Pro-ject Turntable DEBUT III PHONO SB BT - high gloss black (BT+preamp) $499.00

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Designer: Pro-ject & Fine Sounds Americas (FKA Sumiko Audio)

Country of Origin: USA

Manufacturer: Pro-ject

Dimensions:  32 × 41.5 × 11.8 cm

Why is it Special?

Debut III is back! …and now in the form of Debut III Phono BT. Debut III is the design that made Pro-Ject famous in the late 90s with thousands upon thousands sold worldwide. It was a time when discerning listeners were dissatisfied with settling for the then-prevailing compact disc, and when audiophiles were looking for an affordable way to get their vinyl spinning again.

The Debut design features a solid MDF plinth, TPE motor suspension, 8.6″ one-piece aluminum armtube and a high-mass steel platter over an anti-resonant sub-platter. Critical elements were designed and machined with precision and care. The goal here is the simplest possible design that focuses solely on the sound-enhancing aspects of a record player.

Debut III Phono BT implements a built-in MM phono preamp that also sends a Bluetooth signal to nearby receivers (a long-awaited feature in the Debut lineup). Importantly, the phono stage can be bypassed, meaning you can choose when to engage it based on your application. If you already use a phono preamp that you enjoy, simply use the PHONO OUT jacks (LINE OUT recruits the preamp). Use PHONO OUT if your amplifier/receiver has a PHONO input that you’re using. The most common application for the built-in phono preamp is for use with systems that lack a phono preamp. This allows you to connect your player directly to any line-level input so that you can listen in a huge array of contexts.

Pro-Ject is proud to implement a sound-first design that also allows maximum compatibility with the current landscape of gear on market. Debut III Phono BT includes a dust cover and is available in gloss black or real walnut veneer. The same speed controller/stabilizer used with Debut Carbon EVO is also used here. The switch is at the front/left/bottom corner of the plinth for clean aesthetics and toggles between 33 & 45rpm (78rpm is also an option – see below). The classic Ortofon OM 5e phono cartridge is factory-mounted and aligned. Everything you need to get started is in the box! With the OM5e, keep in mind that the Ortofon 78 stylus is also required for 78rpm discs.

  • Bluetooth output for wireless listening
  • 8.6” one-piece low resonance aluminum tonearm
  • Factory mounted & aligned Ortofon OM5e cartridge
  • Built-in phono stage (bypass-able)
  • Electronic speed switch under plinth (33/45 + 78rpm)
  • Precision belt drive with motor control
  • High quality MDF chassis (no plastic!)
  • Semi-symmetrical phono cable
  • Gold-plated RCA connectors
  • Dustcover & felt mat included
  • Handmade in Europe

For nearly 30 years, Fine Sounds Americas (FKA Sumiko Audio) has brought the finest high-end audio products to North America from around the globe. From its humble beginnings as a phono cartridge importer, Fine Sounds Americas has carefully selected its partners and is now comprised of Pro-Ject, Sonus Faber, Sumiko Phono Cartridges, Rotel and Bassocontinuo to assemble a complete answer to every audiophile’s most burning question: what should I buy?

The result is a family of analog and digital audio components that allows you to easily and confidently build your dream audiophile system from the ground up, no matter how big or small your dreams may be. From power amplifiers, speakers, and turntables to streaming devices, DAC’s, and headphone amps, Fine Sounds Americas simply has the best to offer in high-end audio.

Fine Sounds Americas’ relationship with Pro-Ject Audio started in 1993 when Heinz Lichtenegger, CEO of Pro-Ject Audio Systems, recognized that we would be instrumental in establishing his European-proven brand here in the US. This relationship has propelled Pro-Ject to become one of the most venerated brands in affordable high-end audio today.