Debut III is back! …and now in the form of Debut III Phono BT. Debut III is the design that made Pro-Ject famous in the late 90s with thousands upon thousands sold worldwide. It was a time when discerning listeners were dissatisfied with settling for the then-prevailing compact disc, and when audiophiles were looking for an affordable way to get their vinyl spinning again.

The Debut design features a solid MDF plinth, TPE motor suspension, 8.6″ one-piece aluminum armtube and a high-mass steel platter over an anti-resonant sub-platter. Critical elements were designed and machined with precision and care. The goal here is the simplest possible design that focuses solely on the sound-enhancing aspects of a record player.

Debut III Phono BT implements a built-in MM phono preamp that also sends a Bluetooth signal to nearby receivers (a long-awaited feature in the Debut lineup). Importantly, the phono stage can be bypassed, meaning you can choose when to engage it based on your application. If you already use a phono preamp that you enjoy, simply use the PHONO OUT jacks (LINE OUT recruits the preamp). Use PHONO OUT if your amplifier/receiver has a PHONO input that you’re using. The most common application for the built-in phono preamp is for use with systems that lack a phono preamp. This allows you to connect your player directly to any line-level input so that you can listen in a huge array of contexts.

Debut III Phono BT implements a built-in MM phono preamp that also sends a Bluetooth signal to nearby receivers (a long-awaited feature in the Debut lineup). Importantly, the phono stage can be bypassed, meaning you can choose when to engage it based on your application. If you already use a phono preamp that you enjoy, simply use the PHONO OUT jacks (LINE OUT recruits the preamp). Use PHONO OUT if your amplifier/receiver has a PHONO input that you’re using. The most common application for the built-in phono preamp is for use with systems that lack a phono preamp. This allows you to connect your player directly to any line-level input so that you can listen in a huge array of contexts.

Pro-Ject is proud to implement a sound-first design that also allows maximum compatibility with the current landscape of gear on market. Debut III Phono BT includes a dust cover and is available in gloss black or real walnut veneer. The same speed controller/stabilizer used with Debut Carbon EVO is also used here. The switch is at the front/left/bottom corner of the plinth for clean aesthetics and toggles between 33 & 45rpm (78rpm is also an option – see below). The classic Ortofon OM 5e phono cartridge is factory-mounted and aligned. Everything you need to get started is in the box! With the OM5e, keep in mind that the Ortofon 78 stylus is also required for 78rpm discs.

Upgrade Your Debut Turntable

Sumiko Most Debut owners are already aware of Acryl it – a stylish acrylic record platter that elevates the performance of all Debut variants via resonance control. Now you can further upgrade the platter assembly with Pro-Ject’s Debut Alu Sub-Platter – a higher-precision design that adds mass to the drive system, thus delivering improved speed stability and even more resonance control than Acryl it alone. Whether you own the new Debut Carbon EVO, Debut Carbon DC, Esprit, RecordMaster, or even the older Debut III (among others!), your analog system stands to benefit from the Debut Alu Sub-Platter.

Considerations for 78rpm Records

Debut III Phono SB ships with 2 different belts. The flat belt is for 33 & 45rpm discs and is installed on the top/smaller diameter of the motor pulley. The round one is for 78rpm records only. It is designed for use with the larger/bottom pulley diameter with the differently shaped slot. Installing the 78rpm belt incorrectly compromises its integrity and may lead to breakage.

Debut III Phono SB ships with 2 different belts. The flat belt is for 33 & 45rpm discs and is installed on the top/smaller diameter of the motor pulley. The round one is for 78rpm records only. It is designed for use with the larger/bottom pulley diameter with the differently shaped slot. Installing the 78rpm belt incorrectly compromises its integrity and may lead to breakage.

Additionally, please note that it’s also not advisable to play 78rpm records with the 5e stylus. Being an elliptical diamond meant to track the ‘microgrooves’ of 33s & 45s, it will sound poor and cause undue harm to disc (and potentially the cartridge!). Ortofon offers their 78 stylus for this purpose. The stylus will track the grooves properly and reduce the risk of harm to your collection. Keep in mind that OM5e is a stereo MM phono cartridge setup, meaning that its normal job is to unveil 2 channels (left and right) of musical information. When using the 78 styli, what you’ll hear is the one channel of musical information (mono) of the 78 in both stereo channels.

• Bluetooth output for wireless listening
• 8.6” one-piece low resonance aluminum tonearm
• Factory mounted & aligned Ortofon OM5e cartridge
• Built-in phono stage (bypass-able)
• Electronic speed switch under plinth (33/45 + 78rpm)
• Precision belt drive with motor control
• High quality MDF chassis (no plastic!)
• Semi-symmetrical phono cable
• Gold-plated RCA connectors
• Dustcover & felt mat included
• Handmade in Europe

Specs

• Speed: 33/45 + 78rpm (electronic speed change)
• Drive principle: belt drive with electronic speed control
• Platter: 300mm, 1.7kg high mass steel platter with felt mat
• Platter bearing: high precision stainless steel axle in bronze bushing
• Wow & Flutter: 33: +/-0.19%; 45: +/-0.17%
• Speed drift: 33: +/-0.7%; 45: +/-0.6%
• Signal to noise: 68dB
• Tonearm: 8.6” one-piece low mass tonearm
• Effective arm length: 218.5 mm
• Overhang: 18.5mm
• Accessories: 15V DC / 0.8A PSU, dustcover, 78rpm belt, 45 rpm adaptor
• Power consumption: 4W / 0W standby

Phono Preamp Specs

• Maximum transmit power per operated frequency band: Class II, 2.5mW (4dBm) per 2.4GHz – 2.48 GHz
• Gain: 34dB
• Output voltage: typically 200mV/1kHz @ 5mV/1kHz input
• Input impedance: 47kohms/100pF
• Noise floor: -68dB
• RIAA-equalization curve accuracy: 20Hz-20kHz / max. 0.5dB

Phono Cartridge Specs

• Frequency range: 20-25kHz
• Channel separation: 22dB/1kHz
• Output voltage: 4mV
• Recommended load impedance: 47k ohms (MM input)
• Compliance: 20µm/mN
• Stylus type: elliptical
• Recommended tracking force: 17.5mN (1.75g)
• Cartridge mass: 5g