Looking for Pro-ject RPM-5 Turntable Impressions

I know there are several members that have this table and I would appreciate you sharing your impressions of it in this thread. I am seriously considering this table but not sure what cart to mate with it. Also, if anyone knows of some Pro-ject dealers in Canada I'd love to hear from you too :thmbsp:

Hell of a nice table and lots of bang for the buck. Had a couple of oppurtunities to listen to one and I have been impressed every time. Cartrdige wise, it is good enough that it deserves a decent one. Would probably lean towards something like a Dynavector 10X5 or maybe an Ortofon 2m, at least a bronze or a black.

I think you will love this table!

Cool, thanks Eric. I value your opinion :thmbsp:
I'm also considering the Xperience but maybe I would be better served putting the price difference between the two into a good cart...

I have one and I really like it. I chose it first of all because it was in the price range I wanted, and it didn't come with a cartridge, which says something to me (like it's close to the $1k range quality, if one could standardize that).

The tonearm is very versatile, and I've found it to match up well with everything I've tried so far. Originally I had a Dynavector 10X5 on it, which was an excellent combination, you really can't go wrong with those two. In fact, I ordered them together. Next I tried my Grado Silver, which sounded better on the RM5 than it did on my Thorens TD125 MKII. At the moment I just bought a Grado Platinum, and although it's still breaking in, I think it might be the best combination yet - getting as close to stunning with this class of equipment as I've heard so far. So you have a lot of options when it comes to cartridges. The tonearm is carbon fiber (you probably already know), and it's definitely quality. VTA and azimuth adjustments are very easy, and once you get used to using the little lever to raise and lower the tonearm it's very easy and beneficial (safer for your stylus). BTW, it will probably be useful for you to know that the effective mass of the tonearm is 11g.

I also like the size of this table, it hardly takes up any space, and it's also height-adjustable. Although not the heaviest in the world (I think about 12lbs), it's very stable and resonance apparently isn't much of a problem. I've actually never heard any noise from people stomping around, and my RM5 is pretty much on the floor.

A few nights ago I ordered the Speed Box for it, which supposedly improves the sound quality quite a bit over having the power supply connected directly to a mains outlet. No doubt I'll have something to say about it once it gets here.

So overall it's a very nice table, quality build, minimal and smart design, and easy to use. For me the best aspect is the tonearm, which, like I said, can work well with many cartridges and is solidly built. I give it a very high recommendation. Oh, and it looks really nice too!

Any more specific question I'll be more than happy to answer.

BroonsBane said:

Cool, thanks Eric. I value your opinion :thmbsp:
I'm also considering the Xperience but maybe I would be better served putting the price difference between the two into a good cart...

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I'm thinking thats a good plan. You would not believe how big a difference a good cartridge will make. I mean, night and day, amazing difference. Either one of these will really get the music out of the grooves. Plus, they are totally modern cartridges, either seriously revised or totally new design in the past year.
I am almost envious! You are in for a hell of a treat! Nothing like breaking in some brand new gear.

Mr. Lin said:

I have one and I really like it. I chose it first of all because it was in the price range I wanted, and it didn't come with a cartridge, which says something to me (like it's close to the $1k range quality, if one could standardize that).

The tonearm is very versatile, and I've found it to match up well with everything I've tried so far. Originally I had a Dynavector 10X5 on it, which was an excellent combination, you really can't go wrong with those two. In fact, I ordered them together. Next I tried my Grado Silver, which sounded better on the RM5 than it did on my Thorens TD125 MKII. At the moment I just bought a Grado Platinum, and although it's still breaking in, I think it might be the best combination yet - getting as close to stunning with this class of equipment as I've heard so far. So you have a lot of options when it comes to cartridges. The tonearm is carbon fiber (you probably already know), and it's definitely quality. VTA and azimuth adjustments are very easy, and once you get used to using the little lever to raise and lower the tonearm it's very easy and beneficial (safer for your stylus). BTW, it will probably be useful for you to know that the effective mass of the tonearm is 11g.

I also like the size of this table, it hardly takes up any space, and it's also height-adjustable. Although not the heaviest in the world (I think about 12lbs), it's very stable and resonance apparently isn't much of a problem. I've actually never heard any noise from people stomping around, and my RM5 is pretty much on the floor.

A few nights ago I ordered the Speed Box for it, which supposedly improves the sound quality quite a bit over having the power supply connected directly to a mains outlet. No doubt I'll have something to say about it once it gets here.

