Description
Debut Carbon The Original
The Debut story began in Austria in 1998, when Pro-Ject founder Heinz Lichtenegger and Laurence Armstrong, Managing Director of Henley Audio, set out to bring high-end sound within reach of a younger generation.
Pro-Ject product manager Jiri Kroutil turned the duo’s idea into a working sample by the following day, and the first Debut went on sale within months. The Debut Carbon landed in 2012, bringing a one-piece carbon-fibre tonearm to the series.
Today, the Debut family has sold more than one million units — Debut Carbon The Original carries that legacy forward.
Tonearm
The tonearm’s tube and headshell are formed together as one piece, creating a direct, stable connection to the cartridge. A low-friction, CNC-milled aluminium bearing block supports accurate tracking, while an adaptive anti-skating mechanism adjusts across the record’s inner and outer grooves.
The TPE-damped counterweight reduces arm and cartridge resonances by up to 50%.
Cartridge
The Pick it S2 MM cartridge is made by Ortofon and tuned by Pro-Ject, with an elliptical stylus that reads the groove precisely.
The turntable is supplied with an acrylic dust cover, felt mat and phono optimised Connect it Phono E RCA cable. Each Debut Carbon The Original is hand-made in Europe.
Drive
The 1.7 kg steel platter sits on a glass-fibre-reinforced ABS sub-platter. A precision belt and aluminium pulley drive the platter, while a TPE motor suspension isolates vibration from the plinth.
A DC/AC generator supplies the AC motor with a clean, controlled signal, helping maintain stable speed and quiet operation.
Finish
The Original retains the pared-back shape that made Debut instantly recognisable, with three finishes: High Gloss Black, Satin Black and Real Wood Walnut.
The plinth is CNC-machined from high-density MDF and built with a solid interior, giving the understated design a substantial foundation.
Features
- Motor suspension belt keeps the motor mechanically isolated from the main plinth
- Manual speed change between 33 and 45 RPM
- Precision machined MDF plinth for reduced resonance transfer between components
- Heavy pressed steel platter for good speed stability and engaging sound
- Adjustable 8.6-inch tonearm
- Light and stiff carbon fibre tonearm tube
- Factory-mounted Pick-IT S2 MM cartridge, voiced by Pro-Ject but made by Ortofon
- Isolating non-slip turntable feet
- Supplied with high-quality RCA cables for turntable use
- True Balanced Connection Capable
- Dust cover included
- Made in Europe
Specifications
- Drive Principle: Sub-Platter Belt Drive
- Speeds: 33 & 45 RPM
- Speed Variance (33 RPM): 0.50 %
- Speed Variance (45 RPM): 0.60 %
- Wow and Flutter (33 RPM): 0.17 %
- Wow and Flutter (45 RPM): 0.15 %
- Turntable Signal to Noise Ratio: 68 dB
- Main Bearing: Stainless Steel & Brass
- Main Platter Material: Steel
- Main Platter Thickness: 300 mm
- Main Platter Weight: 1.7 kg
- Plinth Material: MDF
- Tonearm Type: Adjustable
- Tonearm Material: Carbon Fibre
- Effective Tonearm Length: 218.5 mm
- Overhang: 18.5 mm
- Effective Tonearm Mass: 7 g
- Output Connection: Junction Box
- Balanced Connection Possible: Yes (via RCA Output) – MC Cartridge Required
- Maximum Power Consumption: 4 W
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 415 x 118 x 320 mm
- Weight: 5.5 kg
Included
- Debut Carbon The Original
- Pick-It S2 MM Cartridge
- Stereo RCA Interconnects
- Dust Cover
- Documentation
Full Pro-Ject Range Available
Unilet Sound & Vision are official retail partners for Pro-Ject Audio Systems, providing sales, advice and assistance on their entire range of high-quality products. Please do get in touch if you would like a demonstration or wish to purchase.
