- All your analog, digital and wireless audio through a single preamp
- 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 preamp designed to simplify today’s hi-fi systems. The Pre Box S3 unites your vinyl and digital sources, TV audio and 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 amp, as well as as a source and controller for an existing hi-fi setup. And it seems like a smart option for those of us whose audio diet isn’t limited to a single source or streaming audio.
Design-wise, this is a typically minimalist Pro-Ject affair reminiscent of previous products such as the recently launched Pro-Ject Head Box S3: Pro-Ject likes to keep things clean and uncluttered rather than adding unnecessary bells and whistles.
Pro-Ject Pre Box S3: key features and pricing
The Pre Box S3 includes a phono stage for moving magnet turntables, a DAC for digital sources delivering audio up to 24-bit/192kHz, an analog preamp with motorized volume control, HDMI with eARC for your TV, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD receiving audio up to 24-bit/48kHz, and a headphone amplifier designed for headphones from 16 to 600 ohms, which covers even very demanding models among the best wired ones. headphones.
There are plenty of connections here: two line-level RCA inputs for CD players and other external sound sources, an MM phono input, two optical Toslink S/PDIFs, one coaxial S/PDIF, one USB-C supporting PCM up to 24-bit/192 kHz, and the aforementioned HDMI.
The outings are also generous. There’s a variable RCA for your power amp, a 6.3mm headphone output, a fixed-level line output for second zones or external equipment, and a dedicated subwoofer output. There is 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 have yours in a choice of black or silver.
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