Phono Box S3 B

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Phono Box S3 B
The Phono Box S3 B is a compact, affordable moving magnet and moving coil phono stage with dual-mono layout, discrete circuitry and balanced inputs and outputs. With its spacious, minimalist design layout, it is easily customisable to suit any connected cartridge, and offers unrivalled value for money and performance when connected to any matching analogue hi-fi system.

The Pro-Ject design team took the decision to employ fully symmetrical and discrete circuitry in the gain stage of the Phono Box S3 B. Discrete circuits involve no operational amplifiers (op-amps), and the result is a more neutral, natural, dynamic, and vivid sound. They are more complicated to put together and involve a greater variety of components, but the result when utilised in a well-organised electrical layout is a true high-end sound.

The Phono Box S3 B is extensively customisable so suit the moving magnet or moving coil cartridge it is connected to. With five Impedance (Ω), four Capacitance (pF) and four Gain options on offer, there are very few cartridges this box of tricks cannot accommodate.

As the Phono Box S3 B is equipped with both balanced inputs and outputs, it is also part of Pro-Ject’s True Balanced Connections concept. By connecting to a turntable with a moving coil or specially designed moving magnet cartridge, and using one of Pro-Ject’s balanced connection cables, your analogue system can benefit from increased dynamics, less noise and improved signal-to-noise ratios. Going true balanced is like hearing parts of your music that were not there before.

This requires engineering that has never been seen at this price point and opens up iconic mid-level turntables, such as the Debut Pro, to the benefits of True Balanced Connections.

Elsewhere in the Phono Box S3 B design, the semi-passive RIAA equalisation stage is optimised for absolute accuracy and signal integrity. Depending on the outputs you are using, this stage is then either directly fed to the output stage (when using RCA outputs) or is connected to a balancing stage for onward balanced connections.

The Phono Box S3 B is finished in a steel chassis, covered by silver or black aluminium panels, for extreme rigidity and good electrical isolation. The neat minimalist aesthetic allows for good spacing between controls on the front panel and connections on the back panel, despite its smaller size. It also features an external power adapter, to keep the sensitive internal signals free from any interferences.

This product is no longer available to order and will not be coming back into stock.

In Stock products are those that are currently held in stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse. This stock status is updated regularly but is subject to change at very short notice.

Products that are Awaiting Stock are items that we would normally carry on stock at our Oxfordshire warehouse, but are currently unavailable. Chances are there is already more on the way, but if you would like a more accurate availability status please feel free to Contact Us.

Urgent order items are products that we do not normally carry on stock, but they are typically held on stock by our European suppliers. Depending on availability, we will seek to order these products quickly, when we have an enquiry. They can therefore be subject to quicker availability times than "Special Order" products.

Special Order items are those that are most often built to order. For these items, we tend to experience longer lead times as we negotiate them into the production line with our suppliers.

Exclusive products are sold only through one, or sometimes a very small number of dealers. As part of their commitment to the product’s exclusivity, they carry most of the available stock. To find out your best dealer for this product and to check its availability with them, click the ‘Recommended Dealers’ button under the product gallery on this page.

Phono Box S3 B

RRP: £349.00

The Phono Box S3 B is a compact, affordable moving magnet and moving coil phono stage with dual-mono layout, discrete circuitry and balanced inputs and outputs. With its spacious, minimalist design layout, it is easily customisable to suit any connected cartridge, and offers unrivalled value for money and performance when connected to any matching analogue hi-fi system.

Options:

Phono Box S3 & X2 B EISA Award , 2022

Best Product 2022-2023

"This new balanced upgrade of the company’s tried-and-trusted X2, kitted out with the excellent Ortofon Quintet Red MC cartridge on a damped carbon-aluminium tonearm, offers an astute and gorgeous sound."

Ken Kessler , Hi-Fi News , August 2022

Pro-Ject X2 B/Phono Box S3 B

"The sheer majesty of ‘Like A Rolling Stone’, with the keyboard work of Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield’s guitar playing, sounded just that bit more vivid, more real. And as for Dylan’s voice? Right in the room."

See full review

Ed Selley , AV Forums Project X1B S3B , April 2023

Pro-Ject X1B Turntable and S3B Phono Stage Review

"The X1B and S3B arrive like a sort of cheat code; by using different rules they do things that are normally the preserve of the high end. Pro-Ject is really, really onto something here."

See full review

format_quoteHenley Says...

Pro-Ject’s S3 series offers a range of versatile electronics designed to elevate entry- to mid-level HiFi systems. These compact units provide the flexibility to enhance your setup without compromising on performance or style. Whether you're looking for specific features, like a click-and-pop remover, or seeking a sleek, cohesive look, the S3 line makes it easy to integrate high-quality components into your system.

With uniform chassis widths across the range, the S3 series allows for a tailored, separates-based setup that can be customised to meet your exact needs—no wasted money or space on unnecessary features. Whether you prefer a discreet addition tucked away or a clean, coordinated layout, the S3 series offers a simple, effective way to build a high-performance system that fits your preferences.

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Simon Powell Operations Director

  • The interconnect cable between a record player and a phono stage is prone to pick up noise on the way. That noise and interference can stem from a lot of unavoidable sources, such as household applicances, wi-fi and bluetooth devices, other power cables and audio amplifiers. Unshielded (i.e. RCA) interconnects can amplify the picked-up noise and make it audible through your speakers, interfering with the pure musical signal.

    Balanced (typically XLR) cable connections double the wires carrying the musical signal – with one side inverted. In this case noise still gets picked up by both wires, but with one side reversed. When the signals are re-joined at the phono stage, the picked-up noise is cancelled out by the opposing signals. The benefit of this is a louder, cleaner musical signal that has doubled in size with almost no remaining noise.

    For more information about 'True Balanced Connections' click here.

  • PJBOXDESIGNFACTORY

  • Pro-Ject's Top 10

  • PDF | 353 Kb | Hi-Fi News Review

  • PDF | 1 Mb | Product Info Sheet

  • PDF | 154 Kb | User Guide

  • JPG | 7 Mb | Lifestyle Photo (Internals)

  • JPG | 2 Mb | Lifestyle Photo (Loading Settings)

  • JPG | 19 Mb | Lifestyle Photo (With X2 B)

  • PNG | 1 Mb | Stock Photo (Black - Front)

  • PNG | 2 Mb | Stock Photo (Rear)

  • PNG | 2 Mb | Stock Photo (Silver - Front)