Masterfully Engineered for True Balanced Vinyl Sound
Since its inception, Pro-Ject has worked tirelessly to bring uncompromising quality, hi-fi sound, and audiophile-grade gear to all. One of the company’s many innovations driving this mission is its development of True Balanced Output sound, and Pro-Ject’s Pick it PRO Balanced MM (moving magnet) phono cartridge is key to bringing everything together and facilitating unbridled hi-fi performance with your True Balanced Connection–capable turntable or system. You can read more about this technology below, but this Pro-Ject cartridge was purpose-built for uncompromising sonic fidelity, boasting a bonded, diamond-tipped elliptical stylus that’s been engineered to capture the full breadth of latent aural dimensionality in every groove of your record. Its exceptional dynamic range teems with musicality, conjuring prismatic detail with exacting precision across an expansive 20Hz–20kHz frequency-response range. Plus, installation is a breeze — Sweetwater’s hi-fi enthusiasts appreciate the thoughtfulness that undergirds all Pro-Ject designs. For this cartridge, the standard 1/2-inch mount and the threaded design that eschews the need for nuts at the point of attachment let you near-instantly tap into the lively, low-distortion, full-character soundstage evoked by the Pro-Ject Pick it PRO Balanced.
How True Balanced Connection technology optimizes the vinyl listening experience
As its name implies, True Balance Connection technology employs a balanced audio connection to ensure a stable, interference-free signal between your turntable and preamp. Balanced connections comprise two legs independent of ground: a positive one and a negative one. Since the two signals are opposite in polarity, anything common to both will get canceled. Given that any noise induced into the line will be common to both signals, it will be canceled when it reaches its destination, which is referred to as common mode rejection. Balanced connections are crucial when using microphones, as the audio signal they produce is extremely weak and susceptible to noise (hence the need for a mic preamp). Due to their inherent noise rejection, balanced connections are the industry standard for professional recording and live sound reinforcement.
Interestingly, microphones and phono cartridges have a lot in common. Both are electromagnetic transducers, both produce extremely weak signals, and both require a preamp. Moreover, microphones and phono cartridges produce a balanced audio signal. Unfortunately, typical phono preamps (with RCA connectors) sport a single-ended design and only process one leg of the cartridge’s signal, leaving it open to all sorts of interference. True Balanced Connection technology, on the other hand, uses the full signal, employing common mode rejection to eliminate unwanted noise.
In order to employ True Balanced Connection technology, your turntable needs to be equipped with a moving-coil or Pick it PRO Balanced MM cartridge. Moreover, the connection between your turntable and phono preamp needs to employ one of Pro-Ject’s True Balanced cables, regardless of whether your turntable outputs are on RCA, mini XLR, or 5-pin DIN connectors. Finally, you’ll need one of Pro-Ject’s True Balanced phono preamps.
With True Balanced Connection technology, nothing will inhibit your vinyl listening experience. You’ll say goodbye to unwanted noise and enjoy your LPs with crystal-clear sound.
Pro-Ject: projecting sonic purpose and premium playback performance
Since its founding in 1991, Pro-Ject has pursued a singular mission: provide premium analog listening experiences for music lovers. During a time in which the succession of CDs and digital audio over analog and vinyl seemed all but inevitable, company founder Heinz Lichtenegger doubled down. Lichtenegger and his talented team were determined to introduce new listeners to the world of genuine, true-stereo, hi-fi audio, complete with a menu of value-laden products. Considering that the RIAA reported that vinyl outsold CDs in 2022 — the first time it had done so since 1987 — it’s clear that Pro-Ject’s long-term wager paid off. The company’s initial major success stemmed from the inaugural release of its debut turntable, the Pro-Ject 1. Since then, Pro-Ject has materialized as a worldwide window into the world of high-fidelity analog listening. The company collaborates with manufacturers, engineers, and designers around the world to produce parts from scratch, ensuring everything from the smallest screw to the most complex components maximizes quality. This all-encompassing commitment has manifested in an extensive line of turntables, speakers, cables, amplifiers, tonearms, cartridges, and more. Whether you’re a newcomer to the format or a veteran collector, Sweetwater invites you to chart your vinyl voyage with Pro-Ject — supreme style and sonic substance are only the beginning.
Pro-Ject Pick it PRO Balanced Features:
- Full compatibility with Pro-Ject True Balanced Connection output technology ensures uncompromising performance and true hi-fi playback
- Moving magnet design supports versatile use across systems, with or without preamps or step-up transformers
- Low-distortion output and detailed sonics ensure prismatic sonic imagery and a lifelike, natural soundstage
- Diamond-tipped, bonded elliptical stylus features a 2.2G maximum tracking force, tracking at a 20º angle, to maximize surface contact that captures every ounce of aural character
- Standard 1/2-in. mount guarantees seamless compatibility with most tonearm designs
- Nut-free threaded mounting holes make for pain-free and breezy installation
