Pro-Ject RPM 3 Carbon
Hi-fi turntables · 2016–present In production
£350 UK RRP
The distinctive teardrop deck with an outboard motor and 10-inch carbon arm — Pro-Ject's audiophile design language at its most visible.
Model history: The RPM 3 Carbon is an upgrade of Pro-Ject's original RPM 1, adding a longer 10-inch S-shaped carbon-fibre tonearm, a wider low-resonance chassis, and a heftier MDF platter with an inverted, ceramic-ball bearing.
Checked against the manufacturer’s site: 2026-07
Who it suits
Best suited to: a first serious turntable for an existing or planned amp-and-speakers setup. Less ideal for: plugging straight into passive speakers with no amp — check the built-in phono stage row above, and note most hi-fi decks still need external amplification.
Compatibility and setup
- Manual operation: you cue and lift the tonearm by hand at the start and end of each side — there’s no auto-return or auto-lift.
Good to know
- No built-in phono stage — use an amplifier with a phono input or add a separate phono preamplifier.
- Sold without a cartridge fitted — budget for a compatible cartridge and setup before first use.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Cartridge included | sold bare or with Ortofon 2M Silver |
| Built-in phono stage | No |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | MDF with vinyl mat |
| Tonearm | 10" carbon-fibre S-shape |
| Dimensions | 422 x 118 x 373 mm (W x H x D) |
| Weight | 5.5 kg |
| Finishes | Red gloss, white gloss, black gloss |
| Warranty | 2 years (extendable to 3 with registration) |
| Years | 2016–present |
How it sits in the catalogue
Its belt-drive mechanism is the majority choice in the database (130 of 159). On price it sits toward the affordable end of its category — 14% of priced hi-fi decks cost less.
Live merchant offers
Checking current in-stock offers for Pro-Ject RPM 3 Carbon…
Retailer searches
18 UK merchants stock Pro-Ject — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon UK | marketplace | Prime next-day on many items | Search at Amazon UK ↗ |
| Analogue Seduction | hifi independent | Free UK delivery on most items; specialist packing | Search at Analogue Seduction ↗ |
| Audio Affair | hifi independent | Free UK delivery over £50 | Search at Audio Affair ↗ |
| Audio T | hifi chain | Free UK delivery on most items; in-store demos | Search at Audio T ↗ |
| Criterion Audio | hifi independent | UK delivery; Cambridge demo rooms | Search at Criterion Audio ↗ |
| Doug Brady HiFi | hifi independent | UK delivery; specialist setup | Search at Doug Brady HiFi ↗ |
| Fanthorpes HiFi | hifi independent | Free UK delivery on most hi-fi | Search at Fanthorpes HiFi ↗ |
| Gear4music | dj music gear | Free UK delivery over £99; fast dispatch | Search at Gear4music ↗ |
| Grahams Hi-Fi | hifi independent | UK delivery; London demo rooms | Search at Grahams Hi-Fi ↗ |
| Hi-Fi Corner | hifi independent | UK delivery; Edinburgh & Falkirk stores | Search at Hi-Fi Corner ↗ |
| HMV | music retail | UK delivery and store collection | Search at HMV ↗ |
| John Lewis | department store | Free UK delivery over £50; click & collect | Search at John Lewis ↗ |
| Peter Tyson | hifi independent | Free UK delivery on most hi-fi; competitive pricing | Search at Peter Tyson ↗ |
| Richer Sounds | hifi chain | Free UK delivery on most orders; click & collect from stores | Search at Richer Sounds ↗ |
| Sevenoaks Sound & Vision | hifi chain | Free UK delivery over £100; in-store demonstration and setup | Search at Sevenoaks Sound & Vision ↗ |
| Superfi | hifi independent | Free UK delivery over £50 | Search at Superfi ↗ |
| The Audiobarn | hifi independent | UK delivery; demo by appointment | Search at The Audiobarn ↗ |
| Vinyl Revival | music retail | UK delivery | Search at Vinyl Revival ↗ |
Compare it
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