Turntables have traditionally been judged on three basic factors. First, the platter needs to rotate at the correct speed with minimal variation. Second, there must be no audible bearing or motor noise (rumble) that the stylus picks up. And third, it must be reasonably resistant to acoustic feedback. These are all vital, but not the whole story, as they don't wholly determine how any given deck will sound.

Despite its affordable pricing, Pro-Ject's new Debut EVO 2 turntable definitely ticks all these boxes. The motor is a low-noise, well-isolated design that provides steady drive via a flat belt. The turntable platter is made from cast aluminium with TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) damping and weighs a reasonable 1.7kg. And, unlike the previous EVO Debut turntable, which had a steel platter, the EVO 2's is non-ferrous, so there won't be any adverse magnetic issues with moving coil cartridges.

This new deck comes in a choice of no less than ten different finishes and/or colours, including real wood veneer or colours in high gloss or satin. The review sample was finished in satin yellow and looked very funky. There's even a hinged lid – a feature missing from many modern turntables – and something I greatly prize. The EVO 2 weighs around 6kg, which is fairly substantial. Pro-Ject also makes very heavy decks, but there are arguments for and against high mass – Rega makes a convincing case for low mass with high rigidity, for example. The deck's baseboard housing sits on three adjustable feet.

At just 3.5cm long and 5mm in diameter, the centre-bearing is quite short and narrow. It's a far cry from the massive centre spindles found on some bigger decks, but a short narrow-diameter spindle actually helps reduce bearing noise, so this is no bad thing. The machining of the platter seems very accurate, with no discernible up and down movement as it rotates, or perceptible bearing wobble. The mat is a thin fibre-type that works well. The top of the centre spindle is tapered, so if you use a clamp or weight, it won't always centre accurately.

The power supply is an external 15V plug-top type which means that no mains power is brought into the deck. The Debut EVO 2 turntable should, therefore, be totally hum-free; if you experience hum, then you should suspect a ground loop, or maybe your phono stage/cables are placed in a hum field. Background rumble is also very low, and rotational speed is spot-on. Virtually all fixed-speed turntables are set to run very slightly fast, but not this one – the electronic strobe I used showed an absolutely rock-steady 33.3RPM.

This turntable's drive system is indeed solid and stable – I can't detect any speed variation. My Xtension 10 has a heavy 5.7kg platter and sounds super-solid. Yet despite the platter weighing just 1.7kg, speed stability proved excellent – so even those acutely sensitive to slight pitch variations should have no issues. A flat, one-piece belt is used. Each type, be it round, square, or flat, has benefits and drawbacks, but on balance I believe that flat is best – and definitely one-piece rather than spliced.

The tonearm is around 8.6 inches long and features a conical one-piece carbon-fibre wand. The use of this material was popularised by Wilson Benesch back in 1991, but only on really expensive high-end products. This material is naturally self-damping and has the added benefits of being low-weight and having high rigidity. Given the crazy prices charged for high-end audio these days, even if the Debut EVO 2's tonearm retailed separately for the full price of this deck, you could argue that it still represented great value for money.

Having a one-piece arm and headshell assembly avoids a mechanical break between the two for improved rigidity. The bearings on Pro-Ject's arm feel smooth, with low friction and no perceptible free play. To get an arm of such quality on a budget deck is quite amazing, then. Its U-shaped rest is unusual, and is designed so that if you accidentally knock the arm from the side, it shouldn't go flying off towards the platter. This reduces the risk of stylus damage and scratched records if you have an accident.

Completing the package is a special Ortofon Pick-it MM EVO moving magnet cartridge, which has an unusually high output of around 7mV. Pro-Ject also supply a high-quality Connect It signal cable rather than leaving you to provide your own. The Debut EVO 2 is aimed at those wanting a simple and inexpensive way of adding vinyl playback to their hi-fi system, but it doesn't have a built-in phono preamplifier. This means that your amplifier must have a phono input; if not, you will need to buy an external phono stage.

The cartridge works well for an inexpensive design. Playing at a recommended downforce of 1.8g, it tracks quite nicely with a crisp, lively tonal balance, but it may sound a bit coarse on certain LPs. The sound doesn't break up as such but rather lacks refinement. Replacing the cartridge with something better would be worth considering when the time comes for an upgrade or new stylus. All the same, the supplied pickup is a decent performer and perfectly usable.

THE LISTENING

First impressions were of a fast, sharp, lively sound that has plenty of immediacy and impact. Indeed, the Debut EVO 2's sense of pace took me by surprise – the music sounded free and expeditious, brisk and lean, fleet and swift. This deck has the almost holographic airiness you get with vinyl, which never gets old.

I personally own one of Pro-Ject's bigger, heavier and more expensive turntables – the Xtension 10 – which I'm very pleased with. It produces a clear, rich and weighty sound that is refined and solid. Inevitably, the Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 doesn't quite have the same opulent richness. If the Xtension 10 is a luxury limousine, then the Debut EVO 2 is more akin to a go-kart or a stripped-down sports car. But while its musical presentation might lack a certain refinement, boy is it fast and manoeuvrable.

Much of this sense of speed and immediacy is down to the new Pick-it MM EVO magnetic cartridge. Pro-ject says the cartridge benefits from a number of new technologies, including Ortofon's Split Pole Pins which ensure a flat extended high-frequency response. Certainly, it has a fast and lively sound with plenty of top-end immediacy. I found the results bright but not excessively so. If you do find the top end a little too harsh, then using a clamp or record weight may help clean-up the higher frequencies, but please remember the earlier caveat.

Jumpin' with a Shuffle by the Jonah Jones Quartet is a 1960 jazz release on the Capitol label. My copy is a nineteen eighties reissue in 'Full Dimensional Stereo' and features breathy trumpet solos backed by piano, bass, and drums. The music sounded fast and exciting, with thrilling immediacy and brilliance. My own more expensive Pro-Ject turntable delivers a warmer balance tonal balance with more bass, but the Debut EVO 2 wins for excitement.

The basic sound of the Debut EVO 2 turntable is very much on the lively and lean side. It is crisp and immediate, with lots of impact and bite. There's a slight lack of finesse and delicacy, but you can't have everything. Experiencing an early digital LP on Deutsche Grammophon of Mozart's Symphonies 25, 26, and 27 with the Vienna Philharmonic under James Levine, the sound was crystalline and forward. The recording lacks a sense of hall acoustic, but nevertheless, the results were very tactile and engaging.

This clear, crisp balance works well on many jazz and pop recordings. Playing Miles Davis' Kind of Blue, and the sound had plenty of energy and bite. An old recording from the late fifties certainly didn't sound ancient or foggy and reproduced vividly. The end result is an easy, engaging and accessible sound that's hard to fault, considering the price of this deck. And importantly, it has none of the 'vinyl nasties' that spoil your enjoyment with lesser budget turntables – such as speed instability, bearing rumble or motor noise.

THE VERDICT

Pro-Ject has a winner in the improved updated Debut EVO 2 turntable. It offers outstanding value for money and represents an excellent choice for anyone wanting a great basic vinyl spinner at an affordable price. This stylish turntable package replaces the old Debut Carbon EVO and improves on it in a number of ways – yet only costs a little more than its predecessor. It punches well above its weight and invites comparison with disc spinners costing considerably more.

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