Pro-Ject EVO CC
TonearmPro-Ject's EVO CC tonearm is a high-precision tonearm designed for audiophile.
Design and Construction
The EVO CC tonearm features a one-piece carbon fiber armtube that is both lightweight and strong. The armtube has a conical shape, tapering towards the cartridge and headshell, which helps avoid standing wave reflections. This design allows for easy azimuth adjustment via a single screw fixing.
Tonearm Bearing
The tonearm uses an inverted cardanic ABEC 7 quality bearing with 4 stainless steel tips. This bearing type offers:
High stability
Low friction
Clear tracking
Detailed and open soundstage
Preservation of micro-information from the record groove
The bearing is housed in a full aluminum enclosure for added stability.
Adjustments and Compatibility
VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle): Continuously adjustable by loosening two grub screws in the arm board
Azimuth: Easily adjustable due to the single-screw arm tube fixing
Tracking Force: Adjustable from 0 to 3 grams
Cartridge Weight Compatibility: 6-15g (12"), 6-14g (10"), 7-14g (9")
Additional Features
Flexible high-purity copper inner wiring with gold-plated cartridge connector clips
TPE-damped counterweights for resonance control
Open outer gimbal ring to prevent bell-mode resonances
Silicone-damped armlift adjustable to suit arm height
Gold-plated 5-pin DIN output socket
Specifications
The EVO CC tonearm is available in 9", 10" and 12" lengths. Here are some key specifications:
9" tonearm
Effective Length: 230 mm (9")
Mounting Distance: 212 mm
Offset Angle: 24°
Overhang: 18 mm
Effective Mass: 8 g
10" tonearm
Effective Length: 254 mm
Mounting Distance: 238 mm
Offset Angle: 21.4°
Overhang: 16 mm
Effective Mass: 8.5 g
12" tonearm
Effective Length: 304.8 mm
Mounting Distance: 291.6 mm
Offset Angle: 18°
Overhang: 13.2 mm
Effective Mass: 10.5 g
Pros
High-quality construction: The tonearm features a carbon fiber armtube and aluminum bearing block, providing strength and stability.
Precision engineering: It uses an ultra-low friction 4-pin point cardanic bearing system with ABEC 7 quality, ensuring stable and accurate tracking.
Adjustability: The tonearm allows for precise azimuth and VTA (vertical tracking angle) adjustments, crucial for optimising cartridge performance.
Resonance control: Several design elements minimize resonances:
TPE damped counterweight
Conical armtube shape to avoid standing waves
Open outer ring to prevent bell-mode resonances
Flexibility: Available in 9", 10", and 12" lengths to suit different turntable designs.
Sound quality: The design results in a detailed and open sound stage, preserving micro-information from the groove.
Cartridge compatibility: Designed to work with a range of cartridge weights.
European manufacturing: Made in Europe, suggesting high production standards.
Cons
Complexity: The precise adjustments for VTA and azimuth may be challenging for less experienced users.
Price: As a high-end component, it may be more expensive than entry-level tonearms.
Sensitivity: The precise engineering may require careful handling and setup.
Weight: The tonearm is relatively light (265g-271g without flange), which may not suit all cartridge types.
Limited finish options: Available only in black or high-gloss versions.
The EVO CC tonearm is designed to offer high-quality performance for audiophile turntable setups, with careful attention to materials, bearing design and adjustability for optimal cartridge matching and sound quality.