- All your analog, digital and wireless audio through a single preamplifier
- 13 inputs and outputs including streaming from aptX HD
- £499 (around $685 / AU$985)
Pro-Ject, maker of some of the best turntables available, has announced a new compact stereo preamplifier designed to simplify today’s hi-fi systems. The Pre Box S3 unites your vinyl and digital sources, your TV audio, and your wireless streaming into a single component that acts as a control center for all your audio needs.
This is a preamp, so it doesn’t contain its own amplification for passive speakers, but you can use it to connect to active speakers or a power amplifier, as well as as a source and driver for an existing hi-fi setup. And it seems like a smart choice for those of us whose audio diet isn’t limited to a single source or streaming audio.
Design-wise, it’s a typically minimalist Pro-Ject reminiscent of previous products like the recently released Pro-Ject Head Box S3 – the Pro-Ject likes to keep things clean and tidy rather than adding unnecessary bells and whistles.
Pro-Ject Pre Box S3: Key Features and Pricing
The Pre Box S3 features a phono stage for moving magnetic turntables, a DAC for digital sources that delivers audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz, an analog preamp with motorized volume control, HDMI with eARC for your TV, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD that receives audio up to 24-bit/48 kHz, and a headphone amplifier designed for headphones from 16 to 600 ohms, covering even very demanding models between the better wiring. headphones.
There are plenty of connections here: two line-level RCA inputs for CD players and other external sound sources, one MM phono input, two optical Toslink S/PDIF, one coaxial S/PDIF, USB-C with PCM support up to 24-bit/192kHz, and the aforementioned HDMI.
The results are also generous. There’s a variable RCA for your power amplifier, a 1/4″ headphone output, a fixed-level line output for second zones or external equipment, and a dedicated subwoofer output. There’s also a 12V trigger for external devices and RS232 for custom or multi-room integration.
The Pro-Ject Pre Box S3 costs £499 (around $685 / AU$985) and you can choose yours in black or silver.
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