Pro-ject Classic Evo TT

I.Greyhound Fan · « **on:** 25 Feb 2025, 03:41 pm »

Yesterday I bought the Pro-Ject Classic Evo TT from Audioadvisor. It normally sells for 2200.00 and I bought it for 1895.00
It comes with a Sumiko Moonstone MM cartridge. It will arrive tomorrow afternoon. I will post a review on Monday or Tuesday of next week. I want to break in the cartridge. It was not my first choice for a TT in this price range but I have bouncy wood floors and I needed a TT with at least some type of suspension. It looks exactly like my 1970's Thorens TD-145-dated. I would have preferred a more modern looking TT. But it is the sound that counts.
Unfortunately, my Nagaoka MP-200 cartridge is not a good match for it based on the resonance calculator on vinyl engine. My plans are to buy the Hana ML MKii MC cartridge later in the year. I would buy it now but I just bought a Gold Note PH-10 phono preamp 3 weeks ago and the wife would not be happy with another thousand dollar purchase.

Does anyone own this TT?

https://pro-jectusa.com/product/classic-evo/

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Feb 2025, 03:20 pm »

I received the TT 2 days ago and have it set up and running. The cartridge needs a lot of break in for sure. It came with a Sumiko Moonstone Cartridge like it was supposed to but the manual calls it an Ortofon Quintet Red and lists the specs for it. C'mon Pro-ject I expect better. The models here in the U.S. have the Sumiko and in Europe it is the Ortofon.

The TT seems well made. Except there is no tone arm lock, sheesh, how much could that have cost. Other than that I am very happy with it so far. It sounds good, not great right now but already it sounds better than the Thorens TD-145 it is replacing. By the way, they look like clones. I bought the Classic Evo because it has a dampened, semi suspended chassis and it works well in dampening foot steps on my floating wood floor and tapping on the rack. From that standpoint I am ecstatic. It is way better than the Thorens. I can tell that the Moonstone cartridge is not as good in the midrange as my Nagaoka MP-200 but we will see as the cartridge breaks in. So far I am pleased with the tone as it has a little bit of warmth which I was looking for. It also has some punch. I will post back in 2 weeks.

I just bought a cork-rubber mat for it today and I need to buy an auto tone arm lifter for it. Any suggestions?

Larry

js1955 · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Feb 2025, 03:35 pm »

Quote from: I.Greyhound Fan on 28 Feb 2025, 03:20 pm

........I need to buy an auto tone arm lifter for it. Any suggestions?

Larry

https://www.littlefwend.com/

/mp · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Feb 2025, 05:06 pm »

Quote from: I.Greyhound Fan on 28 Feb 2025, 03:20 pm

my Nagaoka MP-200 cartridge is not a good match for it based on the resonance calculator on vinyl engine.
....
I can tell that the Moonstone cartridge is not as good in the midrange as my Nagaoka MP-200.

Consider mounting your Nagaoka to determine for yourself if you like it better on this TT. It's a $0 verification. Worst case scenario is the time spent switching to the Nagaoka & back to the Sumiko. There's no substitute for listening for yourself.

Enjoy in good health,

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Feb 2025, 06:34 pm »

Thanks guys. I intend to try the Nagaoka to see if there are any negative effects given it falls outside the recommended resonance.

Eventually I am going to get a Hana ML MKII so it will be a moot point.

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Mar 2025, 07:20 pm »

I did some critical listening today and all I can say is wow. Just overnight the sound has improved, and I am getting great sound now. The soundstage has really opened up. It is just more musical and punchier. Textures have improved as has the laid-back treble. Today, it seems like more micro details are coming though. And I can't stress how much better it sounds than the Thorens. Foot skips are gone and there is so much better vibration isolation as well. The background is truly black.

It is a keeper.

SET Man · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Mar 2025, 09:25 pm »

Hey!

Congratulation! I checked it out and no wonder it is called "Classic"

As for the Hana... I have their less expensive cart the EL and I do like the sound of that cart. I find it a well rounded sound, a bit laid back still have great detail with good bass with texture. It is due for replacement and I might get another Hana to replace it... likely a higher model.

Well, enjoy your new turntable.

js1955 · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Mar 2025, 11:46 am »

I have no idea how it compares to your current Sumiko, but as far as VG sound and value, I can recommend with confidence the MoFi UltraTracker cartridge. It's on sale now for $299.

