Pro-Ject Debut Reference 10: Flagship Turntable Redefining Affordable High-End Vinyl Playback

Pro-Ject Audio Systems has announced the Debut Reference 10, the new flagship turntable in its long-running Debut product line. Handcrafted in Europe, the Debut Reference 10 is claimed to be the result of decades of analog expertise and precision engineering experience.

Pro-Ject Audo Debut Reference 10

The new Debut Reference 10 from Pro-Ject Audio Systems introduces a range of improvements including a ten-inch carbon and aluminum tonearm, diamond-cut aluminum components, an acoustically inert acrylic platter, and height-adjustable damped feet. Together, these enhancements produce a level of stability and tonal clarity that brings the Debut Reference 10 closer to Pro-Ject’s more expensive Xtension and RPM series, while maintaining the accessibility (read: affordability) that has made the Debut series so enduring.

The original Debut turntable, first released in the late 1990s, played a key role in bringing affordable vinyl playback back to a wide audience. The new Debut Reference 10, according to its designers, builds on that foundation with more advanced mechanics and electronics. The hand-finished chassis and hybrid carbon-aluminum tonearm—combining a stiff carbon fiber outer layer with an aluminum core for improved damping—reflect Pro-Ject’s incremental approach of refinement rather than innovation. The result, according to the company, is greater tracking accuracy, reduced distortion, and improved overall clarity.

Both the azimuth and vertical tracking angle (VTA) are adjustable, giving users the flexibility to fine-tune the cartridge alignment for optimal playback. The Reference 10 comes with Pro-Ject’s Pick it PRO Balanced MM cartridge, designed and built in Europe to complement the turntable’s True Balanced signal architecture. For a complete balanced chain, the Debut Reference 10 can be paired with a balanced phono amplifier, including Pro-Ject Audio’s Phono Box S3 B, DS3 B, or Tube Box DS3 B.

Pro-Ject Audo Debut Reference 10: speed control and damping

The Debut Reference 10 features a new, precision electronic speed control system for both 33 1/3 and 45 rpm, with optional support for 78 rpm. The DC-powered alternator produces a pure sine wave to drive the motor, while improved motor mounting isolates vibration from the chassis. The diamond-cut aluminum sub-platter is machined to extremely tight tolerances, increasing mass and rotational precision while reducing wow and flutter. Combined with the acrylic platter, which can be used without a mat thanks to its similar material properties to vinyl, the turntable achieves excellent resonance control and speed accuracy.

Below this, three TPE-damped, height-adjustable feet form a stable, low-resonance base. Pro-Ject Audio deliberately opted for a three-point system instead of four feet, claiming this offers better stability on uneven surfaces and is easier to level.

Power is supplied by an external switching power supply, which feeds a precision DC/AC generator built into the turntable. For further refinement, Pro-Ject recommends combining the turntable with the optional Power Box S3 Phono, which powers both the turntable and a compatible phono preamplifier and filters DC noise for cleaner operation.

According to the designers, the Debut Reference 10 is a combination of minimalism and luxury. The diamond-cut metal components and satin-finish acrylic panel give it a sleek, modern aesthetic, while the eight-layer, hand-painted MDF cabinet adds warmth and individuality. Every element, from the gold-plated RCA outputs to the included Connect-it Phono E cable, reflects Pro-Ject’s focus on durability, craftsmanship, and long-lasting quality.

The suggested retail price of the Pro-Ject Audio Debut Reference 10 is just under 1,200 euros.