separated...never running parallel.

i'd like to hear other folks opinions.
mattcecil
Does anyone know the feet thread size of the Xpression III? The feet are female threaded with the bolts coming out of the plinth. It looks like a M8 but wanted to make sure.
They are indeed M8. Dan from Edensound had me check before he sent a set
of Bearpaws for my Xpression III. I am expecting them hopefully later this week or early next week so we'll see what kind of an impact they make.
Whoever you are...you clearly have nailed it. Unclear to me how or why these suggested mods work - but they do. I can't believe it.

I think I understand the damping and rumble isolation tweaks as they are pretty straight-forward. Yet, I am baffled at why brass for feet is superior? Also, why removing the bias/anti-skate improves the sound when this seems counter-intuitive? In fact, removing the anti-skate weight causes my needle Dynavector 10x5 at 2.2gm to skip right over side 1 tracks 8 and 9 Hi-Fi News test lp. But for whatever reason, the soundstage is more precise, signals more balanced. Everything seems proper.

Still in shock,

Tom
If you have properly isolated the motor and installed the brass weights (mass = density = reduction in plinth resonance and transfer of vibration), then you have accomplished 95% of the potential improvements available to your turntable. The next step is to purchase a round turntable belt. The pro-ject belt is flat, and a round belt is thick and has less surface area to transfer vibration to the subplatter. Then purchase a heavier Pro-ject counterweight (120g) and a pair of Herbie's Audio PTFE tonearm damping instruments. The belt, counterweight and damping instruments will cost under $70. Then you need to buy some records and enjoy your system.
Cheers.
Any idea of what vendor (in US) carries a round belt that would work with the current pulley calibrated to 60hz? In other words, I would love to use a round belt - unless it impacts speed. But going for additional mass by getting a heavier counterweight - never considered that idea. Thx.