Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable working on and off

@lewm ​​@noromance the inner platter is not spinning freely! So - will lift it out and lubricate it - I think?

lewm you say "Take the whole thing apart. Clean and relubricate the bearing. Check that platter spins freely. Make sure belt fits snugly around pulley and platter. Etc." - I have no experience working on TT's. I surely understand now that the inner platter needs to spin freely. I do believe that's the issue and as you said, the motor intermittently overcomes it. Sometimes a push to the platter will help it along, other times not.

@kbmr As a person who has occasionally written turntable reviews for Discogs, I can tell you that reviews can only get you so far. The issue with any gear is a how it holds up in the long term, and most reviews are done in a fairly short period of time. It's unlikely that anything will go wrong.

But the sole Pro-Ject turntable I reviewed had a hum from day one and nothing got rid of it. Eventually one of the cartridge clips just fell off one day, which was likely the issue. It didn't seem to be an inherently bad product, but it was not constructed well.

If you google "pro-ject turntable problems" you'll get pages of results, many of which are identical to your issues. Motors stopping.

@jeffreylee thank you.

a quick google does indeed reveal a ton of complaints.

Silly me, I had considered that reviewers would know and comment upon a company's track record regarding longevity.

I do like the sound of my table, and I can understand why it was well reviewed, but your point is well taken.

I have a "good" system - entry-level audiophile gear, and I want a turntable that will last, to match the other gear.

recommendations? technics? rega? music hall?

Or Linn or VPI.

@kbmr  It all comes down to your budget, and one man’s entry level is another’s top of the line.

I have owned, and own, a lot of nice turntables, but my Clearaudio Concept will always be my primary spinner. I love it, although the light tonearm means you can’t use low compliance cartridges.

You can find Concepts used, or demo models, for decent prices, but if you’re looking to keep it in the $500-700 range for a new turntable it gets pretty generic. It seems to me that, in that price range, you’re basically gambling that the turntable you buy was put together on a day when the assembly line worker was in a good mood.

I’ve no problem buying used gear from reputable dealers. The Music Room services everything they sell, are excellent shippers, and the customer service is very good. They always have turntables. The classifieds on Audiogon have also proven reliable over the years.