When my classic all-wood AR turntable finally bit the dust, I went looking for a suitable replacement that combined great performance, attractive styling, and a bargain price tag. What I found was the Pro-Ject Debut III with the Ferrari-red finish, which I paired with an equally red Bellari VP-130 tube pre-amp — and I’ve been smiling ever since. The belt-driven Debut III has a sleek, minimalist design, an aluminum Pro-Ject 8.6 tonearm, and comes with an Ortofon OM5E moving-magnet cartridge. You can choose a less flashy finish — matte or glossy black — or like me, opt for a conversation-starting striking hue, including red, yellow, blue, and green. For those looking to boost performance, several upgrades are available, including an Acryl-It platter and Speedbox MKII preamp, which lets you change speeds electronically rather than manually.
