Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB Turntable -- Beatles edition

Anyone have an opinion on the George Harrison turntable? (link with specs below). As a George fan it sure looks cool! I'm in my 50's and I need a new turntable so I can enjoy my vinyl. I've been reading opinions here on the forum for awhile now, and honestly, I'm not sure what to buy. My budget is $500-$600. I'd sincerely appreciate some opinions. Thank you! Randy

Pro-Ject Audio Systems »

 

The Harrison table is an Essential III, and very basic. As ugly and overpriced as it is, the Beatles TT is a better option. Though I would skip the paint job editions altogether if I were you. I'd also up the budget somewhat and get a Pioneer PLX-1000, but that's just me.

 

Anyone else have an opinion? I'd love to hear what more of you think! Thanks!

 

This is where you guys take a spit take because vendor cost on that table is right under $460. You're paying extra for subjective art.

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If you don't mind the take of someone with much less technical expertise than so many of the brethren here, I'll take a stab. (I'm 64 and like much of the stuff you do. I have an older Pro-Ject 1.2 table with Grado Red cart and a Music Hall MMF-2.2 with stock "Tracker" cart -gonna upgrade the stylus one of these days. NAD and Marantz amps, NHT and Wharfedale Diamond speakers. Parasound phono stage on one rig. Basic baseline stuff. Clean albums, old and new. Stuff sounds good. Most every album I have sounds better than its CD counterpart, with a couple of ties. 10% of the time I wish for more.)

Yes, it's a nice table. This guy certainly thinks so.

Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable Review »

Could you better it sonically for $500-600? Yeah. Would doing so likely change your life? Not if you don't obsess over your gear. (I personally got over that.)

The Debut Carbon (with acyrlic platter upgrade or Carbon Espirit) should edge it out some. The Rega Planar 1 would beat it out, especially with a cart upgrade that Needle Doctor could install at purchase. The Music Hall MMF-2.3 is certainly more substantial and also has a carbon arm. The Pioneer mentioned earlier certainly is very good.

But this thing is pretty nice, IMO. They're only releasing 500 of them in the US, so there's that. (I've toyed with buying one and storing it for my son, who could either sell it at some point or just use it if it doesn't appreciate.) I suppose you pay up to $100 for the art and rarity. Is that a horrible thing? Doesn't seem like it to me, especially if it would be in a place in your home where it would be seen and hopefully appreciated for its uniqueness. I would guess that it might sound best in a system that is more on the fuller, forgiving side. At some point a stylus or cart upgrade could take it a bit farther, not to mention any other system upgrades. Clean albums are a must. Burn the felt mat.

The Music Direct 60-day satisfaction guarantee certainly offers a level of safety if you don't think it's up to snuff as well.

 

Seriously. Do not buy this. Go buy a JVC direct drive turntable on craigslist for like 175 bucks. It will sound a lot better.

 

That's true, but I'll pick one up if it comes down to $399, and if they don't sell, they will come down.
I have a red Esprit and it IS a fantastic Turntable for under $1000. Cannot fault it with the AT 120E cart I'm running it on.
beave

 

They just updated it...
windows print screencertificity.com

 

If they had raised letter "The BEATLES" slightly crooked right under the stylus, with the serial number stamped - that would be extremely cool. IMO.

 

I was just going to say exactly what you said.

 

Pro-Ject - Debut Carbon Esprit SB Turntable (Beatles 1964 edition) now $449 at Best Buy (Magnolia)

 

I wish they'd do a comparable deal on the Sgt. Pepper Essential III. That would go right into my living room. Maybe the most indescribably beautiful thing since...

 

HAHAHAHAH you and me both !

i went to best buy to get a couple dvd's of the wife, and what did i see........this damn thing !

i just don't need another TT...i have 3

 

So, $450 new would be a good price?

 

Looks like you're paying what the retailer is paying. Which is usually a pretty good deal.

 

Haha, yeah. I'm just not sure if I'm missing something. Not really a Beatles "fan", but a deal is a deal.

 

Total newbie and novice here and am hoping for lots of help. I used to have a pioneer turntable back in the day and saved all my albums, which are pristine. I babied them and have been looking at turntables forever. I don't really want a Beatles turntable, but I think I will buy this . I just checked, it is now 399$ at Best Buy, which is, considering the components etc a really good deal from what I understand. And I need to stick to a budget. Still need speakers and everything else....

 

For $400 you can get a receiver, speakers, and an 80's direct drive turntable on Craigslist.

Or alternatively.

I saw a Pioneer receiver and a Dual belt drive table together for $100.

 

I keep wanting to vinyl wrap my Pro-Ject. Never get around to it.

 

So I guess you are saying used old stuff is still better than this ?

 

Just ordered one of these from BB. I am a Beatles fan, but probably would have got a plain colored one if price weren't a factor. Two things I noticed with the Beatles edition vs the reg esprit. First, the Beatles edition comes with "high quality semi-balanced Connect it E phono interconnect With gold-plated RCA connectors". Secondly, the Beatles edition has "Chassis made of resonance in-sensitive MDF". Neither of those features are listed on the standard esprit's product page. Are these upgrades over the standard version?

 

I think it is all the same as the normal Pro-Ject Espirit. My question (mainly to myself) is, do I buy one of these at $450 or the normal color at $550. It's a matter of buying from Best Buy or Needle Doctor. Is ND worth an additional $75-100 for the same product (assuming no tax from ND since I am out of state)?

 

Just bought one myself for $400, a few days before it went back up to $450

I haven't had a turn table in my systems in about 30 years, and felt this was a good model to get back into it with. I personally love the Beatles, and have no problem with the graphics. I think it is selling it short to say it belongs in a "kids room" as someone said above.....

You don't have to spend thousands to have a "real" turntable. This model is well reviewed @ ~$600, I feel I got a good deal @ $400.

FWIW, I put together an entire little system for it. Schiit Mani w/Swagman Labs upgraded Power Supply, PS Audio P-200 preamp, 2x Marantz M-500 monoblocks, Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 spks. (Also Music Hall 25.3 DAC for FLAC files from laptop)

It is going into my kid's room when he moves out any day now...... (was supposed to happen feb 1st), I'm turning it into a listening/reading room.

 

A new Essential III Sgt Pepper being offered for $280 shipped by one eBay seller.

Pro-Ject Essential III 3 Stereo Turntable Beatles Sgt. Pepper ED. Ortofon OM10 | eBay

 

beautiful!