The launch of the Debut turntable from Pro-Ject Audio Systems in the late 1990’s could not have been more fortuitous. Anticipating the resurgence of interest in vinyl record playback, Pro-Ject created a basic, yet performance driven turntable at an affordable price and the rest is history.

Over the last decade, the Debut, in its several iterations, has become the de facto reference for the entry-level turntable. And not only to audiophiles – the Debut became a chic and fashionable design icon gracing the pages of high-style magazines and on display in museums due in part for its minimalist design and vivid colour palate. June 2012 sees the release of the Debut Carbon, a rethinking of the Debut platform.

The most profound upgrade is the addition of the 8.6” completely carbon fibre tonearm that increases stiffness while decreasing unwanted resonances, resulting in a higher fidelity presentation of recordings. Fitted to the carbon fibre arm is the excellent OM10 cartridge by Ortofon.

This arm/cartridge combination is quite capable of exceptional tracking and recovery of the musical nuance found within the records grooves. The attractive resonance-reducing MDF plinth supports a heavier 300mm diameter metal platter for smoother rotation and lower wow and flutter. Additionally, a felt record mat is employed for superior record support and coupling. The platter and plinth assembly sits upon four-point “O”-ring feet designed for energy absorption, and the plinth-mounted motor is isolated by a new Sorbothane suspension keeping unwanted noise and vibration to a bare minimum. Chassis-mounted RCA output jacks allow for the use of higher quality interconnects for even better sonic performance.