I helped a buddy set one up on his new Denon DP-3000 table. It sounds really really good. And I'm accustomed to listening to pricier carts in my setup: Shelter 501, Dynavector XX2 Mk2, Cartridge Man Music Maker mk3, etc.

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-KOOSaEAFkjB/p_406ULTRCKR/MoFi-Electronics-UltraTracker-MM.html?XVINQ=GLX&XVVer=1JAR&awcr=702210831240&awdv=c&awnw=g&awug=9010122&awkw=pla-2316278739581&awmt=&awat=pla&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoJC-BhCSARIsAPhdfSh5dW-VP0_6ewzHCEYHuqWE85E6rviYenjr9BkLtWupZr_vCKty9BsaAnYLEALw_wcB

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Mar 2025, 02:51 pm »

Thanks SET Man and js55.

I really want to stay in the 1K to 1500 price range for a cartridge. For MC's I am looking at the Hana ML MKII and the Shelter 501 III. If I go MM then I am considering the Clear Audio Maestro V2 or the Clear Audio Virtuoso V2. I want this to be the last cartridge I buy and have no regrets looking back. I realize that I will eventually have to replace a stylus or get one retipped.

My son and I did more critical listening last night and I can't believe the micro details that keep appearing. The tone and textures also keeps improving. I also see why they call the sound of this TT fun. It is very musical and it has excellent PRAT. Definitely a livelier sound than my Thorens TD-145 for sure.

js1955 · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Mar 2025, 03:18 pm »

Just FWIW......

Years ago I owned earlier versions of both the CA Virtuoso and Maestro carts. Just going off auditory memory, I much prefer the MoFi UT. But so hard to do comparisons like this.....both CA carts were in a completely different setup (but comparable quality-wise). And maybe my setup skills are much better now??

I was initially dismissive of the UltraTracker, just based on price alone. But once I heard it, I could easily live with it, even compared to my pricier brethren. Lesson learned.

Enjoy the journey, all your candidates under consideration are VG!

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Mar 2025, 01:07 am »

Here is an update on my new TT. I am loving it. It has such great PRAT and rhythmic music just sounds fabulous. It has a bit of warmth but is not overly warm. Detail is very good and it will get better when I eventually upgrade to the Hana ML MKII cartridge.
It pairs well with my Gold Note PH-10 phono preamp but you can definitely tell that the Moonstone cartridge that it came with is holding things back. Bass is prominent, tight and well controlled. Treble is good with no hint of glare, grain or fatigue. There is good air and transparency, and the midrange is full and lush.

Vibration isolation and foot traffic are extremely well dampened on my floating wood floors.

I have a cork-rubber mat that should be here tomorrow and I ordered a Tributaries dedicated phono cable with ground wire that should be here next week. If it helps great, if not, so be it.

nlitworld · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Mar 2025, 03:02 pm »

Lots of little gains to be had with mat and cables and isolation. After you try the cork mat for a bit, pick up a Funk Firm Achromat. It'll blow you away how much tighter and more controlled things sound. Also for cables, remember super low capacitance is best and float the lalance of as much shielding as required but as little as possible. Heavily shielded cables and ones coated in inferior dielectric can tend to strip the life out of the sound. This alone can be a rabbit hole in itself but can make a substantial improvement when you get it right. I'm positive the atributaries one will make an improvement over a basic zip cord.

All in all, it sounds like you're having a lot of fun listening and that's what really matters.

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 Mar 2025, 03:16 pm »

Quote from: nlitworld on 8 Mar 2025, 03:02 pm

Lots of little gains to be had with mat and cables and isolation. After you try the cork mat for a bit, pick up a Funk Firm Achromat. It'll blow you away how much tighter and more controlled things sound. Also for cables, remember super low capacitance is best and float the lalance of as much shielding as required but as little as possible. Heavily shielded cables and ones coated in inferior dielectric can tend to strip the life out of the sound. This alone can be a rabbit hole in itself but can make a substantial improvement when you get it right. I'm positive the atributaries one will make an improvement over a basic zip cord.

All in all, it sounds like you're having a lot of fun listening and that's what really matters.

Thanks. I am having a lot of fun getting back into vinyl, especially since I am laid up for 11 weeks recovering from a knee replacement. I really loved my Thorens TD-145 with the Nagaoka MP200 cartridge but this is so much better. What really impresses me is that some music sounds like it is live, it is uncanny. And my best recordings sound better than digital in many respects. I was listening to Diana Krall, Wallflower album and she never sounded better. There was so much texture to her voice.

