Pro-Ject RPM 3 Carbon Turntable

PM-Line

The EISA Award winning RPM 3 Carbon turntable takes the RPM 1 Carbon design and improves on almost every aspect to elevate the performance to another level.

The new 10" tonearm is a carbon fibre/aluminium resin construct, made using special heat and pressure treatments. The result of this new design is a tonearm that is more solid and anti-resonant than ever before at this price, while maintaining a light weight for improved cartridge tracking. The RPM 3 Carbon tonearm is supplied with a pre-fitted Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge and a new magnetic anti-skate mechanism. The supplied counterweight also utilises TPE damping in the form of an anti-resonant ring around the fixing point. This 10" S-Shape tonearm was designed specifically for the RPM 3 Carbon, and its ability is far above the turntable's attractive price tag.

The completely decoupled motor is based upon the same design as the 1 Xpression Carbon, running off an AC generator that's powered by an external DC power supply. As with the RPM 1 Carbon, the motor drives a thick, high-gloss MDF platter - except with the RPM 3 Carbon, the platter is topped with a layer of melted vinyl, providing a perfect playback platform without the need for an additional mat. The platter's inverted main bearing utilises a ceramic ball, mounted onto a high-mass base plate, which enables a fluid and consistent platter rotation with minimal rumble.

Available in Red, White or Black high gloss finishes, the RPM 3 Carbon is a turntable package that offers truly phenomenal value for money.

Key Features

• Precision belt drive turntable with decoupled synchronous motor
• PCB-controlled motor with highly precise speed stability
• Vinyl-topped MDF sandwich platter
• Inverted platter bearing with ceramic ball
• High-mass base plate beneath main bearing controls resonances
• 10” S-Shape carbon fibre/aluminium tonearm
• Magnetic anti-skate system
• Counterweight with TPE damping
• Pre-fitted Ortofon 2M Silver cartridge
• Three high-gloss finished available
• Dust cover available as optional extra

Reviews

Hi-Fi Pig, November 2015

Reviewed By:	Ian Ringstead
Construction:	8.6/10s
Sound Quality:	8.6/10
Value For Money:	8.6/10
Overall Score:	8.6/10, Recommended

Comments of Note:
"Sound-wise the RPM3 ticks all the right boxes for me. Bass is solid and well controlled and with good midrange detail and a clear treble."

To read the full review click here

Hi-Fi News, September 2015

Reviewed By:	Andrew Simpson
Score	85%

Comments of Note:
(Artist: Ron Sexsmith / Track: My, myself and wine / Album: Forever Endeavour) - “I’m greeted with music that’s a well balanced blend of mature detail and plain fun.”
“Sexsmith’s vocals are nicely opened up to reveal their intentionally relaxed tones, while each shake of the tambourines is presented with a natural ring and decay.”
“What also hit me early on about the Pro-Ject’s performance were the impressively low levels of background noise. Cueing up a 1984 pressing of Foreigner’s Agent Provocateur that’s seen plenty of action, I’m expecting to hear two decades’ worth of use within each ‘silent’ groove separating the tracks. But with the Pro-Ject and partnering Ortofon calling the shots I’m hard pressed to tell this vintage edition from a new LP straight out of its shrink-wrap.”
“What also comes across is a real sense of cohesion, suggesting arm and cartridge pulling together, working in harmony.”
“…you get a very even delivery of the music, making it all more involving to listen to – and harder to analyse – as you’re drawn in, enjoying the music.”
(on the 2M cartridges) “Compared to the cheaper Red variant, the Silver sounds much more detailed in its bass delivery and with some added weight.”
“Pro-Ject’s RPM 3 Carbon conveys enough body and presence to ensure bass instruments sound convincing and lifelike.”
“…delivering a performance that lives and breathes in a surprisingly persuasive manner!”
“what really marks it out from the crowd is its sheer ‘completeness’, delivering a sound that hugely exceeds the sum of its modest parts.”

Read the full review here!

Hi-Fi World, August 2015

Rating:

5/5 Globes OUTSTANDING - Amongst the Best Value - Keenly Priced

Comments of Note:
“Assembly was a breeze”
[‘Jazz from Hell’ by Frank Zappa] “With a complicated piece such as this, you need a deck that can handle the complexities and diversity with dexterity and steady timing simultaneously. Without this the information is misconstrued and interpreted as a mush of noises. Played right, this composition is a masterpiece – and to my surprise the Pro-Ject handled it very well indeed.”
[‘Hey uh-what you say come on’ by Roy Ayres] “Both instruments had their own space and again the deck’s speed stability really embraced the album…”
“…the Pro-Ject RPM 3 Carbon exhibited impressive control. I would imagine there are not many decks able to compete at this level and price point.”
[‘Face Value’ by Phil Colins] “all percussion instruments portrayed by the RPM 2 played with a more-than-acceptable amount of realism, due to the strength, stiffness and damping of its carbon fibre tone arm.”
[‘Babylon By Bus’ by Bob Marley & The Wailers] “Bob Marley’s voice delivered total emotion and bass from the Pro-Ject was gracefully heavy, conveying the ambience of the concert plus the warts and all live recording.”
“It’s simply a great turntable…”
“…build quality was excellent – as expected from Pro-Ject.”
“Anyone looking for an inexpensive but good-all-round turntable with plenty of latitude for upgrade cartridge-wise should put it right at the top of their list.”
“This turntable gave a sonically even-handed representation of any genre of music.”
“…the RPM 3 Carbon offers great value and is something of a bargain. I loved it!”
“FOR: Price, Good bass, Realism”

Specs