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

Product Information

The Ortofon 2M range is also known to be a little on the bright and analytical side when it comes to sound characteristics. This is for sure a topic for discussion and to a large degree down to personal taste and preference. But the majority of vinyl enthusiasts seem to agree that they sound slightly bright on most systems. Maiden Voyage: Herbie’s piano sounded warm, inviting and timbrally rich. Soft, yet percussive, it flowed together perfectly with incredible sustain and life. I really could feel the emotion pouring through my system and out of my speakers like I have never before felt. “Yes!” I thought. “This is what analog really sounds like!” I have heard videos on YouTube of people playing their records through very nice equipment with good A/D conversion, and while very impressive sounding, the digital conversion mixed with YouTube’s compression and limited frequency range detracts from the presence and weight that with vinyl you can almost feel more than hear. Strange, right? Again, through the S2 there was a slight increase in depth and dimensionality compared to the Denon. Imaging was better, bass was cleaner, the S2 just is a better preamp. I have also used my experience as electronics engineer and electronics designer to assess the build quality and “authenticity” of the products to the best of my ability. Sources So, my experience with this phono stage has been a pretty good one. Albeit subtle, it sounds fantastic and was a step up (no pun intended) from the solid state phono preamp built into my Denon receiver.

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. With an input capacitance of 100 pF it is not as low as the input capacitance of the Project Tube Box S2 in its lowest setting, but still in the lower range of MM phono preamps. My research includes long-term testing of several phono preamps (including the Project Tube Box S2 and Little Bear T7) as well as comprehensive research online. I personally doubt that most of us will hear a sound difference between the S2 and the DS2, so the main reason to spend more to get the DS2 is to get the additional connectivity and the more elegant front panel controls. Which can be good reasons for sure.

Pro-Ject's Tube Box S2 MM/MC Phono Preamp Beats the Built In

The core differences are that the DS2 has all the controls on the front panels and the ability to connect and switch between two turntables.

Inspired by high-end designs but available for a very appealing price, the Tube Box S2 is a real audiophile bargain. Tube phono preamps (or simply tube preamps) definitely provide a richer and livelier sound compared to solid-state transistor based preamps. 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 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.Instrumented measurements have further shown that to flatten the Ortofon 2M range’s frequency response, and make them warmer sounding, it is ideal to get the input capacitance as low as possible within that 150 to 300 pF range. 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. The Tube Box S2 is the best tube phono preamp you can buy if you are looking for a good sounding and authentic tube phono preamp that does not cost a fortune. #2. Runner-Up: Vincent PHO 701

I have owned very few home audio products that have impressed me more. It is simply awesome. I love it. If we look at instrumented measurements on the Ortofon 2M range that can be found all over the internet, we see that there is a boost in signal level from about 5 kHZ to about 15 kHZ peaking at about 10kHz. To sum it up, the perfect preamp for the Ortofon 2M range will, based on the observations and discussion above, need the following specifications and characteristics: 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. If you’re an avid vinyl lover, you know that a good phono preamp is essential to getting the best sound out of your turntable. Pro-Ject Audio Systems, a company known for producing budget-friendly high-performance analog components, offers Tube Box S2 MM/MC phono preamp. This phono preamp boasts a fully discrete circuit design without using any operational amplifiers and comes with replaceable tubes for tube rolling and sound-shaping.New Tubes: Whether you want to buy brand new or NOS, tube rolling is definitely the way to go if you want to fine tune to your specific tastes your system’s synergy.