So overall it's a very nice table, quality build, minimal and smart design, and easy to use. For me the best aspect is the tonearm, which, like I said, can work well with many cartridges and is solidly built. I give it a very high recommendation. Oh, and it looks really nice too!

Any more specific question I'll be more than happy to answer.

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Listen to Dave. He knows what he is talking about! :yes:

Sweet, I very much appreciate the input :thmbsp:
I've been chewing on what direction to go for an upgrade on my current table for a bit now and have pretty much made up my mind. I haven't bought a brand new piece of gear in 5 years and this will be my first new TT.

I bought a new Pro-Ject Xpression II, a model just below this one. Upgraded to a $850 cart (list), the Benz Glider. Then I bought a used Sony table, a PS-X70 and moved the Glider over.

I realize that I wasted my money on the $500 Pro-Ject. The Sony is SOOOO much more musical plus it is fully automatic meaning no matter how much refreshments I have, I can still safely play it plus I can leave the room and it will turn itself off.

Wish I had gone the vintage route in the first place. Other high end vintage tables from Sony, Yamaha, Denon, etc would probably show the same results.

Ovation Audio, Aurora Ont, my local guys Mike & Rickey are more than willing to talk shop on tts, and carry ProJect. They know tables.

I was actually about to buy the Xpression when at the last minute I went for the RM5, and I don't regret it at all. I think if you're already planning on spending that amount, bump it up just a little and go for the RM5. Plus, although this may not matter at all to you, in person the Xpression is not a very pretty table, but the RM5 is.

Also as Erik said, it's worthy of a very nice cartridge. I'm planning to eventually put one in the $1k range on it, but I'm slowly working my way up to that level to enjoy everything on the way. At the $300 to $400 cartridge range the sound is so incredible that I'm having a hard time imagining what those more expensive cartridges can do.

However, if that's not your thing or you simply can't afford it, this turntable will do just fine with a budget cartridge, so there's nothing to worry about there.


Dave

Whitehall said:

I bought a new Pro-Ject Xpression II, a model just below this one. Upgraded to a $850 cart (list), the Benz Glider. Then I bought a used Sony table, a PS-X70 and moved the Glider over.

I realize that I wasted my money on the $500 Pro-Ject. The Sony is SOOOO much more musical plus it is fully automatic meaning no matter how much refreshments I have, I can still safely play it plus I can leave the room and it will turn itself off.

Wish I had gone the vintage route in the first place. Other high end vintage tables from Sony, Yamaha, Denon, etc would probably show the same results.

Click to expand...

Maybe the Expression is an anomaly, but I have gone the other way. The vintage tables, especially the vintage arms, just did not seem to have much love for a modern MC cartridge. Or most better modern cartridges for that matter.

Same here - surprisingly the Pro-Ject gives generally better results than my beloved Thorens TD125 MKII. I suspect that would change if I were to upgrade the tonearm on the Thorens, but at the moment I find the Pro-Ject more reliable and easier to use with all cartridges.

Versatility is important to me with this table, I want to be able to play around with carts a little but I also want it to be simple. I don't want to have to be constantly tweaking and messing around with it. The RPM-5 certainly fits that bill.

Mr. Lin, did you happen to inquire about the $$ of the dustcover?

Mark should be along soon to share his experience.

Whitehall said:

I bought a new Pro-Ject Xpression II, a model just below this one. Upgraded to a $850 cart (list), the Benz Glider. Then I bought a used Sony table, a PS-X70 and moved the Glider over.

I realize that I wasted my money on the $500 Pro-Ject. The Sony is SOOOO much more musical plus it is fully automatic meaning no matter how much refreshments I have, I can still safely play it plus I can leave the room and it will turn itself off.

Wish I had gone the vintage route in the first place. Other high end vintage tables from Sony, Yamaha, Denon, etc would probably show the same results.

Click to expand...

I owned the 1Xpression and can to some extent concur with it not being a table that I spent alot of time listening to before switching to Rega. I think that RPM-5 and even the Xpression III are better than the previous Xpression models. We have some trusted ears hear who can testify.

Once again following Art's introduction LOL.

I have had my RM-5 for close to two years I guess. It's the most expensive toy I have bought. And most likely the best buck I have spent in this hobby if you don't could having Pustelnickr restore my SA-9100 and then do some upgrades it needed a little later.

