Pro-Ject 2 Xperience X-Pack review

Precision and integration keep the Pro-ject 2 Xperience X-Pack among the top vinyl players Tested at £1000.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

A tranquil and polished performer, but a hint of aggression wouldn’t go amiss

Pros

  • +

    Glitzy good looks and robust build

  • +

    pretty much ready to go straight from the box

  • +

    refined, graceful sound

Cons

  • -

    Not the most attacking or invigorating sound we’ve ever heard

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Unlike a five-year-old TV, a record player such as this Pro-ject 2 Xperience, which we looked at last in 2005, can be considered to be maturing nicely rather than on its last legs.

Assembly of this elegant deck is mercifully straightforward – the cartridge is fitted to the tonearm, the tonearm to the baseboard.

With a heavyweight repressing of Nick Drake's Bryter Layter spinning, the 2 Xperience X-Pack describes a precise, unified soundstage with plenty of breathing space between instruments, but also manages to integrate them into a convincing whole.

Authoritative with tempos
It's scrupulous where detail is concerned, manages tempos in an authoritative manner and snaps through the jaunty stuff as happily as it ambles through down-tempo tunes.

Stereo focus is first-rate, and the Pro-ject churns through significant dynamic upheavals with something approaching disdain.

The only drawback here concerns a neurotic desire not to give offense, making listening less invigorating than it sometimes should be. But then, that might be what you want.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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