Pro-Ject Tube Box S2, High End Valve Phono Preamplifier (Black)

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There’s enough in the way of rhythmic drive and punch to allow Nirvana a pleasingly free reign while the DAC’s composure and organisation keeps enough of a grip on the various musical strands to keep things easy to follow and enjoyable. Therefore, selecting a cable that has a low capacitance is important to level out the Ortofon 2M’s frequency curve to make the system sound nice and balanced.

Input capacitance/impedance: 47pF, 147pF, 267pF, 367 pF, 487 pF and 587 pF* / 47 kΩ, together with other input impedance settings without any influence! Not only does it have a desirable low input capacitance at 57 pF at its lowest setting, but it is also adjustable up to 587 pf. This is super ideal to tweak and balance the Ortofon 2M range. The impedance, capacitance and gain settings has slightly different steps/intervals between the two so that might be something to study in detail if you have an exact loading that you want to pin-point for your system.After many months of researching tube phono preamps, I finally bought a Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 to use with my turntable, and it has been my reference phono preamp ever since. And the boost from 5 kHz to 15 kHz is what causes the Ortofon 2M range to sound slightly bright. The higher mid-range and treble is enhanced. The newS2 casing is a big additional asset to the design, as not only does it deliver the highest visual appeal, but it is also sturdy enough to protect the internal circuitry against unwanted interferences and vibrations, which can cause unpleasant listening experiences. The Tube Box S2 also benefits from protective cages around the valves - inspired by the superiorTube Box DS2design The Bellari VP130 is one of the tube phono preamps I seriously considered when I was researching the best tube preamp to buy for my system. The first way is to use a phono preamp (and cable interconnect) that has low input capacitance. This will help reduce the boost in signal level we see from 5 kHz to 15 kHz.

While others (you will find many on Steve Hoffman’s music forum) think it sounds muddy and isn’t a real and authentic sounding tube phono preamp.It has the more or less the same circuitry, characteristics and specifications as the Rega Fono MM, but comes in a simpler metal casing. It is not much to look at, but feels very solid built. The neat thing is that it is small and can easily be hidden behind or between other components in your setup. The story stays the same regardless of whether the Pro-Ject is used with our laptop and headphones or as the digital hub in a two-channel speaker-based set-up. I’ve been using the Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 as my primary preamp for a couple of years now, and it’s been an absolute game-changer. In this review, I’m going to dig into the nitty-gritty of its performance, features, and build quality while highlighting its pros and cons. Design and Build Quality: Bear in mind that the Project Tube Box S is what is commonly called a “starved plate” tube design, using a pair of 12AX7A tubes with only an 18 VDC wall wart, which means there is no more than 18 VDC on the tube plates (anodes). An AC wall wart could have allowed for a voltage doubler/tripler power supply – which would have been a little closer to real operation.

Cost significantly less than most high-end tube preamps but still a costly preamp for casual vinyl spinners Engaging the subsonic filter (also available via front panel pushbutton produces less low frequency rumble, but it also takes from a lot of the energy in the music resulting in an emotionally “flat” sound. Pro-Ject lists the filter as 20Hz with a slope of 18dB/octave however, the “20Hz” part confuses me because the filter doesn’t sound like it starts to drop at 20Hz. In fact, it sounds like it drops off at around 30-35Hz.

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One thing the Vincent PHO 701 offers that the Tube Box S2 doesn’t is the option to use it to digitize records. Its USB feature was not important to me, but if this is something you might use, then the Vincent PHO 701 could be the best choice for you. If you want something that is very good and very solid straight out of the box, I still think think it is worth it to spend the premium and get the Pro-Ject Tube Box S2. I also think its separate chassis design looks really good. They have done a very good job with the design. Honesty, I am not sure if this product is good value or not, but my research didn’t make me confident that it is. The Rega Fono MM was awarded best phono stage in its price category 2014,2015 & 2018 by What Hi-Fi. And I have yet to meet a person that is disappointed about its performance.

Cantaloupe Island: An ARP Odyssey synth without any reverb or effects was the first instrument through the speakers. Cleaner, more defined—and dare I say with deeper bass—and texture that somehow seemed to make my subwoofer better get along with my speakers and room. It gets a bit upset at 20 Hz and rises a bit at highest frequencies. For the most sensitive part of our hearing (2 to 5 kHz), it is the lowest at -70 dB. The Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2 is basically a more elegant and more versatile version of its little brother, the Tube Box S2. The Pre Box S2 Digital is very well specified, nicely made and sounds pretty good too. Add its compact size into the equation and in some circumstances it could prove ideal. The new S2 casing is a big additional asset to the design, as not only does it deliver the highest visual appeal, but it is also sturdy enough to protect the internal circuitry against unwanted interferences and vibrations, which can cause unpleasant listening experiences.Personally, I think I would rather go for the Nobesound Little Bear T11 or spend the extra money and get a Pro-Ject Tube Box S2.