I have run a HI output Ortofon X3-MC MC cart on it running into a Pioneer SERIES20 Preamp using a MM input. And the sound was impressive and when I had other AK'ers over they were quite taken with the sound. (sadly I managed to tear the cantilever off the cart on Christmas day)

If you've seen the photo's of my table you know I made a fancy little platform for it to sit on and made a small pedestal to sit under the cart and the end of the tone arm so the cart does not hang out in space by itself.

With the arm lift and the little pedestal to rest my pinky on while cueing I have never had a problem with my needle drops. I hardly thing ones abilities to operate a table drunk should be part of the decision process and if it is maybe there something else to worry about rather then getting a turn table.

I'm now using a Goldring Eroica H cartridge also a hi output MC and while I only have about 35 hours on cart it already sounds wonderful with the table.

I also use the Speed box MKII though I can't say I could hear any real difference my power here is very stable and already passed through a conditioner which may help.

I use the Felt pad and always use the clamp (which by the way at first I thought was a little light/flimsy but it has turned out to work perfectly and I think it's great clamping power and light weight combine for a very nice effect.

I made a special dust cover for my table since I don't have the vertical room at he back of my table for a cake box style cover to be lifted off.

One point I would like to make when it comes to the various Pro-Ject tables is that the RM-5 uses the 9c tonearm that is a carbon fiber arm with a metal headshell.

The Xpression III uses the 8.6c a slightly shorter arm. It is generally accepted a longer arm is a better arm.

The 2 Experiance and RM-6 both $1000.00 tables also use the 9c arm and the same motor.

I will have no problem justifying putting any cart I want to try on my RM-5 up to $800.00 in cost. Though the current Erocia H appears to be all the cart these ears are likely to need.

I also own the older version of the Xpression the 1.2 which uses the all aluminum tonearm and a 120V motor and I know it has a lot of time on it I am at least the third owner of the table. Yet it is tight the sound is clean and it holds up extremely well as my office table.


I also want to caution against advise on a table from anyone who hasn't lived with the model your thinking about. Above is a recomendation for a certin vintage table. While that persons table might be outstanding as were all of that model when new. in many caes we are now 30 years down the raod and the model XZY recommended by a happy owner might be in very different operating condition then the one found on eBay or a local CL ad or from your best audio buddies stash. SO buying vintage might not always result in the same results the recommender assumed.


I have 4 Pioneer SA-9100's I love the sound of that vintage amp (I guess that is why I have 4 of them) Now the one in my main system is completely restored parts were changed even if they only might cause problems. That amp sounds unbelievable. The one in my office system is in as found condition having never had any work done to it since it was bought new in Germany in 1974. I can hear a noticeable difference between it and the one in the Main system. I also picked up a nice 4th SA-9100 today which while needing some DeOxit treatment sounds pretty good the little I have heard it. Again ever so slightly different then the one in the office system. And the last one is a semi working parts unit that while the face plate ain't to bad the cab looks like WWIII and while it makes sound the right channel is week the left channel distorted and in short barely working.

NOW the reason I went to all this effort to type this is to illustrate how vintage can come in many sizes. So before you buy a vintage table especially one you can't sit and listen to 3-4 LP's on you better expect to spend some time with the tech of your choice to get what you hoped you bought.

BroonsBane said:

Versatility is important to me with this table, I want to be able to play around with carts a little but I also want it to be simple. I don't want to have to be constantly tweaking and messing around with it. The RPM-5 certainly fits that bill.

Mr. Lin, did you happen to inquire about the $$ of the dustcover?

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Unfortunately I think the Pro-Ject "Cover It" dust cover is something like $300. Others, like AK's own Mark, have fashioned their own dust covers for far less. I don't use one at all, and the only problem with that so far has been my uneasiness with the cartridge being exposed.

Yeah, I think the RM5 would really work out better for you than the Xpression.

another thing I will suggest is that as soon as you can you buy the Project alignment gauge to help set up your table the thing makes it almost brain dead simple to get a spot on alignment. not cheap at something like $120.00 BUT it will last a life time and work with any Pro-Ject or MMf table.

I should add that with a complex vintage table like my Sony, there are many critical, irreplaceable parts that could fail and turn it into a boat anchor. The Pro-Ject will have factory support and replacement parts for years ahead.

My Pro-Ject does have a one piece carbon fiber arm. The Sony has a "carbon-fiber filled" arm with lots of easy adjustments - anti-tracking, VTA, etc. I've also the speedbox that does seem to help.

Excellent points of view everyone, thank you!

Mark W: that alignment tool will definitely be on the list.