I read some reviews on the Tributaries and they are good, nothing bad. I am currently using Blue Jeans LC1 RCA's on the TT side and Belden 8402's on the preamp side. I really like the tone and sound of the 8402 cables and use them through out my system including XLR's. They sound better than all my expensive interconnects in my system.

nlitworld · « **Reply #13 on:** 8 Mar 2025, 04:10 pm »

Yeah it's crazy to think a little needle scraping against jagged plastic still produces such high quality sound and such an engaging experience.

I started with BJC and they were a good solid foundation but I'd bet your new ones will be better. I even went full signal path neurosis and rewired my tonearm with AN silver cartridge pins (a royal pain but sound wonderful), cardas 33g wire, KLE rca plugs and Hapa Quiescence shielded cable (though his new Aero cables sound more open and inviting). My main point with that is every opportunity to tweak, fiddle and upgrade your vinyl system will yield improvements and make for fun weekend projects.

I will recommend, when you get your new rca cables, find a way to run them in playing for a week or so before using it as your phono cable. The super low signal strength just takes forever to get the dielectric opened up.

mick wolfe · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 Mar 2025, 05:19 pm »

Indeed. This is where a phono cable with RCA's at both ends (and a table with RCA outs of course) really welcomes something like a modest Hagerman FryBaby. For the cost of mid level IC ($269), you get a very handy little burn-in device for your audio toolbox.

toocool4 · « **Reply #15 on:** 8 Mar 2025, 11:42 pm »

Quote from: nlitworld on 8 Mar 2025, 03:02 pm

After you try the cork mat for a bit, pick up a Funk Firm Achromat. It'll blow you away how much tighter and more controlled things sound.

Instead of the Achromat, I would recommend the Achromat APM as long as you can accommodate 7mm height increase.
https://thefunkfirm.co.uk/upgrades/achromat-and-apm-9042904

ArthurDent · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Mar 2025, 12:28 am »

Sounds like your having fun and really enjoying getting back into vinyl Larry. Not sure how I missed this thread earlier, did you find an auto-lifter you like ? I can recommend the Q Up unit, been using one on my TD 160 Mk II for a couple of years now. Inexpensive, easy to install & set up, and when I had a couple of early minor setup issues the support was spot on. https://www.thequp.com/ A friend subsequently tried one on his Clearaudio unit and has been very happy as well.

Keep us posted, and keep 'em spinning Sir.
JD

nlitworld · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 Mar 2025, 12:58 am »

Quote from: toocool4 on 8 Mar 2025, 11:42 pm

Instead of the Achromat, I would recommend the Achromat APM as long as you can accommodate 7mm height increase.
https://thefunkfirm.co.uk/upgrades/achromat-and-apm-9042904

I did not need to see they have a superior model to the regular 5mm. Must resist...

SET Man · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 Mar 2025, 03:32 am »

Quote from: I.Greyhound Fan on 8 Mar 2025, 01:07 am

Here is an update on my new TT. I am loving it. It has such great PRAT and rhythmic music just sounds fabulous. It has a bit of warmth but is not overly warm. Detail is very good and it will get better when I eventually upgrade to the Hana ML MKII cartridge.
It pairs well with my Gold Note PH-10 phono preamp but you can definitely tell that the Moonstone cartridge that it came with is holding things back. Bass is prominent, tight and well controlled. Treble is good with no hint of glare, grain or fatigue. There is good air and transparency, and the midrange is full and lush.

Vibration isolation and foot traffic are extremely well dampened on my floating wood floors.

I have a cork-rubber mat that should be here tomorrow and I ordered a Tributaries dedicated phono cable with ground wire that should be here next week. If it helps great, if not, so be it.

Hey!

When I was using Rega Planar 2 with glass platter. I preferred cork mat over the felt mat that came with the turntable. I actually made the cork mat myself from cork sheet I picked up from Staple.. the sheet was about 2-3mm thick so it was perfect. Of course you don't know if the cork will sound good on your current turntable until you try it.

My current turntable doesn't come with mat, the designer/maker recommend to put LP directly on the platter which made from Derlin. Sounds fine to me... but yeah, I might try mat on it just to satisfy my curiosity

toocool4 · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 Mar 2025, 09:11 am »

Quote from: nlitworld on 9 Mar 2025, 12:58 am

I did not need to see they have a superior model to the regular 5mm. Must resist...

Do not resist