Xerox Proficio PX300 and PX500 vs Versant 280 and 4100: Is It Time to Upgrade?
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
If you run a print room, commercial print business or busy in-house production department, there is a good chance your Versant 280 or Versant 4100 has been the backbone of your colour production for years. They are proven, reliable machines and they have served the mid-production market well.
But Xerox has now launched the Proficio Production Series, and this is not a refresh. The PX300 and PX500 are a brand new platform, built from the ground up to push output quality, consistency and automation to the next level. So what has actually changed, and is it worth upgrading? Here is an honest breakdown from a Xerox authorised partner who installs and services these machines.
At a Glance: Quick Comparison
Versant 280 | Versant 4100 | Proficio PX300 | Proficio PX500 | |
Speed | Up to 80ppm | Up to 100ppm | 85ppm | 100ppm |
Speed on heavy stock (400gsm) | Reduced | Reduced to 80ppm | Full rated speed | Full rated speed |
Resolution | 2400 x 2400 dpi | 2400 x 2400 dpi | 2400 x 2400 dpi | 2400 x 2400 dpi |
Toner | EA toner | EA toner | 4.7 micron HD low melt | 4.7 micron HD low melt |
5th colour / speciality | Vivid Kit (optional) | Vivid Kit (optional) | Dedicated 5th colour station (optional) | Dedicated 5th colour station (optional) |
Full Width Array | Optional | Yes | No | Yes |
AI media management | No | PredictPrint | PredictPrint (enhanced) | PredictPrint + cloud |
Print server | Fiery EX 280 | Fiery EX 4100 | Fiery FS700X | Fiery FS700X (EX-P) |
Speed: Consistent Throughput Across All Media
Speed is where the Proficio vs Versant difference is most obvious, and not just in the headline numbers, but in how that speed holds up across different media.
Versant 280: Up to 80ppm, but speed reduces on heavier stock
Versant 4100: Up to 100ppm on lighter stock, dropping to 80ppm on 400gsm media
Proficio PX300: 85ppm, and crucially, it holds that speed on all media up to 400gsm, with no penalty
Proficio PX500: 100ppm, maintaining full rated speed across all media weights up to 400gsm, both single and double sided
For a commercial printer running heavy card, synthetic stocks and textured media all day, that consistent throughput is a genuine productivity gain. You are no longer slowing down every time a heavier job comes through.
Print Quality: Finer Toner, Sharper Results
Both ranges deliver 2400 x 2400 dpi Ultra HD resolution, so the specification looks the same on paper. The real improvement is the new 4.7 micron HD low melt toner combined with LED imaging on the Proficio range.
The smaller toner particle size compared to the EA toner in the Versant series produces sharper detail, smoother colour transitions and cleaner fine lines. In practice this means crisper text, better gradients and a more refined finish, most noticeable on photographic and graphic-heavy work.
Speciality Colour: Beyond CMYK
The Versant range offered an optional Vivid Kit (part of the Adaptive CMYK+ system), which could add specialty toner effects such as metallics, clear, and fluorescent colours. However, using it came with a significant operational cost. To switch between standard CMYK and Vivid toner sets, operators had to physically swap out all four toner cartridges and, critically, the drum cartridges too. The drums had to be covered and protected from light within 30 seconds of removal to prevent photoreceptor damage, adding pressure to what was already a time-consuming process. Once swapped, the Fiery print server also needed to be manually reconfigured. Switching back to standard CMYK meant doing the whole process in reverse. In a busy print environment, this made specialty work a deliberate, planned activity rather than something you could drop in and out of between jobs.
The Proficio PX300 and PX500 take an entirely different approach. They include a dedicated fifth print unit permanently installed alongside the standard Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black (CMYK) stations. This is what Xerox calls "Beyond CMYK": the ability to print speciality effects in a single pass, without swapping toners, without changing drums, and without stopping production. If you want to switch to a different specialty colour, it is simply a matter of changing the fifth station cartridge in minutes. The result is that embellishment work becomes operationally straightforward, whether you are running a full specialty job or just adding a spot clear to a standard CMYK print run.
Where the Proficio range moves forward further is in what that fifth station can do. Options now include fluorescent pink with gamut extension, clear and low gloss clear effects, with more speciality colours planned after launch. For print providers, the ability to offer high-value embellishments: foil-effect finishes, spot UV-style clears, vibrant fluorescents, in a single pass is a real competitive advantage and a clear way to command premium pricing on high-value work.
Automation and Quality Control
The Versant 4100 already offered strong automation with its Full Width Array scanner and PredictPrint Media Manager, enabling near touch-free quality control. The Proficio range builds on this significantly.
A new performance control module maintains precise colour density and front-to-back registration in real time without slowing production. It also eliminates static build-up on synthetic stocks, leading to cleaner stacking and fewer finishing issues downstream.
The PX500 adds a Full Width Array scanner and AI-guided PredictPrint Media Manager with cloud-based stock management, speeding up press setup and reducing the time operators spend dialling in new media. The direction is clear: fewer interventions, more consistency, faster job changeovers.
The Print Server
The Proficio range is driven by a new Fiery FS700X print server, developed exclusively for the PX300 and PX500. It is designed for increased automation and streamlined workflows, with full five-colour support built in. The premium EX-P model adds HyperRIP technology for the most demanding high-volume environments.
This is a step up from the Fiery EX 280 and EX 4100 servers on the Versant range, particularly for shops running complex variable data, personalised print campaigns or high-volume automated workflows.
Proficio PX300 vs PX500: Which One?
Choose the Proficio PX300 if you want the latest Xerox production platform, with consistent speed across all media, improved toner quality and enhanced automation, at a slightly lower entry point. It is the right fit for busy print rooms and in-house departments that need reliable, high-quality colour output across a wide range of media.
Choose the Proficio PX500 if you are a higher-volume commercial printer that needs maximum throughput, the most advanced automation and AI media management, and premium Beyond CMYK embellishment capability to win higher-value work.
Should You Upgrade from Your Versant?
If your Versant 280 or 4100 is meeting your current needs, there is no rush. Both remain capable, well-supported machines. But if you are approaching the end of a lease, your volumes are growing, or your customers are asking for higher-end finishes you cannot currently offer, the Proficio PX300 and PX500 represent a clear step forward.
The Proficio range is where Xerox production printing is heading, and for any print business planning its next investment, it is the natural upgrade path from the Versant series.
Talk to XOS About the Proficio Range
As a Xerox authorised partner, XOS can help you work out whether now is the right time to upgrade, and put together a lease or purchase option that fits your business. For an honest, no-pressure conversation about the Proficio PX300 and PX500, call us on 01472 355880 or visit xosuk.co.uk.
