Pro-Ject Phono Box RS MM/MC Phono Preamplifier

"Five Stars" – Hi-fi Choice Magazine

"A Staggeringly Accomplished Design"

You won't find a more flexible and better sounding phono stage for the money than the Pro-Ject Phono Box RS. This ultra low-noise and ultra low-distortion preamplifier is made for the audio connoisseur. It offers breathtaking performance, thanks to the dual mono circuit topology and advanced design.

"Pro-Ject Has Pulled Out All the Stops"

Hi-fi Choice magazine gives the Phono Box RS its top rating of Five Stars, calling it "a staggeringly accomplished design that sets a new standard for the price." According to Ed Selly in the February 2013 issue, "There is no question the Pro-Ject has pulled out all the stops to produce something special. If you use multiple cartridges, the extremely flexible settings will allow you to get the best out of them and if you can go balanced, there is absolutely nothing that can match it for value."

"In look and feel, Pro-Ject's Boxes sort of resemble miniaturized versions of traditional high-end components," notes Stephen Mejias in a CES 2013 show report posting for Stereophile.com for January 15, 2013. "How do they sound? Surprisingly big, bold, and thoroughly enjoyable…"

Infinitely Variable Impedance Control

The Phono Box RS can adapt to any phono cartridge. You can use either a fixed gain setting or variable gain, which can be set on the front panel at 40, 50, or 60 dB. The Phono Box RS’s innovative 'infinitely' variable impedance control, also located on the front panel, offers continuously variable impedance between 10 and 1200 ohms. Impedance adjustment can be made during playback.

Adjustable input capacitance via rear panel settings gives you a choice of 100, 200, 300, 420, or 520 pF. All of this adds up to a phono preamp that can be perfectly adjusted to get the best performance from any phono cartridge.

Premium Parts Throughout

This highly specified phono stage uses premium parts throughout its construction, including the SSM2019 latest generation audio preamplifier from Analog Devices as the input stage and a Linear Technology LT1010 as the high current buffer stage. The result is extremely low levels of distortion and noise. The very low output impedance makes the Phono Box RS insensitive to selection of interconnect cables and lengths.

For even more flexibility in the sonic signature of this unit, fully passive RIAA or DECCA equalization is selectable. Phono Box RS offers fully balanced circuitry as well as both XLR and RCA inputs and outputs. As a result of all of this technology and design excellence, vinyl playback will never have sounded as clear, detailed, and smooth as with this superlative phono stage.

Product made in Czech Republic.

Product Features

Premium phono preamp
MM and MC capable
Fully balanced double mono design
Fully passive RIAA & DECCA equalization
Unique continuously variable input impedance loading, matches every cartridge (adjustment even while playing)
Adjustable input capacitance
RCA and XLR input and output
Superior low noise / low distortion
Elegant dip switches
DC power supply (< 1 watt standby power)
Metal casing protects against vibration and interference
Faceplate silver or black

Product Specs

Input impedance: Fixed 10 ohms or 47k ohms, variable 10 - 1200 ohms
Load capacity switchable: 100pF 200pF, 300pF, 420pF, 520pF
Output impedance: 50 ohms
Gain, MM / MC RCA: 40, 50, 60 dB; LR: 46, 56, 66 dB
Signal to noise ratio: 80dB (91dB - IEC -A)
THD: < 0.019%
RIAA accuracy: within 0,3dB/20Hz - 20kHz
Subsonic: 20Hz / - 12dB
Power consumption: 150mA DC < 1 watt standby
Dimensions: 8.1" wide, x 2.8" high, 7.8" deep (8.3" deep with connectors)
Weight: 4.4 lb without power supply

Product Warranty

Parts & Labor

2 Years

Pro-Ject Audio Systems Warranty Information

"Five Stars"

"A staggeringly accomplished design that sets a new standard for the price. "

"The Pro-Ject is extremely faithful to the source and the record. Detail extraction is excellent and there is a genuine sense of depth and realism to recordings… Bass response is good, too, and the RS can generally produce deep and detailed bass with no trace of bloat or artificial blossom."

"This is the best specified phono stage I have ever seen for under £1,000 and not for the first time on encountering a Pro-Ject product, I'm left wondering how they have done it for the price."

"There is no question the Pro-Ject has pulled out all the stops to produce something special. If you use multiple cartridges, the extremely flexible settings will allow you to get the best out of them and if you can go balanced, there is absolutely nothing that can match it for value. It also manages to feel special to use in a way that very few pieces of equipment under £1,000 can do. If the rest of the RS range is as capable as this, I can't wait to get my hands on them."

- Ed Selly, Hi-fi Choice magazine, February 2013

"In look and feel, Pro-Ject's Boxes sort of resemble miniaturized versions of traditional high-end components – in particular, the chassis and displays of the Box amps recall classic Audio Research designs. Very cute, very cool."

"How do they sound? Surprisingly big, bold, and thoroughly enjoyable…"

- Stephen Mejias, Stereophile.com, CES 2013 report, Jan 15, 2013