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Pro-Ject Debut III Esprit vs. Vintage Yamaha turntables

Crimson King

Crimson King

Active Member
I have a black Pro-Jext Debut III Esprit turntable with the original Ortofon Alpha cartridge. In my opinion it is a really nice turntable but somehow I've started to like the vintage gear more. Especially the 1970's Yamaha (and other Japanese) staff.

How would you rate the Esprit compared with the vintage Yamaha turntables, for example YP-700, YP-800, YP-D6 or YP-D8?

Should I make the move? :scratch2:
 
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Yes buy the Yamaha that you like.

Put it next to your existing turntable and do an A/B comparison.

Keep the A as the main turntable.

Use B as back up. :thmbsp:
 
If you can afford to sample another turntable why not. Also go for the highest/best performing Yamaha model your budget allows. If you like the belt drives Yamaha made two excellent belt drive turntables, the PF-800 and PF-1000 models. I don't own a Project Debut so I can't comment on it but from what I'v read the two belt drive Yamahas have quite a long record of very positive feedback from numerous owners who thought the Yamahas matched or bettered a number of respected belt drives.
 
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majick47 said:
If you can afford to sample another turntable why not. Also go for the highest/best performing Yamaha model your budget allows. If you like the belt drives Yamaha made two excellent belt drive turntables, the PF-800 and PF-1000 models. I don't own a Project Debut so I can't comment on it but from what I'v read the two belt drive Yamahas have quite a long record of very positive feedback from numerous owners who thought the Yamahas matched or bettered a number of respected belt drives.
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I have a PF-800 and can attest to it's outstanding quality. Chose it as my first turntable over a Project Expression which was about the same price. I may have overpaid for my Yamaha by several hundred, but in the end I'm fine with it since I'm sure I got a higher quality table than if I had put the same amount of money into a new purchase.

If you ever find one give it a listen, I'm sure you will be pleased.
 
philviral said:
I have a PF-800 and can attest to it's outstanding quality. Chose it as my first turntable over a Project Expression which was about the same price. I may have overpaid for my Yamaha by several hundred, but in the end I'm fine with it since I'm sure I got a higher quality table than if I had put the same amount of money into a new purchase.

If you ever find one give it a listen, I'm sure you will be pleased.
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I bet the PF-800 is an excellent turntable. But it is out of my budget, especially if I keep the Pro-Ject. Besides, I prefer the looks of the 70s Yammies. ;)

Balifly said:
Let us know which Yamaha turntable is your finalist! :music:
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I will. :music:
 
Crimson King if you can do some shuffling, like sell the Project, you might just have the scratch to get a real good Yamaha like the PF-800. By the early 1980s the Japanese turntables like the Yamaha hit their high point in performance, earlier 1970s models are good but in general I'd be looking for something as close to 1980 as possible if I was interested in performance. The other consideration is price, no way the price is going down on tables like the PF-800/PF-1000. I forcast a steady increase in prices for the premium tables, they are in high demand and still a bargain compared to new tables for the same money. No one could afford to build and sell them built like that today. From experience if your going to invest in another turntable don't make little steps forward or sideways, go for a major upgrade that will be a big improvement over what you have. On top of this you will save yourself a fair amount of money in the long run instead of loosing money on each subsequent turntable in your climb up the ladder.
 
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