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
I own the Pro-ject 2.9 and was wondering if I should switch from the standard sandwich platter to the available glass platter with felt mat. Any sonic improvements. As far as the recommendations here, I think I'll start cautiously and do the feet first and see how it goes from there. Small steps.
Unfortuneately, Marigo's site sais nothing about their tonearm specific kit...the dots are way difft than sorbathane dots though...hard and not soft. You can buy them with a a 30 day guarantee from www.musicdirect.com for $50 and check out audio asylum threads for user info. I'll swear by these things BUT i have no clue the sonic benefits unless you are removing your table's vibes with Mapleshade's brass feet. The VTS kit is 4 2mm dots, 3 3mm dots & 1 4mm dot. check out marigo's site for that info...intersting how you can use these on drivers...they definitely work.

As to Dreadhead, i'd bet a glass platter would be better than the stock, but i'm just guessing. My experience is that the thin felt mats are always the best..all others seem to improve one thing or another which means they are taking away in other areas. I hear acrylic is really the way to go. Anyone seen a replacement platter for the 5lb metal ringer on the XPression?

one thing i'd like to add that really perplexes me: Before i ever changed anything on my table you could audibly hear the music being played even when my amps volume was not engaged (but the stylus was engaged). i could stand 3-5 feet away in a quiet room and hear what tune was playing that is - and now i cannot. I swear i have to get within inches of the cartridge to hear anything and that even goes for albums recorded at high levels...even the cardas sweeper track isn't audible. This must have something to do with the fact that i'm taking the vibes and sending them into my rack. There really aren't anymore pops, ticks or crackle on any of my albums either...which is quite cool too. To say its CD clear would be a huge understatement which is great since i'm only using the Grado Gold cartridge...thinking about getting the $500 Dynavector DV-20XH. feel free to e-mail me for pictures of my setup.
@Mattcecil, thanks for these recommended tweaks!

I have already removed my anti-skate weight and plan on removing the string pin also. If I partially unscrew the armboard mount screw to undo the the anti-skate threat support, do I have to re-setup the cartridge? I also plan on ordering the Tuning Dot Kit and the Mapleshade HeavyFeet.

Maybe a Traveler upgrade is not in my near future? I hope these stabilize my table enough that I get no woofer pumping like I and others have stated in separate threads. Another woofer pumping solution seems to be upgrading to a Well Tempered Labs golf ball table (after reading a recent review of one) but that is out of my price range plus I really like my cuing lever...

Thanks again,

Scott
A couple more things.

I have the Xpression III with the acrylic platter and the better feet. They are not as heavy as the brass footers and hope brass ones really anchor the table. Has anyone else done these upgrades on their Xpression or other table? Does the Xpression III and other Xpression tables use the M6 thread?

I do not have attached RCA cables like the Xpression I and use Mogami 2549 with Neutrik Pro-Fis for all my RCA cables. I hope to try the same Mogami 2549 cables with some all copper chassis gold plated RCAs (search for Q-911 RCA copper) since the Pro-Fis have a brass chassis.
Removed the anti-skate pin and loop last night and moved my speed box off the wall turntable shelf. Sounding more open and involving. Also ordered the dot tonearm kit. Not sure if I am going to try the heavier footers because the Xpression lll feet are female threaded to take a screw that is part of the plinth. Also removed the hinges for the dust cover.