RPM 5 Carbon implements the principles of its big brother, RPM 9 Carbon. The low-resonance, carbon-wrapped MDF chassis carries an inverted platter bearing with ceramic ball for ultra-low rumble. The acoustically inert platter is made from satinized acrylic. The outboard 15V AC motor is smoothly driven using an ultra-precise AC generator with DC power supply for further speed stability. The premium 9cc Evolution armtube & headshell are made from a single piece of carbon fiber and is suitable for an array of MM and MC cartridges. A TPE-damped counterweight further reduces unwanted resonance in the tonearm section. All told, RPM 5 Carbon represents a multi-faceted approach to getting your records to sound their very best… and at a stunning price when considering its implementations.

Sumiko Stylus Replacement & A Unique Tour of the MM Design

Sumiko Phono Cartridges pair well with Pro-Ject tonearms. Their sonic synergy delivers non-fatiguing music that can be enjoyed for hours with no sacrifice to low-level detail & resolution- the things that make our music reproduction spring to life! Upgrading your stylus is an easy, low-risk path to immediate, audible improvement in your analog experience that only improve with break-in. Cartridge/stylus break-in occurs progressively as you listen. Our listeners notice the greatest degree of improvement in the 20-50 hour range. CLICK HERE to view the video tutorial for replacing and/or upgrading your Sumiko stylus! Also enjoy our gorgeous rendering of a Sumiko moving magnet cartridge in action HERE.

True Balanced - Get Blown Away

Setting us apart from the competition, all Pro-Ject turntables are configured for balanced operation.* Switching to balanced is no subtle upgrade and promises to redefine ‘reference’ sound quality in your turntable system. What’s needed to get there are
1. a moving coil cartridge,
2. a turntable with balanced phono outputs,
3. a phono preamp with balanced phono inputs and
4. a balanced cable carrying the phono signal from turntable to phono preamp.
Typically a much more costly endeavor, Pro-Ject has changed that landscape by offering products that make the technology attainable to any serious listener.

RPM 5 Carbon comes equipped with a balanced RCA/ground phono output and can be run balanced with an RCA > mini XLR phono cable and a balanced phono stage with a mini XLR input (Phono Box S3 B & DS3 B). The turntable ships with an RCA/ground > RCA/ground phono cable for maximum compatibility out of the box (unbalanced dual single-ended RCA/ground is by far the most common connection type in phono). Balanced add-ons are sold separately. Browse options for balanced phono preamps & cables in the reel below!

• Precision belt drive using free-standing synchronous motor
• Ultra-precision DC-driven AC generator motor power
• Inverted platter bearing with ceramic ball
• Acoustically inert acrylic platter
• 9” cc EVO tonearm made from carbon
• Counterweight with TPE damping
• Adjustable aluminium tip-toe feet
• Three high-gloss colours (black, red, white)
• Handmade in Europe

Specs

• Nominal speeds: 33/45 r.p.m.
• Speed variance 33: 0,12%, 45: 0,10%
• Wow and flutter 33: 0,17%, 45: 0,08%
• Signal to noise: 73dB
• Effective tonearm mass: 8g
• Effective tonearm length: 9 ” (230mm)
• Overhang: 18mm
• Power consumption: 5 W max / <0,3W standby
• Outboard power supply: 15V DC / 800 mA AC, 90-264V AC, 47 – 63Hz