Whatever the reasoning, Pro-Ject, as usual, was on the money with its affordable valve and solid-state phono stages. With the system nicely warmed up and no CD player to worry about, I put a copy of the new Ry Cooder LP called Prodigal Son on the platter. Now, we will focus on the design and functions of the preamplifier in this part of our Pro-Ject Phono Box S2 review. Aside from the unit, you’ll find an AC power adapter with a connected 58” DC cord, and three AC power plug inserts (EU/US/UK), instructions, and the unit’s user manual. This is a lowly-priced phono stage that handles both moving magnet and moving coils with an even hand.

There's a compelling elegant simplicity to all of Pro-Ject's ancillary components. The Phono Box S2 exemplifies this elegance with a chassis so compact it easily fits on the palm of a hand-including the plug-in outboard power supply. I imagined I was in the Pro-Ject factory watching as a horde of workers assembled before a giant poster of a Pro-Ject turntable before the start of their shift. A bell rang, and they began chanting a mantra over and over. I could hear them intone the phrase “Value for money, Value for money, Value for money.” The kind of hi-fi system a first-time quality conscious buyer might choose. I know all about the theory of spending plenty on a signal source and skimping on the amp and speakers. But that's not the route first-time audio buyers like to travel. They'll splurge on the speakers and skimp on the rest of the gear. Take that to the bank. Phono Box S was considered the best option of all entry-level phono stages by many acclaimed hifi magazines, Phono Box S2 is sure to follow its predecessor‘s footsteps and will set new standards at this price point!

Features:

Although the unit is small, it feels solid, durable, and reliable. Also, it can accommodate the largest RCA plugs. Specifications Curve Selection (most phono stages are designed with RIAA equalisation in mind, but there are other options available - such as DECCA) It came in a yellow and white-themed box that showcases an image of the Phono Box at the centre. The name of the unit is below the picture. Underneath it is the words “Best Buy, MM/MC phono preamplifier”.

Playing the comparatively slower and more considered Fink’s Sunday Night Blues Club Vol. 1 the results remain extremely impressive. Instruments demonstrate a consistently believable tonal quality and decay to notes. It’s commendably resistant to amplifying surface noise and these factors combine to ensure that you listen to the music that’s been recorded onto the record rather than the record itself. Our experience with the Phono Box S2 was great. It delivered subtle yet fantastic audio, which proves that it’s an upgrade from the previous Phono Box S. All of these were more than what we had expected from a low-budget phono amp. One-size-fits-all phono stages are one of the best today since they are easy to set up. While there are a lot of phono amplifiers, the ideal option is a versatile model offering clarity, precision, and detail. And the model that can give you all of these is the Phono Box S2. The case also comes with matte sandpaper feel while its faceplate is crafted from brushed aluminium. Do note that the area is only visible as a brushed portion when your lighting is near perfect. Inside, you will find the preamplifier itself. We chose the silver-coloured unit, and it looks incredibly sleek and classy.

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Pro-Ject utilised the Phono Box S same amplifier modules and components for the newer S2. With that, the phono amplifier delivers excellent audio quality. Aside from that, It has a solid chassis made of layers of metal and aluminium. Switchable Input Impedance, Gain, and Capacitance Settings

It has an input impedance of 10 Ohm/ 100 Ohm/ 1 kOhm / 47 kOhm. For its capacitance, it is 100pF/ 200pF/ 320pF/ 420pF. The Phono Box S2 features a robust all-metal chassis and of high-quality for its price tag. It has a power button and a large grounding post for the tonearm cable’s spade terminations. Internally the S2 is as neat as the proverbial pin, and the parts include audiophile-grade polypropylene capacitors.Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 27th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) Around the time CD surfaced in 1984, audio manufacturers started saying sayonara to amplifiers with phono stages. A cost-cutting measure which seemed to align with a turntable-less audio future. But this didn't stop them from labelling one of their amplifier's line inputs “phono” - go figure. A generous interpretation may be that all this signified was the input one would use with an external phono stage. With some speakers you might find subsonic noise causes a real problem. You’ll see the bass cones moving wildly as they struggle to reproduce inaudibly deep bass sounds. Cutting in below 20Hz, the subsonic filter protects the woofers from wear and tear and ensures the bass you do hear is less distorted.